Inclusion in Child Care Toolkit
Michigan families need access to more child care centers that are equipped to accommodate children of all abilities. Child care providers require access to resources, strategies and tools to help them provide inclusive child care that allows children of all abilities to feel safe and supported, meet their developmental milestones and learn together.
The Inclusive Learning Toolkit materials found on this page will help you and your team provide high-quality inclusive child care. They help effectively communicate the benefits of this care to current and prospective parents and guardians.
Ready to get started? Download the materials below to learn how you can improve the quality of care provided to children of all abilities.
Check out the online learning series, All Together: Caring for Children with Delays and Disabilities. The series consists of four online modules to support the early childhood workforce in understanding early intervention and special education services as well as strategies for providing a more inclusive environment for all children, including children with disabilities.
Digital Resources
We encourage you to use these free resources to display in your child care center, share with your employees and distribute to parents.
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Public Awareness Materials
- Child Development Wheel
- Definition of Early Childhood Inclusion (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- MI Core Knowledge and Core Competencies (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Referring Children to Early Intervention in Child Care Setting
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All Together: Caring for Children with Delays and Disabilities Public Awareness Materials
- Awareness of Support for Developmental Delays Brochure for Parents (PDF) - Posted:05/19/2023
- Awareness of Support for Developmental Delays Flyer for Parents/Providers (PDF) - Posted:05/19/2023
- Educational One-Pager for Caregivers (PDF) - Posted:05/19/2023
- Educational Poster for Providers (PDF) - Posted:05/19/2023
This brochure describes the services provided by Early On Michigan and Build Up in further detail. It can be shared with the flyer below to attract new families seeking child care.
This flyer outlines the services provided by Early On Michigan and Build Up Michigan. It can be used with the brochure above to attract new families seeking child care.
This document explains how you and your team can benefit from watching the series of four online modules, All Together: Caring for Children with Delays and
Disabilities.This poster promotes the free inclusive child care training modules, All Together: Caring for Children with Delays and Disabilities, and the benefits of watching the training videos. It can be used with the one-pager above.
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Infographics
- Initial Evaluation Procedure for Special Education Programs and Services (PDF) - Posted:01/29/2024
- Michigan Early Intervention Steps (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Working with Early Intervention as a Child Care Provider (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
Infographic detailing the step-by-step early intervention process in Michigan. This resource is intended to help guide parents or guardians and child care facilities to understand the process and steps that may be involved.
Infographic provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services Bureau of Early Intervention (EI) breaks down the step-by-step process of how EI specialists and child care providers work together. This resource includes what to expect during an EI visit to a child care center and links to additional resources.
Wheel lists developmental milestones for all children birth up to age 5.
The Division for Early Childhood and the National Association for the Education of Young Children define what inclusion means and looks like in early learning environments.
Framework from the Michigan Department of Education including information about professional development opportunities, education and credentials necessary to prepare an effective and highly qualified workforce of early childhood educators.
Do you know what to do if a child in your care is not meeting their developmental milestones or has a pre-existing health condition? Early On Michigan offers early intervention services for families who have infants and toddlers, birth to three years of age, with developmental delay(s) and/or disabilities. This session will allow you to learn helpful tips and language to discuss developmental concerns with parents/caregivers and teach you how to partner so that children are supported, safe, and meaningfully included in child care settings.
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Social Media Sample Messaging
- Early On and Build Up Michigan Information Card
- Great news!
- Link to Build Up Website
- Link to CDC’s Milestone Tracker App
- Link to Early On Michigan Website
HEADLINE: Concerned about your child’s development?
COPY: Early On and Build Up can help!
POST COPY: If you have concerns about your child’s development, the first thing to do is learn who can help! That’s what Early On Michigan and Build Up Michigan are all about. Get started by downloading informational handouts linked here for parents and guardians describing the services provided by both Early On Michigan and Build Up.
HEADLINE: Great news!
COPY: Our child care center is now “inclusive child care”!
POST COPY: We are proud to announce that we are equipped to support children of all abilities! Inclusive child care means including children with learning delays in a child care setting alongside children who are meeting their milestones. Which means all of our students learn to develop positive self-images, friendship and social skills, problem-solving and respect for others.
HEADLINE: Need guidance about your child’s development?
COPY: Visit the Build Up MI website.
POST COPY: Build Up Michigan helps locate and identify young children ages 3 through 5 years who need special education services. Some places refer to these special education programs and services as Build Up. Services such as speech and language therapy, physical or occupational therapy, and more are available for free to children who qualify through their Intermediate School District (ISD). Visit buildupmi.org
HEADLINE: Is your child meeting milestones?
COPY: Download a handy milestone tracker!
POST COPY: Not all children develop at the same rate, but most children can do certain things by a certain age. Taking the first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Download a handy milestone tracker to learn more about milestones and how to recognize them as your child grows.
HEADLINE: Need guidance about your child’s development?
COPY: Visit the Early On MI website.
POST COPY: Early On is Michigan's system designed to help families with children who have developmental delays or are at risk for delays due to certain health conditions. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, both can provide information and resources to help you. Early On can guide families with infants and toddlers ages birth to age 3. Build Up helps parents and their children ages 3 through 5. Visit 1800earlyon.org
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Tip Sheets - All Together: Caring for Children with Delays and Disabilities
- An Overview of Early On and Build Up (PDF) - Posted:12/20/2023
- An Overview of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (PDF) - Posted:02/01/2024
- Collaborative Relationships to Support Early Childhood Inclusion (PDF) - Posted:12/20/2023
- Inclusive Care for Infants and Toddlers (PDF) - Posted:12/20/2023
- Inclusive Practices for Preschoolers (PDF) - Posted:12/20/2023
Early Childhood Development Organizations
Additional Helpful Websites
- California Childcare Health Program (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Child Care Technical Assistance Network
- CONNECT The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge
- Desired Results Access Project
- Head Start ECLKC: MyPeers – Social Network for Early Childhood Professionals
- Kids Included Together
- Programs Serving Children with Disabilities— IDEA as a Key Component of a State Early Childhood System (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- University of Maine
- Working With Families of Children With Special Needs - Infants 7 Toddlers
- Working With Families of Children With Special Needs - Preschool Age
Additional Resources
- Checklists for Providing/Receiving Early Intervention Supports in Child Care Settings (PDF) - Posted:11/22/2023
- CONNECT Modules
- Creating Environments That Include Children’s Home Languages and Cultures - Tip Sheet (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Creating Inclusive Environments and Learning Experiences
- DEC Module - CARA's Kit
- Decision Guide Tool for Use When Staff Have Concerns (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Disability Inclusion and Behavior Support Training
- Early Intervention and Child Care. Natural Partners and Natural Environments
- ECI Training and Technical Assistance
- Fact Sheet of Research of Preschool inclusion (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Growing Ideas: Inclusive Early Childhood Education (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Natural Resources - Monthly Newsletter
- Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs
- The Evidence for Inclusion (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- VA’s Child Care & Early Intervention Information Package (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- VEIPD - Delivering EI Services in Child Care Settings: Part I
- VEIPD - Delivering EI Services in Child Care Settings: Part II
- VEIPD - Let's Talk about Child Care and Early Intervention
- Working in Child Care as an El Provider (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023
- Working With Early Intervention as a Child Care Provider (PDF) - Posted:05/23/2023