Education Commons^™

Collaborating With Others Through Training To Enhance Inclusion, Rachel Williams

Student and Trainee Scholarship

The Maine Inclusion Credential is part of the work of Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN), funded by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services. The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS) is a collaborative partner with MRTQ PDN and was the lead in developing the Maine Inclusion Credential. This project incorporated a variety of activities to update one specific training within the inclusion series that leads to a Maine Inclusion Credential – Collaborating With Others to Support Inclusion.

Inclusive Education, Kasey Mcblais

Student and Trainee Scholarship

Inclusive education is crucial because it promotes diversity, acceptance and equity. Accommodating the needs of students with different abilities fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance and encourages collaboration among peers. Students can learn from one another. Students, regardless of their varying abilities have a right to access quality education alongside their peers, promoting social integration and reducing stigmatization. Inclusive education empowers all students to reach their full potential and fosters a culture of respect, empathy and understanding.

Black Bear Outdoor Leadership Diversified (B Bold) Program, Maine Bound, University Of Maine, Office For Diversity And Inclusion, University Of Maine

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Promotional flyer for the Black Bear Outdoor Leadership Diversified (B BOLD) program, a full-scholarship retreat for students of color.

Umaine Crime Alert, University Of Maine Police Department

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Examples of how safety alerts are communicated to members of the University of Maine community including email notification, individual campus portal pages for community members, and a notification posted across all pages of the university website. This safety alert describes the assault of an unnamed female by an unknown male who "briefly choked her, yelled a slur at her for wearing a pride shirt..." before running away.

Giudice Helps Creation Of Data Science Teaching Tools For High School Students With Disabilities, Marcus Wolf

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

As the data science field continues to generate more jobs and create new research and economic development opportunities, educators have decided to teach it in high schools. Many of the materials and tools they use, however, are inaccessible and fail to meet the needs of students with disabilities, impeding their access to data science careers.

Evaluating Services For New Mainers Community, Hibo Omer

Student and Trainee Scholarship

Mission: Sandcastle Clinical & Education Services: we decided that children with special needs would no longer be separated and that our classrooms would be composed of a mixture of children. Sandcastle’s goal was and still is to this day that children graduating from our program at age five, who had special needs, would transition directly into a regular classroom and not be segregated from their peers. We are proud to have been on the cutting edge of inclusion, and proud to be educating children to be open minded, with open hearts.

Vision: Sandcastle was the first early childhood education program …

Resource Guide For Maine Families, Schools, And Communities: Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support, Courtney Angelosante, Trish Niedorowski, Stephanie Leblanc, Carrie Woodcock

Special Education Faculty Scholarship

Maine’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for behavioral health and wellness is a promising way for schools and communities to work together so that every student can achieve health, wellness, and social success in schools, at home, and in their communities. School and community practices that encompass social and emotional learning and regulation, bully prevention, substance misuse prevention and intervention, etc. are integrated into a continuum of supports for children and families, so that the level of response matches the intensity of need. The goal of MTSS is for children and families to have access to a streamlined system of …

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion At Umaine Action Plan, Robert Dana

General University of Maine Publications

The University’s Diversity Action Plan guides our efforts to achieve seven key goals: communicate clearly and affirmatively the University’s commitment to diversity; make substantial progress on our Affirmative Action goals; retain employees of difference; value diversity as an essential component of the curriculum; increase the percentage of undergraduate and graduate students of color; retain those students through degree completion; and offer programming to sustain a community of respect for differences.

• Appoint a President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion.
• Make diversity and inclusion central to the Strategic Visioning Process.
• Update Diversity Action Plan for UMaine.
• Upgrade the …

Learning Ideas - Understanding Accessible Educational Materials (Aem) And Their Use: Tips For K-12 Educators, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Professional Development

Students arrive in classrooms with a variety of skills, interests and needs. For many learners, the typical curriculum—including instructional methods, classroom materials, and assessments of knowledge—may contain barriers to educational participation and achievement. Students who are unable to access print materials face particular challenges. Accessible educational materials reduce barriers and provide rich supports for learning. By using accessible educational materials, educators enable all learners to gain knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for learning.

Got A Story To Share?, Lgbtq Services, Jennifer Iwerks

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Flyer announcing that LGBTQ Services collection of stories about student experiences at the University of Maine.

Wearing Makeup Is Not An Indicator Of Being Anti-Feminist, Kim Crowley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Modern feminist discourse has struggled with a certain dilemma: the paradoxes of makeup and fashion. These two topics pose questions from both viewpoints. One may ask: are we meant to support makeup as an industry and hobby, to take pride in our skillfully groomed brows and pretty dresses that make us feel more beautiful? Or are our cultural notions of beauty something to fight against--another means of control, forcing us to force more on appearances than we should?

The Falsified Face Of Feminism Pushes Us Away From Progress, Kim Crowley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

If the internet has taught me one thing, it's that feminism is bad.

Sustainable Living Teen Volunteers, Catherine Elliot, Kristy Ouellette

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

Maine 4-H Youth Development programs have produced nationally-recognized environmental education and healthy lifestyle curricula that are research-based and have reached thousands of participants. Our new statewide initiative in Sustainable Living Education for youth and adults provides an excellent context for the CYFAR Maine Sustainable Communities Project (MSCP), Sustainable Living Teen Volunteers (SLTV). The SLTV program will be conducted at two of our current 4-H Camp and Learning Centers in collaboration with local schools. After completing their training, teens will teach sustainable living concepts and practices to youth in middle schools and 4-H clubs. The SLTVs will learn valuable life skills …

Policy Brief: Keeping All Students Safe Act Of 2014, Nancy Bergerson

Policy Analysis

Senator Harkin (D-IA), Senator Murphy (D-CT), Senator Baldwin (D-WI), and Senator Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act (S.2036) in the Senate on Feb. 24, 2014. Rep. Miller (D-CA) introduced H.R. 1893 on May 9, 2013. The Act would produce limitations for the use of restraints in public and private schools. Currently, 19 states have no policies in place to address this issue. The law would require better training, monitoring and enforcement of these standards, as well as the collection of related data which would be available to the public. We are asking you to co-sponsor the Keeping …

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act Of 2014, Kassandra Mores

Policy Analysis

On May 9, 2014, Representative Smith (R-NJ) and Representative Doyle (D-PA) introduced a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act (H.R. 4631) for five years. Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Enzi (R-WY) are planning to introduce a Senate bill of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act. The Combating Autism Act of 2011, due to sunset September 30, 2014, provides federal funding for autism research, public education, and early detection and intervention in Maine. We are hoping that you will consider voting in support of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act.

Growing Ideas - Caring For Young Children - Business Matters, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Caregivers or business owners? Family child care providers are both. Paying attention to the business aspects of running a family child care home is an important component to having the income and working environment needed for program success.

Growing Ideas - Building Belonging: Providing Guidance For Social Skill Development, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

As young children with and without disabilities grow, they are learning how to develop relationships with others and to be members of a community. All children need support to learn and achieve these important life skills. The process adults use to teach and support this learning is known as guidance. Effective guidance assumes the following conditions: Respect, understanding, and appreciation for every child’s unique qualities; Knowledge that children’s mistaken behaviors provide learning opportunities; An encouraging community where every child belongs and feels safe; and a developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive setting.

Growing Ideas - Daily Transitions - Time For A Change, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Young children with and without disabilities experience many changes during their day. Daily transitions in early care and education programs take place during an activity, or when children move from one activity to another or one location to another. Transitions include the following: Arriving at or departing from a program; Exchanging toys; Entering or leaving a play area during free choice time; Cleaning up after morning activities and starting a group circle time; Getting dressed to go outside to play; and Shifting from playing with friends to working with a teacher/therapist on a particular skill. Thoughtful planning is needed so …

Growing Ideas - Whack! Slam! Bang! - Aggression, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Aggressive behavior - hitting, pinching, biting, and other acts through which children may hurt themselves or others - is a way children communicate by using their bodies. Children behave aggressively for a variety of reasons.

Growing Ideas - Partnering With An Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) is a collaborative relationship between a mental health consultant and families, care and education professionals, and/or early care and education teachers. ECMHC strives to improve the ability of families, teachers, and care and education professionals to promote, sustain and restore healthy social and emotional development for all children. Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation approaches challenging situations with children from a problem solving perspective. ECMHC is not a therapeutic intervention: it occurs in the children's natural settings - child care, home, and school.

Growing Ideas - Admissions Policies And Practices That Build Inclusive Child Care Communities (For Providers), University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Quality inclusive child care settings include children with disabilities and health, behavioral or mental health concerns. Admissions policies that clearly state eligibility criteria, practices, program and parent and/or guardian responsibilities, can help families evaluate if the program will be a good match for their child. Providers may want to obtain legal advice to be sure their policy and procedures align with relevant federal and state laws and regulations.

Growing Ideas - Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) is a collaborative relationship between a mental health consultant and family members, child care providers, early care and education teachers, and/ or child development professionals. ECMHC strives to improve the ability of families, teachers, and caregivers to promote, sustain and restore healthy social and emotional development for all children. It supports building and maintaining healthy working relationships between care and education professionals and families.

Growing Ideas - Admissions Policies And Practices That Build Inclusive Child Care Communities (For Parents And Guardians), University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

All children, including children with disabilities, benefit when quality inclusive child care settings provide an equal opportunity to participate. Admissions policies and practices that reflect this inclusive philosophy can help parents and guardians evaluate whether the program will be a good match for their child.

Growing Ideas - Laws That Support Early Childhood Education For All, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

State and federal laws protect the rights of children with disabilities. These laws support the inclusion of children with disabilities in care and education settings. Care and education professionals should be familiar with these laws.

Growing Ideas - Inclusive Early Childhood Education, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Inclusive early childhood programs are built upon a foundation of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) and consider individualized approaches that benefit all children. Inclusive programs welcome ALL children, including children with disabilities, and provide opportunities for each child in the group to participate, learn, and truly belong. Care and education professionals consider the needs of all children when planning, implementing, and evaluating the program.

Growing Ideas - Thoughtful Teaching: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) describes an approach to education that guides early childhood professionals in their everyday practice. DAP comes from more than 75 years of research on child development and early learning. It gives early childhood professionals information from which to make decisions based on their knowledge of child development and what is known about how young children learn.

Growing Ideas - Ouch! That Hurts! - Biting, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Children bite for a variety of reasons. Biting behavior provides clues to how children are feeling, their stage of development and what they need from their environment to be successful. Understanding what the young child needs is the first step in developing an effective response. For some children, biting may be related to their stage of development. Biting can be very common, for example, at the toddler stage. When young children lack skills and strategies to communicate their feelings and needs effectively, they may feel overwhelmed. Biting then becomes a child's way of expressing frustration.

Growing Ideas - Assessment Basics: From Observation To Instruction, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Developmentally appropriate assessment supports learning through the process of gathering information related to a child's development and learning style. It provides professionals with a picture of each individual child and helps to answer essential questions about a child's growth and development.

Growing Ideas - Friends & Feelings: Social-Emotional Development In Young Children, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Social-emotional development involves the ability to form close, secure relationships and to experience, regulate, and express emotions. Social-emotional growth is affected by a variety of factors, such as an individual’s unique biology and temperament, as well as life experiences. “Social” refers to how individuals interact with others. “Emotional” refers to how individuals feel about themselves, others, and the world.

Growing Ideas - Word Play All Day - Early Literacy In Action, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Early literacy is one term used to describe the stage of literacy development occurring before children are able to read and write. From infancy, children begin to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that influence lifelong reading and writing behaviors. These early literacy experiences help children discover the purposes of, and relationships between, speech and print.