About The Guest(s): Valerie Williams is the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education. She is passionate about early childhood inclusion and ensuring that all children have access to quality education.

Summary: Valerie Williams, Director of OSEP, discusses the importance of inclusion in early childhood education. She shares a personal story about finding the right preschool for her son with Down syndrome and highlights the need for a mindset shift among educators and administrators. Valerie emphasizes the importance of providing resources and technical assistance to support inclusive practices. She also discusses the current state of inclusive education in different states and the need for implementation and accountability.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/aHwtuZFhIyncVjkeHBdVS1Yk-Zc

Key Takeaways:

• Inclusion starts early and should continue throughout a child's education.
• The mindset of educators and administrators plays a significant role in promoting inclusion.
• There are federal resources available to support inclusive practices, but there is a need for better dissemination and outreach.
• Implementation and accountability are crucial for ensuring that inclusive practices are effectively implemented in schools.

Resources:

Office of Special Education Programs Techincal Assistance Network: https://osepideasthatwork.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/OSEP-IDEAs-Menu-508.pdf

This episode was produced in collaboration with the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (https://ectacenter.org/) and the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (https://fpg.unc.edu/).

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