Early Childhood Education Assignment: Special Needs Children Analysis

This assignment focuses on the education of children with special needs in early childhood settings, providing two options for students to choose from. Option A requires a narrative response based on a child with special needs in the student's program, addressing their abilities, care, IEP or IFSP, activities, integration, accommodations, independence, paraprofessionals, parent involvement, and the benefits for both the child with disabilities and their peers. Option B offers three scenarios of children with special needs, prompting students to answer questions about goals for IEP/IFSP, specific and modified activities, play activities, independence, integration, accommodations, paraprofessionals, parent involvement, and the benefits of inclusion. The assignment aims to enhance understanding of inclusive practices and individualized support for children with diverse needs in early childhood education.

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
You have an option with this assignment in case there are no children with special needs or disabilities
at your center. On your response, please indicate which option you’ve chosen.
Option A—Narrative response.
Complete this assignment if there’s a child with a special need or disability at your center. If there’s a
special-needs (or disabilities) child (or children) in your program, choose one and write a narrative.
Identify the child by age, gender, and specific disability. Describe the child’s ability level and the care
that this child is currently receiving. Be sure to address in your description whether the child has an
individualized education program (IEP) or an individualized family support program (IFSP). If so, obtain
the necessary permission to review the program. Remember, all information is kept confidential; no
child’s name will be used. Describe the content of the program. What’s the benefit of having an IEP or
IFSP?
Are there specific activities that are done only with this child or particular activities that need to be
adapted? Describe. What play activities does this child participate in?
Describe how the child is integrated into the child care setting. Were there any physical
accommodations that needed to be made? If so, what were they? In what ways is the child’s
independence encouraged?
Does the child work with any paraprofessionals? If so, describe the paraprofessional type. What do
these individuals do with the child? What community agencies are they from? How are the parents
involved?
How do the children without disabilities benefit by having a child with disabilities in the class? How does
the child with the disability benefit from being in a setting with children who don’t have disabilities?
Do you feel that the program sufficiently addresses the needs of this child? If yes, why? If no, what
more do you think could be done, or what could be done differently?
Option B—Narrative response.
If there isn’t a child in your program with a special need or disability, choose one (1) of the three
scenarios below and answer the questions that follow the following scenario choices.
Scenario 1
You have a three-year-old boy in your preschool class with a hearing impairment in his left ear. He
seems to socialize well with the other children but has difficulty following simple directions and often
becomes frustrated.
Scenario 2
Your center is enrolling a four-year-old girl who has Down syndrome.
Scenario 3

You have a 25-month-old in your toddler class who exhibits cognitive developmental delays. This child’s
vocabulary consists of approximately five words, and the child is very difficult to understand. The child
often becomes angry and frustrated when playing with the other children.
Questions
1. Name at least three goals you would like to see incorporated into this child’s IEP or IFSP.
2. Are there any specific activities that you would do only with this child? Describe two to three of these
activities.
3. Are there any activities that you would need to modify for this child? Describe two to three such
activities.
4. How would you develop appropriate play activities for this child?
5. How would you encourage this child’s independence?
6. How would you integrate this child into the program?
7. Would you need to make any physical accommodations at the center for this child? If so, please
describe such changes or modifications.
8. How do you feel a child with disabilities benefits from being in a setting with children who don’t have
disabilities? How do you feel the children without disabilities can benefit from having a child with a
disability in their class?
9. Would this child need to work with any paraprofessionals? If so, describe the paraprofessional type.
Where in your community would you look for such individuals?
10. How would you involve the parents?
What to Submit for Evaluation
• Narrative response, Option A
• Narrative response, Option B