HEALTH & DISABILITIES

Disability Services

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) mandates that the development and implementation of programming be designed to meet the individual needs of children.

DCPC welcomes children with disabilities and their families.

Our programs provide opportunities for early intervention services in supportive, natural environments for all children with disabilities.

Children may be identified with disabilities after their enrollment in a DCPC program through screening, assessment, or referral. Or children may be referred to our program through local Birth-to-Three or Connections programs.

The IDEA Act (1990) requires states to extend educational services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities and children at risk for developmental delays. DCPC follows the principals outlined in IDA and creates the following opportunities for children with disabilities:

  • Experiencing an enhanced environment that stimulates all areas of their development
  • Interactions with typically developing peers to increase their social and language skills
  • Environments where children experience acceptance by their peers
  • Developing friends, experiencing feelings and frustrations within a safe classroom community

Typically developing children in our programs will be enriched through their friendships and play with children with disabilities in the following ways:

  • Learning about differences in development and disabilities
  • Becoming more accepting of diversity
  • Learning how to be role models and support their peers

A full-time Disabilities Coordinator is available to assist children, families, and staff in providing the best opportunities for our special needs children. The Disabilities Coordinator attends most of the Individual Educational Plans (IEP) for preschoolers and the Family Advocates or the Early Head Start Director attend the Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) for infants and toddlers. The Disabilities Coordinator and the EHS Director also work closely with the community to find resources and make referrals when families ask or need more support.