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 (In-Person) How the Concept of Rightful Presence Strengthens Inclusive Practices for Families, Community Members, and Children in Early Learning Spaces AzaleaSeena Skelton

1:00pm EDT

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

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 AzaleaDebbie Cate • Ruth E. Gallucci (In-Person) Reflection/Networking Session: Teachers, Practitioners – Early Intervention, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Childcare, Head Start, Pre-K, Therapists RedbudDawn Meskil (In-Person) Reflection/Networking Session: Technical Assistance/Professional Development Providers including Coaches and Higher Ed Faculty DogwoodSheresa Blanchard (Virtual) Reflection/Networking Session: Virtual Participants Virtual on ZoomMeredith H Villines

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) 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 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) 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

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) Many Ways to Show you Care with Fred Rogers Productions AzaleaMallory Mbalia

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) Supporting Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Families AzaleaMelissa Lebling (In-Person) The Japanese Practice of Mimamoru and Lessons on Inclusion Moutain LaurelJani Kozlowski • Ryutaro Shintani

3:15pm EDT

(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

(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

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) 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

10:30am EDT

(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) Reimagining Communities and Public Spaces for Children and Families WindflowerSarah Lytle

11:45am EDT

(In-Person) Lunch and Reflection Trillium

8:00am EDT

(Virtual) Inclusive Systems, and Early Relational Health : Leadership Strategies for Young Children and Families Virtual on ZoomYolanda Sosa (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

6:00pm EDT

(Virtual) Introduction to an Embedded Learning Framework and Its Use (Part 1 of a 2-part session) Virtual on ZoomJohn Forster • Tara McLaughlin • Patricia (“Pat”) Snyder (Virtual) The “F-Words for Child Development”: Bring the ideas to life for young children and their families (Part 1 of a 2-Part Session) Virtual on ZoomLynda Moore • Peter Rosenbaum • Rachel Teplicky

7:00pm EDT

(Virtual) Adapting the Embedded Learning Framework for Contextual and Cultural Fit (Part 2 of a 2-part session) Virtual on ZoomJohn Forster • Tara McLaughlin • Patricia (“Pat”) Snyder (Virtual) The “F-Words for Child Development”: Bring the ideas to life for young children and their families (Part 2 of a 2-Part Session) Virtual on ZoomLynda Moore • Peter Rosenbaum • Rachel Teplicky

8:00pm EDT

(Virtual) Inclusion Without a Blueprint: Community Practices and Realities from Malaysia Virtual on ZoomLai Thin Ng (Virtual) Targeting Higher Quality: Early Childhood Inclusive Education Practice in China Virtual on ZoomXueyun Su

8:00am EDT

(Virtual) (In-Person) Understanding Child Media Use for Sensory Regulation: Research by the UNC FaMLab on Media Sensory Curation and Family Media Conflict Virtual on ZoomKristen Harrison (Virtual) The Japanese Practice of Mimamoru and Lessons on Inclusion Virtual on ZoomJani Kozlowski • Ryutaro Shintani

9:00am EDT

(Virtual) Supporting Peer Relationships for Autistic Preschoolers: Practical Evidence-Based Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms Virtual on ZoomJessica Amsbary • Ann Sam

6:00pm EDT

(Virtual) It's You I Like!: Building Belonging in Our Neighborhoods--Lessons Learned from Fred Rogers (Part 1 of a 2-Part Session) Virtual on ZoomJenna Weglarz-Ward (Virtual) Scaffolding Caregiver Learning Virtual on ZoomTeran Frick

7:00pm EDT

(Virtual) Creating Professional Development with Adult Learning Principles Virtual on ZoomSally Hansen • Jackie Joseph (Virtual) It's You I Like!: Building Belonging in Our Neighborhoods-Lessons Learned from Fred Rogers (Part 2 of a 2-Part Session) Virtual on ZoomJenna Weglarz-Ward

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