Working With Families for Inclusive Preschool Education: Parents'

• In Event: 52.083 - Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: 52.083-16 - Parents' Perspectives Around Early Childhood Family Education and Special Education Programs

Abstract

This paper describes a phenomenological study of parents’ perspectives about the services their young children with disabilities received and the way in which the parents and their children were included in the preschool experience. Analysis of in-depth interview data from 15 parents examines central themes that are compared to key characteristics of inclusive early childhood programs found in the literature. Parents identified the relevance of five themes related to family inclusion: valuing people and an inclusive culture, high expectations for academic and social growth, communication and collaboration, increasing confidence, and supporting children and parents. This study can benefit educators seeking educational equality as parents reveal the elements of effective inclusion in early childhood programs for children and their families.

Author

• Susan R. Warren, Azusa Pacific University