2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

Sensory inclusion is more than a set of practices—it is a mindset that shapes how a child experiences the world. Join Durham County Library to explore sensory processing and engagement strategies that help children thrive at school, home, and in the community. This interactive session will feature hands-on exploration of sensory tools, practical guidance for recognizing sensory preferences, and simple, adaptable strategies for fostering inclusive environments for all children. Participants will experience a sensory-integrated library Storytime demonstration that can be replicated in various settings, while learning how sensory integration supports early literacy, encourages children’s choice, sparks curiosity, and creates joyful, engaging experiences that promote healthy development and create a welcoming world for all. ,

Everyday routines can become powerful learning moments for infants and toddlers. In this interactive session, families and practitioners will learn simple, effective ways to adapt home environments, materials, and interactions to better support children with disabilities and developmental delays. Together, we’ll explore how small adjustments during daily activities—like playtime, meals, and caregiving—can open the door to meaningful learning. Participants will also share their own strategies and ideas, creating a collaborative space for inspiration and problem-solving. Attendees will leave with practical tools and a curated list of free resources to continue building inclusive learning opportunities at home.
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Supporting young children when their behavior feels challenging is one of the most common and complex parts of early childhood work. We all have strategies, but even when we use our best tools, those moments can still leave us feeling disconnected, worn down, or unsure of what to do next. Especially when things feel hard, how we use practices matters just as much as which ones we choose. This session focuses on the adult side of supporting young children whose behavior can feel challenging to understand and support. Rather than adding more tools to an already full toolbox, participants will explore a small set of research-supported “quarter turns” to bring more intention to the practices they already use. Participants will leave with practical ways to shift from a focus on behavior or children as challenging toward a broader, belonging-centered approach that supports stronger relationships, more responsive interactions, and inclusive, caring classroom communities.

We will cover the topics of trauma and substance use disorders. What is trauma? How does it present in families and children and what can we do as early educators or advocates to create a trauma-responsive environment? What is Substance Use Disorder? What are the barriers and stigmas that pregnant and parenting mothers with SUD face when seeking out child care and treatment?  We will also discuss what it means to "heal generations" and the holistic and family-centered approach we take to empower families through accessing early education, therapy, intervention, and other services at Horizons and beyond in a trauma-responsive environment.

UNC Horizons Program is a substance use disorder treatment program for pregnant and/or parenting women and their children, including those whose lives have been touched by abuse and violence. In 1993, UNC Horizons was created as a response to a significant need in North Carolina for a treatment and recovery program for pregnant and mothering women – one that helped to resolve the issues of drug use that are specific to women and their families, and one that kept those families together. Now, 250 women are touched each year – more than 5,000 since the program started – by Horizons’ integrated prenatal care and substance use disorder treatment, trauma-informed recovery practices, inpatient and outpatient treatment, career counseling, housing assistance, case management, family therapy and a 5-star child development center for our clients’ children.

Families are powerful advocates when equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to understand and interpret data. This session explores how families can use data to advance inclusive practices and make informed school choice decisions. Participants will learn how to help families interpret school and district data, understand equity indicators, and apply this knowledge to advocate for inclusive environments and high-quality educational options. Using DaSy's Look! Think! Act! Framework, practical examples, tools, and interactive discussion, participants will build the skills and confidence needed to support families to influence decisions that promote access, belonging, and positive outcomes for all children.

Playful Learning Landscapes is a national movement to transform ,the places where children and families gather every day into thoughtfully designed hubs for meaningful play and connection. Based on a community co-design process and combined with the science of child development, Playful Learning offers customized spaces for children of all ages and abilities to interact in ways that spark curiosity and exploration. Participants in this session will experience Playful Learning installations, learn the science of Playful Learning, and understand the Playful Learning design process. By considering opportunities for Playful Learning in communities, classrooms, and clinics, we can innovate the physical spaces that surround children and families in support of children’s development and learning. ,