“Children with special needs and their families have access to child care and appropriate supports in the neighbourhood where they live.”

Inclusion:
Children with special needs have the same opportunity to attend and actively participate in child care programs as their peers.

Quality:
Child care programs and Special Needs Resourcing Agencies strive for responsive, timely evidence based best practices in the area of inclusion.

Partnerships:
A successful partnership between parents, childcare staff, and specialized services is essential in order to meet the individual needs of each child within a group setting. Participation of Parents/Guardians is recognized as integral to the successful inclusion of children with special needs in child care.

Accessibility:
Children with special needs and child care staff have access to supports which facilitate high quality inclusive early childhood experiences.

Integration:
The delivery of specialized supports in child care is embedded within a broader strategy for a system of childcare where all children can maximize their potential.

Equity:
Specialized supports are assigned based on the general population base and the rate of prevalence for special needs.

Flexibility:
Specialized supports are delivered in a way that allows service providers to adjust services based on current needs and agency’s expertise.

Capacity Building:
Inclusion is a process not a product, and there are issues of capacity that will take time for the community to respond to appropriately. Training is valued as an important contributor to quality and inclusion and will be available and coordinated by the child care and special needs resourcing communities to meet staff needs and build capacity.

Accountability:
Funded services are governed, delivered and accounted for, in a way that is transparent to the user and local taxpayer.