2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute has ended

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2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

8:00am EDT

(In-Person) Check in for Pre-Conference Workshops and Breakfast Atrium

9:00am EDT

(In-Person) Coaching for Inclusion: Building Powerful Partnerships through Tiered Coaching Supports DogwoodKathleen Artman Meeker (In-Person) Getting Unstuck: Pyramid Model Strategies for When Behavior Challenges Adults WindflowerLindsay N. Giroux • Leiha Knecht (In-Person) How the Concept of Rightful Presence Strengthens Inclusive Practices for Families, Community Members, and Children in Early Learning Spaces AzaleaSeena Skelton

10:00am EDT

(In-Person) Morning Break and Snacks for Pre-Conference Participants Atrium

12:00pm EDT

(In-Person) Lunch Trillium

1:00pm EDT

(Hybrid) Welcome and Keynote Address Grumman, Virtual on ZoomMychal Threets

2:15pm EDT

(In-Person) Afternoon break and snacks Atrium

2:45pm EDT

(Hybrid) Inclusion 101: From Access to Belonging in Early Childhood Environments Dogwood, Virtual on ZoomMegan Vinh (Hybrid) The Power of Rightful Presence: Fostering Agency and Self-Advocacy in the Early Years Grumman, Virtual on ZoomAmanda Kloo • Seena Skelton • Alexander Campbell • Philip Woodward

4:30pm EDT

(In-Person) Reflection/Networking Session: Families/Family advocates/Self-Advocates/Individuals with Disabilities WindflowerSusan Barlow (In-Person) Reflection/Networking Session: National/State/Community/Local Leaders AzaleaRuth Gallucci • Debbie Cate (In-Person) Reflection/Networking Session: Teachers, Practitioners – Early Intervention, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Childcare, Head Start, Pre-K, Therapists BellflowerDawn Meskil (In-Person) Reflection/Networking Session: Technical Assistance/Professional Development Providers including Coaches and Higher Ed Faculty DogwoodSheresa Blanchard

7:30am EDT

(In-Person) Check in and Breakfast Atrium

8:30am EDT

(In-Person) Creating Professional Development with Adult Learning Principles AzaleaSally Hansen • Jackie Joseph (In-Person) Engaging Families and Community Members While Centering Children's Humanity and Rightful Presence in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Implementation in Early Learning Settings RedbudSeena Skelton (In-Person) Every Child, Every Classroom: Navigating the Path to Early Childhood Inclusion Moutain LaurelJani Kozlowski • Melissa McCullough (In-Person) Meeting Children Where They Are: Adapting Instruction for Preschool Children DogwoodDelShana LeGrant • Kimberly Terry (In-Person) The Bridge to Belonging: Building True Partnerships in Our Child's Early Years BellflowerKathleen Gibson • Erin Reisdorf (In-Person) WE CAN AND WE MUST: Practical Strategies Advancing Inclusion and Belonging for Every Child WindflowerRuth Gallucci • Debbie Cate

10:00am EDT

(In-Person) Morning Break and Snacks Atrium

10:15am EDT

(In-Person) A Least Restricted Environment (LRE) Toolkit for Families of Young Children BellflowerAnn Kremer • Tareema Jean-Baptiste (In-Person) Building Belonging for Infants and Toddlers: Strategies for Inclusive Child Care Experiences DogwoodJenna Weglarz-Ward (In-Person) Pediatrics and Child Welfare: Partnering to Support Families Experiencing Heightened Adversities Moutain LaurelNatalie Tackitt • Darneshia Allen (In-Person) Scaffolding Caregiver Learning AzaleaTeran Frick • Tasha Olson (In-Person) Understanding Child Media Use for Sensory Regulation: Research by the UNC FaMLab on Media Sensory Curation and Family Media Conflict WindflowerKristen Harrison (In-Person) Using the AEPS-3 to Support Inclusion for Young Children RedbudJennifer Grisham

11:45am EDT

(In-Person) Lunch Trillium

12:45pm EDT

(Hybrid) Community Inclusion Teams in Early Childhood: Innovation to Implementation DogwoodBen Riepe • Melissa Griffin • Dana Bennett (Hybrid) From Vision to Practice: The Revised DEC-NAEYC Joint Position Statement on Early Childhood Inclusion RedbudPeggy Kemp • Megan Vinh • Mary Harrill (In-Person) An Introduction to the Role of the Itinerant Early Childhood Special Educator WindflowerAlissa Rausch • Ruth Gallucci (In-Person) Finding the Right Fit: Using the Coaching Match Tool to Strengthen Inclusive Practices BellflowerKathleen Artman Meeker (In-Person) Many Ways to Show you Care with Fred Rogers Productions AzaleaMallory Mbalia (In-Person) Strategies for Supporting Participation and Learning for Children with Vision and Hearing Needs Moutain LaurelKris Everhart • Sara Carter

2:00pm EDT

(Hybrid) Coaching for Belonging: Expanding the Pyramid Coaching Model Through Inclusive Community Partnerships DogwoodYolanda Sosa (In-Person) Better Together: Partnering with Child Care Providers for Inclusive Experiences BellflowerLindsay N. Giroux • Leiha Knecht (In-Person) Beyond Disability History and Awareness Month: Turning Policy into Inclusive Practice in Early Childhood WindflowerPhilip Woodward (In-Person) ICP Revised Edition: Findings from the ICP Pilot RedbudLia Rucker • Amy Grattan • Elena Soukakou (In-Person) The Japanese Practice of Mimamoru and Lessons on Inclusion Moutain LaurelJani Kozlowski • Ryutaro Shintani

3:00pm EDT

(In-Person) Afternoon Break and Snacks Atrium

3:15pm EDT

(Hybrid) A Retrospective on Inclusion: Building and Sustaining Inclusive Early Childhood Systems Over Time: Part 1 of a 2-Part Session DogwoodAlissa Rausch • Megan Vinh (Hybrid) When the Roads Don’t Meet: Improving Pathways to Early Intervention and Inclusion RedbudKaren Zyskind • Sheresa Blanchard • Samantha Scott (In-Person) Authentic Assessment and Multilingual Learners: How Parents and Educators Interpret Child Development and Learning AzaleaMarisa Macy (In-Person) Bridging the Gap: Linking CDC's Learn the Signs. Act Early (LTSAE) and the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices to Strengthen Early Childhood Inclusion BellflowerMelissa Crist • Deepa Srinivasavaradan (In-Person) Maximizing Your Strengths: The Power of Lived Experience Moutain LaurelSanaa Sharrieff (In-Person) When OTs and Educators Partner Well: A Practical Model for Building Inclusive Early Childhood Programs Together WindflowerBrittni Winslow

4:15pm EDT

(In-Person) Afternoon Break and Snacks Atrium

4:30pm EDT

(Hybrid) A Retrospective on Inclusion: Building and Sustaining Inclusive Early Childhood Systems Over Time: Part 2 of a 2-Part Session DogwoodAlissa Rausch • Megan Vinh (Hybrid) Finding Our North Star: Defining What We’re Fighting For in Early Childhood Inclusion RedbudSarah Buesching • Christy Cooper • Kim Tizzard • Christy Koury • Nailah Wright (In-Person) Families as Partners in Assessment BellflowerSerra Acar (In-Person) Rising Together: Fostering Wellness in Home Visiting and Early Intervention WindflowerKatari Coleman, PhD • Pritay Washington (In-Person) Stop, Collaborate & Listen AzaleaTriahnna Miles (In-Person) “Keeping Kids Connected: What Families (and Professionals) Need to Know About Exclusionary Discipline in Early Childhood Settings (and What to Do When It Happens) Moutain LaurelKristen Paul

7:30am EDT

(In-Person) Check in and Breakfast Atrium

8:30am EDT

(In-Person) Be Prepared: New Tools for Planning and Facilitating an Evidence-Based Coaching Conversation with a Colleague AzaleaSarah Sexton (In-Person) Beyond the book: Creating a space where every child thrives through sensory inclusion BellflowerSarah Alverson • Jennifer Jamsky (In-Person) The Adaptation Station: Simple Strategies for Supporting Infants and Toddlers at Home RedbudAlissa Rausch • Allison Jones, M.Ed. (In-Person) Turning Toward: Moving from Challenging to Connected When Behavior Feels Hard DogwoodSally Hansen • Jackie Joseph (In-Person) When the Path Isn’t Clear, We Create It Together: A Panel Discussion WindflowerSarah Buesching • Christy Cooper • Kate Pingel • Kristen Montgomery • BetsyJohn Lane

10:00am EDT

(In-Person) Morning Break and Snacks Atrium

10:30am EDT

(Hybrid) From Data to Action: Using Data to Make Informed Decisions RedbudDebbie Cate • Micole Atkins Kirkland (Hybrid) Healing Generations: Family-Centered Care for Addiction and Trauma at UNC Horizons DogwoodHaley Dixon • Hendrée E. Jones (In-Person) Data-Informed Family Advocacy: Strengthening Inclusion & Choice AzaleaDeepa Srinivasavaradan • Susan Barlow • Cindy Weber (In-Person) From Concern to Connection, Navigating Early Intervention and Special Education Services in Early Childhood BellflowerLaurie Strickland (In-Person) Reimagining Communities and Public Spaces for Children and Families WindflowerSarah Lytle

11:45am EDT

(In-Person) Lunch and Reflection Trillium