2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

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 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) 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

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 E. 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) 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 (Hybrid) When the Roads Don’t Meet: Improving Pathways to Early Intervention and Inclusion RedbudSheresa Blanchard • Samantha Scott • Karen Zyskind (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) 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) 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

10:30am 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) 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

10:00am EDT

(Virtual) Empowering Families in Early Intervention: Free Online Resources for Using Evidence-Based Practice with Autistic Toddlers Virtual on ZoomJessica Amsbary • Ann Sam (Virtual) Using the AEPS-3 in International Contexts Virtual on ZoomJennifer Grisham

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) An Introduction to the Role of the Itinerant Early Childhood Special Educator Virtual on ZoomAlissa Rausch • Ruth E. Gallucci (Virtual) Supporting Peer Relationships for Autistic Preschoolers: Practical Evidence-Based Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms Virtual on ZoomJessica Amsbary • Ann Sam

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

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