Teaming for Early Childhood Inclusion (TECI) Project
Project Description:
The TECI project is designed to build capacity within the early childhood space for young children with disabilities to be included alongside thier peers. The early childhood sites targeted by these activities include licensed child care centers, day care family homes, Head Start centers, and faith-based programs. In Arkansas, the historical practice has been for children birth to 5 years to be served in Early Intervention Day Treatment Clinics (EIDTs). These EIDTs are Medicaid funded programs that are for children with disabilities only. While they are known for providing "specialized" early intervention services as well as therapies (PT, OT, SLP and ABA), in reality they provide a holding tank for therapists to pull chidlren in and out for the allied health services. There is no charge to families for these services which is very attractive, considering the cost of child care. Additionally, since this is a "medical model", it tends to be recommended to parents by the developmental pediatricians who conduct most of the diagnostic evaluationsa for children with disabilities. This continues to be the case, despite many conversations and trainings provided to these medical staff on the inclusion research and the power of inclusive environments and peer models. This project provides training for physicians, families and early care and education staff. and parents. The highly political nature of this approach is evident in the fact that the TECI training contract is funded by the Division within the Department of Human Services responsible for child care licensing, NOT the Division responsible for services to children with developmental disabilities. When families are told by the "medical expert" that the best place for their young child is the EIDT, that's what they do. Then, just as the research shows, once the child is segretated from birth to five, then tend to be placed in a self-contained special education class when the start kindergarten in the public schools. Then that pattern of segregation is set for life, unless extraordinary advocacy occurs in the school setting.
Keyword(s):
childcare, inclusion
Core Function(s):
Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County, Mulit-County, State, Regional
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
