Young children vary in their skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and abilities. Effective teaching requires individualized teaching and chances to learn for all children to access, participate, and thrive in early learning settings. Individualizing for children who need more support helps ensure effective teaching for children with disabilities and other special needs across all the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework domains. Using children’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals is part of effective teaching, individualizing, and creating environments to support children’s positive outcomes.
These short training suites help Head Start staff across all program settings learn how to use highly individualized teaching practices to make sure infants and toddlers with disabilities participate and learn alongside their peers.
Explore resources to understand and meet the learning needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities through the use of highly individualized teaching strategies. Learn about the importance of strong partnerships with families and early intervention agencies.
Explore the importance of strong partnerships between Early Head Start and Part C providers. Learn effective strategies to leverage these partnerships to improve the services and care offered to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
Find answers to common questions about embedded learning opportunities (ELOs) for infants and toddlers.
Read this guide to learn about the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and practical tips for using UDL strategies to support access and engagement.
Read this guide to learn about the purpose, development, and implementation of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and practical tips on how education staff can stay involved throughout the IFSP process.
Read this guide to learn about Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and practical tips for partnering with Part C providers.
Head Start programs must provide information and skill-building opportunities to help parents understand their child’s disability and become advocates to best support their child’s development.
Review standards for providing services to children during Individuals with Disabilities Education Act eligibility determination and through an Individualized Education Program or Individualized Family Service Plan.