Due to the growing awareness of the benefits of including young children with disabilities in general education settings, the "Only Once A Child" project was developed. To enlarge the circle of experts beyond the traditional special education team, this project supports staff persons in early childhood programs and parents in rethinking what we do and how we do it. This grant makes it possible for local early childhood staff to cope with, accept and teach children with special needs within their general education programs. By focusing on a child-centered environment, staff and parents collaborate on a level playing field, as no individual has all the answers. We need to work together with existing programs to provide learning opportunities for children with and children without IEPs.

The mission of the "Only Once A Child" grant is: children needing early childhood special education and young students through the age of eight years will experience developmentally appropriate early childhood programming in mixed-ability settings, thereby making long-term gains in cognitive/intellectual development, social and emotional skills. The goal of this grant is to increase the use of DAP in kindergarten through third grade classrooms.

To start the year out, David Burchfield presented a two day workshop on "Establishing DAP in Primary Years: Offering Children Time, Choice, Responsibility, and a Sense of Community." This workshop was very well received by all that attended.

Throughout the year, the teachers involved with the grant will receive a variety of benefits. They will be able to visit other primary programs in Kansas using developmentally appropriate practices, use monthly instructional modules filled with DAP materials to be used in the classroom, and receive consultation from the Grant Facilitator.

On October 13, 1997, we will be offering a workshop entitled "Portfolio's and Transition" by June Rempel. We are excited to have June present on this topic. For more information on this workshop, contact Cindy Schroeder at (785) 672-3125.

Submitted by Cindy Schroeder, Only Once A Child project, Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center, Oakley

Back to the August Newsletter