Resources - Special Needs: From Referral to Inclusion

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Open-a-Center Checklist What to Know Before Signing a Lease
PDF

Open-a-Center Checklist What to Know Before Signing a Lease

Before signing a lease for your new center, confirm zoning and licensing rules, occupancy limits, and any required permits or landlord approvals so the space can legally operate as your type of fac... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
Buyer Checklist Questions to Ask Before Buying a Child Care Center
PDF

Buyer Checklist Questions to Ask Before Buying a Child Care Center

Before buying a child care center, ask to review licensing and inspection records, accreditation status, capacity and enrollment trends, financial statements (profit & loss, balance sheet, tax retu... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
Equal Access to Child Care Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
PDF

Equal Access to Child Care Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

Learn how child care programs can support inclusion and equal access for children with disabilities. This ADA resource explains individualized assessment, reasonable modifications, accessible commu... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
Tips to Cope with Crying Toddlers
PDF

Tips to Cope with Crying Toddlers

Help families understand why toddlers cry and learn simple ways to respond with calm, support, and consistency. This resource explains common reasons toddlers cry, describes shorter and longer tant... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
Playing in Weather from Rain to Rainbows
PDF

Playing in Weather from Rain to Rainbows

Discover playful ways to help young children explore weather through outdoor learning, sensory experiences, and hands-on science. This Head Start resource encourages children to investigate rain, w... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
How to Work in a Daycare With No Child Care Experience
PDF

How to Work in a Daycare With No Child Care Experience

If you have no childcare experience, emphasize transferable skills like patience, communication, reliability, and any informal experience (babysitting, tutoring, volunteering) when applying for ent... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Special Needs in Daycare: Supporting Communication
PDF

Special Needs in Daycare: Supporting Communication

Daycares can support children with special needs by creating inclusive communication environments that use predictable routines, visual supports, and clear, simplified language. Implementing augmen... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Special Needs in Daycare: Behavior Support
PDF

Special Needs in Daycare: Behavior Support

Effective behavior support in daycare for children with special needs uses individualized, proactive plans that focus on understanding the purpose of behaviors and teaching replacement skills. Cons... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Special Needs in Daycare: Helping Children Join In
PDF

Special Needs in Daycare: Helping Children Join In

Daycares can support children with special needs by creating inclusive routines, adapting activities, and using visual supports so each child can participate at their own pace. Trained staff, stron... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Special Needs in Daycare: Inclusion Quick Tips
PDF

Special Needs in Daycare: Inclusion Quick Tips

Create an inclusive environment by training staff in disability awareness, using predictable routines and visual supports, and arranging the space with sensory-friendly areas and accessible materia... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Understanding Your Child's Social and Emotional Development from Birth to Age 5
PDF

Understanding Your Child's Social and Emotional Development from Birth to Age 5

From birth to age five, children rapidly develop social and emotional skills—forming secure attachments, expressing basic emotions, and beginning to regulate feelings with caregiver support. Resp... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
How to write your CDA portfolio
PDF

How to write your CDA portfolio

Want to know exactly how to write your CDA Portfolio? If you’re staring at the CDA Competency Statements and thinking “What do I even say?”—this guide walks you through it step-by-step usin... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Fun Ways to Teach First Aid
PDF

Fun Ways to Teach First Aid

Make first aid training fun and memorable with interactive, classroom-ready activities. Great for building confidence, teamwork, and smart decision-making in a low-stress way. #FirstAid #HealthAnd... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Family Guide to NYS Early Childhood Services - Prenatal through Age 5
PDF

Family Guide to NYS Early Childhood Services - Prenatal through Age 5

The Family Guide to NYS Early Childhood Services is a comprehensive resource for parents and caregivers of children from prenatal through age 5. It provides information on a wide range of services ... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
Holiday Inclusion Planning Guide
PDF

Holiday Inclusion Planning Guide

The Holiday Inclusion Planning Guide offers practical strategies and checklists to help organizations and communities create celebrations that welcome people of all cultural backgrounds, abilities,... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
How To Start a Home Daycare
PDF

How To Start a Home Daycare

A step-by-step checklist to help you open and set up a home daycare (family child care) from licensing prep and home safety to policies, enrollment forms, and daily operations. #HomeDaycare #Famil... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
How to Start a Daycare With No Money
PDF

How to Start a Daycare With No Money

Starting a daycare with “no money” usually means lowering upfront costs by using funding options, donated resources, shared space, and phased purchasing. This guide walks you through realistic ... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
How to Get Your CDA for Free
PDF

How to Get Your CDA for Free

Find ways to earn your CDA at low or no cost using state scholarships, workforce funding , Head Start support, or employer reimbursement. Use the state-by-state links to locate programs that may co... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Common Daycare Scenarios: What to Say & Do
PDF

Common Daycare Scenarios: What to Say & Do

A practical guide to responding to common daycare behavior concerns with positive discipline. Includes what to say, what to do in the moment, and follow-up teaching steps to support safety, consist... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
A Guide to Safety Conversations with Families
PDF

A Guide to Safety Conversations with Families

A Guide to Safety Conversations with Families is a comprehensive resource designed to help professionals engage in effective discussions about #safety with families. It provides practical strategi... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
Environmental Adaptations Checklist to Promote Child Participation
PDF

Environmental Adaptations Checklist to Promote Child Participation

The Environmental Adaptations Checklist is a tool used to evaluate and promote child participation in various settings. By identifying potential barriers and modifying the physical environments, th... Read more
Free
How to complete your CDA Professional Development Portfolio
PDF

How to complete your CDA Professional Development Portfolio

To complete your CDA Professional Development Portfolio, you need to first gather all the necessary materials such as training certificates, work samples, and references. Next, you should carefully... Read more
Free
License: CCBY
Engaging Families with Children with Special Needs. (Mixed Ages)
PDF

Engaging Families with Children with Special Needs. (Mixed Ages)

Engaging families with children with #special_needs is crucial to providing the best care and support for the child. It is important to create open lines of #communication with the family to ensure... Read more
Free
License: CC0/PUBLIC DOMAIN
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