What is Inclusion for children with special needs?

Inclusion is belonging to a group of same aged friends. It's being involved in your neighborhood activities. It's being enrolled at your home school or your family's school of choice. It's participating in recreational organizations. Mostly, it's being accepted by friends, neighbors, teachers, doctors and leaders in your community.

Benefits include: reducing stereotypes, building self-esteem, improving behavior and social and communication skills, making new friends.


For babies and toddlers with special health concerns, inclusion often means having parents who are not afraid or embarrassed to take them places where other parents with young children go. It can be what you make it. You must by your own child's advocate. Search and look for opportunities in your area to include your child and yourself in events and experiences going on around you. Life is rich, get out there and have fun!

Some places to Play:
  • County Library - Story-Time for toddles and Book Babies
  • Great Valley Museum - Matural History Museum and Hand-on Discovery Room
  • Heifer Project - Petting and viewing is possible at this farm raising animals to help the underprivileged. Internation Site in Ceres
  • Hold Your Horses - Therapeutic horseback riding especially for children w/special needs
  • International Moms Club - Peer group play and trips
  • YMCA - Family nights, daycare during parent work-outs, tot swim lessons
  • Local parks and Playspaces at family restaurants.
     
   Feeling a little nervous about exposing your child to others? Need a parent peer?
  • Family Resource Network connects parents of children with special needs, and has a lending library of ideas and information available at a nominal cost.
5250 Claremont Ave. Suite 239
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 472-3674
www.frcn.org

www.earlystartstation.org