Duluth, GA/ December 5, 2011 – ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), an IACET approved, nationally accredited, distance training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care and education workforce, offers the online course CCEI968: “Inclusion and Children with Special Needs” at no cost for the week of December 5 – 9, 2011, in support of Inclusive Schools Week.

In the past decade, issues surrounding inclusion and special needs have become more of a focus in the early childhood environment. This is due in part to the fact that more children are now enrolled in preschool than ever before, especially through publicly funded programs such as Head Start, which by law must be inclusionary. Increased awareness of special needs also increases as research into the benefits of early intervention and individualized strategies becomes clearer and more persuasive.

Participants will identify several types of common potential developmental delays or other signs that may warrant professional referrals, and participants will examine basic strategies for adapting classrooms and learning centers in order to accommodate children with diverse needs. This no-cost course is extended to all in order to promote widespread education on Inclusion and Children with Special Needs. There is no cost to set up a CCEI account and instructions are provided by clicking here.

“CCEI has introduced several courses on inclusion in response to demand from educators and families,” said Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO of CCEI. “Research has proven there are important, straightforward strategies for helping young children with diverse needs to maximize their potential. We are honored to promote inclusiveness in our online courses and hope everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of this invaluable course offering.”