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.
Head Start programs are expected to ensure that 10% of their actual enrollment are children eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Find answers to common questions here.
Explore this special collection of visuals that was designed to support the participation and learning of young children between the ages of 16 to 36 months.
These pictures and visuals help present important information in a way that children can understand and use. They encourage engagement and learning in many different settings, routines, and activities.
Embedded learning opportunities are short teaching interactions focused on a child’s individual learning objectives during ongoing daily activities and routines. Learn how to plan for and use embedded teaching.
Learn about the characteristics and diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome and resources to support children and families with this inherited genetic disorder.
Use these stories to teach children a variety of social skills and norms. Print and personalize the story for a specific child and read it one-on-one when the child is calm and relaxed.
Watch these short videos to learn about individualized instructional strategies, such as trial teaching and prompts, to help children with special needs obtain the skills and concepts they are trying to learn.
Learn and share useful tips for promoting positive behavior during common family activities and routines that can sometimes be challenging.
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.