Inclusive ECCD: - Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and ...

UNICEF/95-0769/Saad Jassim Zubeidi
This young child deserves to be served through an inclusive <strong>ECCD</strong> program where
his full potential can be fostered.
■ agency philosophy: some use the medical model
to address deficits and pathologies, others use
the <strong>ECCD</strong> model, which focuses on building
on strengths through the provision of holistic
inputs and supports;
■ funding: where this is available it is generally
provided for services, but not for the time
necessary to engage in the collaborative
processes which are a part of inclusive planning
and service delivery;
■ recognition: people are not given credit for work
on inter-agency collaboration;
■ the reduction of funding: when services are combined,
funds are withdrawn although the range
of services may have increased;
■ motivation: there are no financial or personal
incentives for collaboration and service
integration.
Conclusion and
Recommendations
Young children with special needs should be
served within inclusive early childhood programmes.
The principles that lead to the development
of quality inclusive programmes are essentially
the same as those that guide the development and
implementation of a quality early childhood programme.
In both there is a focus on meeting the
developmental needs of each child within a caring,
supportive environment. There is a focus on the provision
of holistic services that represent the integration
of health, nutrition, social services, and education.
Collaboration in the development of inclusive
programming is fundamental and includes many partners
working together at all levels—from parents and
families to communities, grassroots organisations,
local and national authorities, UN agencies, international
and national non-governmental organisations,
the donor community, and the business and private
sector.
It is clear from research that the inclusion of all
children in programmes during the early years will
help decrease the number of children whose special
needs are the result of poor nutrition and lack of stimulation
and/or love and care. With children who are
physically handicapped, but whose mental capacity
has not been affected, inclusion is quite manageable,
but may involve adaptations of the physical setting.
Diverse physical supports can be built to allow the
child to participate in an early childhood setting.
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