2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

9:00am EDT

(In-Person) Getting Unstuck: Pyramid Model Strategies for When Behavior Challenges Adults WindflowerLindsay N. Giroux • Leiha Knecht

4:30pm EDT

(In-Person) Reflection/Networking Session: Technical Assistance/Professional Development Providers including Coaches and Higher Ed Faculty DogwoodSheresa Blanchard

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) WE CAN AND WE MUST: Practical Strategies Advancing Inclusion and Belonging for Every Child WindflowerDebbie Cate • Ruth E. Gallucci

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) Using the AEPS-3 to Support Inclusion for Young Children RedbudJennifer Grisham

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) 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) ICP Revised Edition: Findings from the ICP Pilot RedbudLia Rucker • Amy Grattan • Elena Soukakou (In-Person) Supporting Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Families AzaleaMelissa Lebling (In-Person) The Japanese Practice of Mimamoru and Lessons on Inclusion Moutain LaurelJani Kozlowski • Ryutaro Shintani (Virtual) From Awareness to Belonging: Partnering with Families to Create Sesame Street’s Autism Resources Virtual on ZoomRocio Galarza

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 (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

4:30pm 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) “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

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) Turning Toward: Moving from Challenging to Connected When Behavior Feels Hard DogwoodSally Hansen • Jackie Joseph

10:30am EDT

(Hybrid) From Data to Action: Using Data to Make Informed Decisions RedbudDebbie Cate • Micole Atkins Kirkland (Hybrid) UNC Horizons Program: Healing Generations 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

8:00am EDT

(Virtual) “Keeping Kids Connected: What Families (and Professionals) Need to Know About Exclusionary Discipline in Early Childhood Settings (and What to Do When It Happens) Virtual on ZoomKristen Paul

9:00am EDT

(Virtual) Growing the Inclusion Pipeline: Mentoring Future Early Childhood Leaders in Inclusive STEM Virtual on ZoomSherri Britt Williams • Sherra Lawrence (Virtual) More than supporting roles: Partnering with fathers of young children with disabilities Virtual on ZoomNadya Pancsofar • Joshuah Carlani

10:00am EDT

(Virtual) Using the AEPS-3 in International Contexts Virtual on ZoomJennifer Grisham

8:00pm EDT

(Virtual) Targeting Higher Quality: Early Childhood Inclusive Education Practice in China Virtual on ZoomXueyun Su

8:00am EDT

(Virtual) The Japanese Practice of Mimamoru and Lessons on Inclusion Virtual on ZoomJani Kozlowski • Ryutaro Shintani

10:00am EDT

(Virtual) Translating the What and Why into the How: Designing and Implementing Blended Preparation and Professional Development Virtual on ZoomAnn M. Mickelson (Virtual) Why the Routines-Based Interview Is a Cross-Cultural Success Virtual on ZoomRobin McWilliam • Cami Stevenson

7:00pm EDT

(Virtual) Creating Professional Development with Adult Learning Principles Virtual on ZoomSally Hansen • Jackie Joseph

8:00pm EDT

(Virtual) Building Belonging Through Play: An Inclusive Approach to Early STEM Learning Virtual on ZoomJessica Amsbary • Chih-Ing Lim (Virtual) We Are Not Hard to Reach: Engaging Black Fathers of Children with Disabilities Virtual on ZoomBrandy James • Marquis Clark • Gregory Facey • Kevin Hall • LaMarcus Hall • Mark Taylor • Antoine Brown