What is the All Means All Program?
In order to receive their All Means All certification, programs must meet the following criteria:
- In a Child Care Center, a Director, Owner, or Designated Director has completed 40 hours of training on children with special needs and disabilities, and how to run an inclusive program. In a Licensed Family Child Care, a Caregiver has completed 40 hours of training on children with special needs, disabilities, and inclusion.
- The program has written and posted an inclusion statement that describes how they value diversity and inclusion in their program. Each program has an inclusion statement posted on their Care About Childcare program page that is unique to their program.
- The provider has researched and created a list of local special needs resources in their community available for caregivers and parents.
- The program has an expulsion policy.
- The provider is actively working towards implementing the training they have received to create inclusive environments and programs for all children and families.
- The provider received a grant that was used to purchase materials that all children in the classroom can utilize.
Additionally, Directors of the program have agreed to the following:
- I understand and follow all federal and state laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA. This includes not excluding families from my program because the child or parent has a disability. I believe in being an inclusive program benefits both children with special needs and other children in my program. I see having diverse families and children enrolled in my program as an asset. I know having a child with a disability or delay in my program can be challenging but is extremely worthwhile. I can and will assist the caregivers in my program to create an environment, both physically and emotionally, where everyone is invited to participate as much as they want to, and everyone is treated with kindness and respect. Children have the freedom to explore their ideas about disabilities through play and conversation, and are guided to be aware and respectful of their feelings and perspectives of children with special needs.
As Director, I will see out helpful community resources and professionals to ensure that caregivers and parents have opportunities to connect and make use of them.
As Director, if a child has an IEP or IFSP, I will collaborate with the other professionals that work with that family if given permission to do so from parents.