A joint effort to back the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood programs has been announced by the U.S. Department of Education (EDU) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This initiative seeks to promote inclusivity from an early age, fostering a culture that embraces individuals with disabilities across all stages of life.
Detailing the intent behind the initiative, the agencies referenced a statement made years prior. The measure is an enhancement of a statement that was released in 2015 and involves a renewed obligation, as children with disabilities continue to try to overcome obstacles related to participation in inclusive early childhood programs, according to the EDU press release. The assertion was revised to align with a decree to both agencies in President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers.
Upon this announcement, U.S Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona articulated his support for increased accessibility. "Our nation’s youngest learners – including those with disabilities – deserve access to high quality early childhood programs that nurture their potential and provide a strong foundation for future success," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "Today, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services strengthen our shared commitment to break down barriers for young children with disabilities and Raise the Bar for inclusivity in our early childhood programs."
Moving forward, we delve into some startling statistics surrounding individuals living with disabilities. According to the EDU media release, there are more than 61 million adults in America with a disability and roughly one out of every six children is anticipated to have a developmental delay. The combined vision of both government entities is to cultivate a culture of inclusion for people with disabilities beginning at birth, progressing in early childhood programs and schools and into workplaces.
Adding to the conversation, Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra emphasizes the collective responsibility in making these programs accessible. "The responsibility to ensure that young children with disabilities and their families are included in high-quality early childhood programs is a shared one. Government, at all levels, early childhood systems, and schools must work together to provide necessary support to parents with their kids," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. "Today, Secretary Cardona and I reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to our role in this important work. Together, we can ensure every child with disabilities can participate in high-quality early childhood programs."
