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Inclusion Beyond Participation Read the Article! PROJECT JERICHO Project Jericho is distinct from other programs in that it provides children the ongoing services and supports that they need to succeed in regular child care and educational settings. These services and supports may include the adaptation and modification of curriculum, activities, materials and schedules; appropriate staffing ratios; integrated related services; innovative instructional strategies and a team approach to service delivery. The three major components of Project Jericho are individual consultation, on-site support, and training. As with all Alta Mira programs, Project Jericho recognizes the family as the expert.
Families with questions about a child's success and development in child care or preschool settings are urged to contact Project Jericho. Project Jericho offers free consultation services (with parent permission) to families and Early Care and Education Centers (ECEC) for children ages birth through five who are enrolled in a preschool or child care program. The consultation consists of a one-hour observation of the child in his or her classroom by a developmental specialist or therapist. The consultant will then provide the parent and school with feedback, suggestions and, if needed, referrals for further developmental evaluation and other resources. Families can also seek consultation assistance to help their child transition into an ECEC. This type of assistance includes support and training for ECEC staff. Project Jericho's developmental specialists provide on-site support to children, families and Early Care and Education Centers (ECEC) and their staff. Services of the developmental specialist include: 1) coaching the classroom staff "in the moment," increasing both competence and confidence in including the child with special needs in all classroom activities and routines; 2) curriculum planning, adaptation, modification and execution; 3) researching information, creating visual schedules or other transitional indicators, demonstrating techniques and strategies, and; 4) supporting staff via regular collaboration and meetings. The emphasis is always on maximizing the child's involvement and interaction with peers with minimal interference by the developmental specialist. Alta Mira provides Project Jericho training for Early Care and Education Centers (ECECs) in support of the goal of including all children in child care and preschool programs. Following is a list of available training topics: •Setting Limits with Children
•Play: What is it?
•Speech and Language Development
•Early Childhood Development
•Understanding Sensory Integration Issues
•Understanding Down Syndrome
•Understanding Autism
•Use of Simple Sign Language with Young Children
•Dealing with Difficult Behaviors in Young Children
•Dealing with Aggressive Themes in Children’s Play
•Creating the Optimal Learning Environment
•Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Children 2-4 Years Old
•Communication Skills: Effective Communication with Parents/Staff
•Relevant Materials for an Early Childhood Classroom
•Prevention of Communicable Diseases in the Classroom
•Developmental Red Flags
•Preparation for Parent-Teacher Conferences
•Having Fun Together
•Helping Children Cope with Stress
•Including Children with Medical Challenges
•Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Project Jericho staff can tailor any of these training sessions to meet the ECEC needs. We are also able, on request, to develop new training modules. |
What is inclusion? For preschoolers and young children, it means placing children with disabilities in the same educational and learning settings as children without disabilities and providing them with the necessary services and supports to enable them to benefit from being there. For older children, adolescents and adults, it means the opportunity to participate in the same educational, vocational, career, living and recreational settings as their peers without disabilities and providing them with the necessary services and supports to enable them to both benefit from, and be successful in, those settings. |
1605 Carlisle Blvd. NE | Albuquerque, NM 87110 | Phone: (505) 262-0801 | Fax: (505) 262-0845
