Programs_and_Care_Practices_on_Inclusivity

This information impacts on programs and care practices by one of the children having Down syndrome and this means that they will most likely need some form of inclusion support. E.g. specialised equipment (i.e. hearing aids and/or a communication board), speech therapy, occupational therapy and exercises for gross and fine motor skills. The environment might possibly have to be changed (e.g. rearranging the furniture in the room) due to the likely hood of the child not being able to move around as freely as the other children in the group. I would also plan and implement programs that reflect inclusive principles and value diversity as well as programs in which all children, including those with additional needs, participate jointly in educational activities and environments. This enables each individual, opportunities for acceptance, belonging and participation. It is our responsibility to model and create opportunities for positive interactions between the children in our care. As a number of children enrolled in the service are of aboriginal and migrant backgrounds it may be necessary to add objects to the room or environment such as: dress up clothes, posters, music and art work from their culture so that they feel included in the centre. Successful inclusion requires the participation of the whole staff team, the parents and the children. It also requires the environment (which in centre based care includes the specific room but also the entire centre) to be carefully considered. Inclusion is primarily about interactions. Inclusion does not happen automatically. Just putting children together of differing abilities, ethnicities or backgrounds, does not mean inclusion will occur. Inclusive practice means: openly valuing and accepting all children, celebrating their uniqueness and diversity, without tokenistic gestures; enabling all children to have equal opportunity to participate in all experiences; ensuring all children’s uniqueness is embraced, but never overemphasised. I would include into my program, multicultural themes such as traditional dresses from different cultures (by adding these to home corner) or learning to count to ten in another language. Inclusion is a process involving a programme, curriculum or educational environment where each child is welcomed and included on equal terms, can feel that they belong and can progress to his/her full potential in all areas of development.