Michigan Early Childhood Inclusion Project

"Inclusion is a civil right really. Every child should be included – every child should be able to go to the school nearest to their home." Special Needs Coordinator, Early Childhood Program, MI

"Inclusion shows the world, like it is, where everyone is not perfect – everyone is different." (Parent of 2 children with disabilities who have attended inclusive programs, MI)

Early childhood programs which demonstrate that they place a high value on diversity and recognize the richness and strengths which this can bring, are fully inclusive of all children and ensure that parents have opportunities to be involved.
Early childhood programs set the stage for a future where inclusion can be taken for granted - in further education, employment and in social and political life.
Infants, toddlers and young children with disabilities, from a range of cultures, should not be excluded from the development and learning opportunities which high quality early education services can offer. 1,2,3,
Along with their families, they are entitled to full participation in society and to develop a sense of belonging to the communities in which they live. 4,5

The Project

The purpose of the Early Childhood Inclusion in Michigan Project is

to promote inclusion of children with special needs in the community and within educational settings (e.g., preschool, Head Start programs, nursery school, and childcare.)
This project will have a particular focus on the status of early childhood inclusion in Michigan and how national policy and research on this topic fits the local context.
By utilizing the institutional strengths of MSU, the project team will focus on developing policy reports and designing effective dissemination strategies.
The project is funded by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council.

Our Philosophy

It is our philosophy and value that we do not act upon others, but act with others to build collaborative working relationships that benefit all children, families, and communities.

1. Hanson, M., Wolfberg, P., Zercher, C., Morgan, M., Gutierrez, S., Barnwell, D. & Beckman, P. (1998) The culture of inclusion: recognizing diversity at multiple levels, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 13(1: 185-209)

2. Kagan, S. and Neuman, M.J. (2000) Early care and education: current issues and future strategies. In J. Shonkoff and S. Meissels (eds.) Handbook of Early Intervention. Cambridge, UK, NY, USA, Melbourne, Australia, Madrid, Spain: Cambridge University Press.

3. Shonkoff & Phillips (eds.) (2000) From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

4. Guralnick, M. (ed.) (2001b) Early Childhood Inclusion: Focus on Change. Baltimore, MD: Brookes

5. Odom, S.L., Ed., (2002). Widening the circle: Including children with disabilities in preschool programs. New York : Early Childhood Education Series.

© 2006 Michigan State University Board of Trustees.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity institution. East Lansing MI 48824