Education and Medical Professionals Collaborating to Prepare Early Childhood Teachers for Inclusive Settings

Overview & Synopsis

Best practice in the early childhood special education field supports the inclusion of young children with special needs in natural learning environments, that is, in programs where children without disabilities of the same age and their families participate. Consequently, early childhood teacher education programs must prepare professionals to teach children who are diverse in physical, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities and needs. This article describes the first 3 years of collaboration between a university's early childhood teacher education program and a hospital's program for families of children with special needs. Using a transdisciplinary model, the mission of this partnership is to prepare a new generation of teachers who excel in helping children with and without disabilities thrive.