Inclusion Barriers

(& Tips on Solving Them!)

Barrier #1

Inclusion misinformation myths
Connect parents and staff with inclusion-related workshops, support groups, and reliable information on sites like The Arc and NICHCY.

• Use your newsletter to highlight inclusion benefits and facts
• Post reader-friendly research summaries on your program’s website
• Develop a Q&A handout for parents & staff

Barrier #3

Parent resistance hesitation
Develop an inclusion resource library with books, videos, etc.

Organize parent information nights

Consider an “inclusion observation series” that lets parents watch inclusion in practice.

• Invite a panel of families to speak about inclusion and answer questions
• Have staff share inclusion success stories with parents

Expectation of disabilities

Show staff how to use a resource like Building Blocks for Teaching Preschoolers with Special Needs to collect information about a child, embed interventions into classroom activities, and monitor progress. They’ll be able to see just how much kids with disabilities learn and grow over the course of the year.

Barrier #5

Lack of time

Begin planning for inclusion well in advance of the school year, so teachers feel ready on Day 1.

• Pair novice teachers with experienced ones so they can solve problems as a team
• Build in weekly planning times for teaching teams during the school year
• Hold monthly brainstorming lunches

Lack of resources training

Hire an inclusion coach to discover support needs and provide mentoring and professional development.

Reach out to a program already implementing inclusion under the guidance of a licensed early childhood special educator. Ask if the educator could provide supervision at your site.

If distance and funding are issues, consider video coaching strategies and online training modules.

Adapted from First Steps to Preschool Inclusion by Sarika Gupta, Ph.D., with William Henninger, Ph.D., and Megan Vinh, Ph.D.