No. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects children with disabilities from being excluded from child care programs unless their presence would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or require a fundamental alteration of the program. Military and civilian child care programs must make reasonable accommodations to integrate children with disabilities, and they cannot just assume that a child’s disability is too severe for successful integration. There must be an individualized assessment based on professional observations, past history, and standard assessment criteria. Programs use different methods for assessing a disabled child's needs and the necessary accommodations.

No. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects children with disabilities from being excluded from child care programs unless their presence would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or require a fundamental alteration of the program. Military and civilian child care programs must make reasonable accommodations to integrate children with disabilities, and they cannot just assume that a child’s disability is too severe for successful integration. There must be an individualized assessment based on professional observations, past history, and standard assessment criteria. Programs use different methods for assessing a disabled child's needs and the necessary accommodations.

Center-based care is child care delivered through child care center. In a center, special needs children are "mainstreamed" with other non-disabled children in their age group. A center may be the recommended option for children who can benefit from socialization with others in a structured, classroom-like environment.  By law, parents may not be charged higher rates for the care of a special needs child in a child care center.

Center-based care is child care delivered through child care center. In a center, special needs children are "mainstreamed" with other non-disabled children in their age group. A center may be the recommended option for children who can benefit from socialization with others in a structured, classroom-like environment.  By law, parents may not be charged higher rates for the care of a special needs child in a child care center.

Child Development Centers (CDCs) on military installations normally offer full-day, part-day, hourly and before-and-after-school care. These CDCs coordinate with the installation Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) on special needs care and exclude no child on the basis of disability. They have sliding fees based on family income, and waiting lists to get in are commonplace. The Department of Defense (DoD) and individual branches of Service require CDCs to be inspected regularly and accredited by a professional accrediting organization.

Child Development Centers (CDCs) on military installations normally offer full-day, part-day, hourly and before-and-after-school care. These CDCs coordinate with the installation Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) on special needs care and exclude no child on the basis of disability. They have sliding fees based on family income, and waiting lists to get in are commonplace. The Department of Defense (DoD) and individual branches of Service require CDCs to be inspected regularly and accredited by a professional accrediting organization.

Yes. Child care facilities located in the civilian community vary in the types of services, ages served, cost, and degree of accommodation they are able to make. Installation service providers should encourage service members with EFMs who do not have access to military child care programs to only seek care from accredited civilian child care centers.

Yes. Child care facilities located in the civilian community vary in the types of services, ages served, cost, and degree of accommodation they are able to make. Installation service providers should encourage service members with EFMs who do not have access to military child care programs to only seek care from accredited civilian child care centers.

A Family Child Care Home is a home-based business that may offer full-day, part-day and hourly care, before and after school care, extended care, and specialized child care services for disabled or sick children. A Family Child Care Home may be the best option for EFMs who need the consistency of a single caregiver or who require complex procedures that must be learned by the caregiver. Family Child Care Homes are operated by military family members in government or private housing, certified by the military child development program, screened and trained. DoD sets policy for these homes, including the number of children allowed in care, the meals served, and the fees charged. In civilian communities, home-based child care businesses may or may not be licensed and inspected by the state, and regulations vary from state to state.

A Family Child Care Home is a home-based business that may offer full-day, part-day and hourly care, before and after school care, extended care, and specialized child care services for disabled or sick children. A Family Child Care Home may be the best option for EFMs who need the consistency of a single caregiver or who require complex procedures that must be learned by the caregiver. Family Child Care Homes are operated by military family members in government or private housing, certified by the military child development program, screened and trained. DoD sets policy for these homes, including the number of children allowed in care, the meals served, and the fees charged. In civilian communities, home-based child care businesses may or may not be licensed and inspected by the state, and regulations vary from state to state.

Military child development programs use multidisciplinary teams, called SNRTs, that evaluate disabled children's needs individually and, with the parents, determine the most appropriate care options. A SNRT meeting is similar in concept to Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings in that it involves parents and professionals working together to identify a child's needs and agreeing upon a plan to meet them. In addition to parents, a SNRT team will typically include a: 

• EFMP/Special Needs Coordinator/Manager
• Child and Youth Program Manager
• Community Health Nurse
• Other Professionals as needed including a:
  • Physician
  • Social Worker
  • Speech Therapist
  • Physical and/or Occupational Therapist 

The team reviews the child's condition and needs and recommends a developmentally appropriate child care environment, group size, staff training requirement, and alterations that must be made to programs or environments. In addition to being a collaborative effort to achieve the most developmentally appropriate care for a special needs child, an effective special needs resource team serves as legal protection against possible claims that the installation failed to offer proper care or make reasonable accommodation.

Military child development programs use multidisciplinary teams, called SNRTs, that evaluate disabled children's needs individually and, with the parents, determine the most appropriate care options. A SNRT meeting is similar in concept to Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings in that it involves parents and professionals working together to identify a child's needs and agreeing upon a plan to meet them. In addition to parents, a SNRT team will typically include a: 

• EFMP/Special Needs Coordinator/Manager
• Child and Youth Program Manager
• Community Health Nurse
• Other Professionals as needed including a:
  • Physician
  • Social Worker
  • Speech Therapist
  • Physical and/or Occupational Therapist 

The team reviews the child's condition and needs and recommends a developmentally appropriate child care environment, group size, staff training requirement, and alterations that must be made to programs or environments. In addition to being a collaborative effort to achieve the most developmentally appropriate care for a special needs child, an effective special needs resource team serves as legal protection against possible claims that the installation failed to offer proper care or make reasonable accommodation.

Most installation Child Development Services programs have a resource and referral office that helps parents find the right care for their child. This office should be the first contact for parents looking for child care on or near a military installation. If child care is not available on the installation, these offices can help parents locate care through accredited child care centers in the local community. Contact information for military child development resource and referral offices can be found on Military HOMEFRONT's MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Directory.

Most installation Child Development Services programs have a resource and referral office that helps parents find the right care for their child. This office should be the first contact for parents looking for child care on or near a military installation. If child care is not available on the installation, these offices can help parents locate care through accredited child care centers in the local community. Contact information for military child development resource and referral offices can be found on Military HOMEFRONT's MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Directory.

Military families without access to installation child development programs should be encouraged by installation service providers to seek assistance from a civilian child care resource and referral program before choosing a child care provider. Some examples of a civilian resource and referral programs include:

• Child Care Aware Child Care Aware is a program of the Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) that helps families learn more about the elements of high-quality child care and how to locate programs in their communities. 
• Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) Child Care Aware of America is the national network of more than 850 child care resource and referral (CCR&R) centers located in every state and most communities across the United States. CCR&R centers help families, child care providers, and communities find, provide, and plan for affordable, quality child care.
• National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) The NCCIC provides tip sheets on looking for child care, funding sources and general information. In the Providers area of the website, the NCCIC has information on inclusion and serving children with disabilities in child care settings.  
• National Network for Child Care/Special Needs The National Network for Child Care/Special Needs provides a number of articles for child care providers on issues related to special needs children, for example: "Caring for Children with Challenging Behaviors."

Military families without access to installation child development programs should be encouraged by installation service providers to seek assistance from a civilian child care resource and referral program before choosing a child care provider. Some examples of a civilian resource and referral programs include:

• Child Care Aware Child Care Aware is a program of the Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) that helps families learn more about the elements of high-quality child care and how to locate programs in their communities. 
• Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) Child Care Aware of America is the national network of more than 850 child care resource and referral (CCR&R) centers located in every state and most communities across the United States. CCR&R centers help families, child care providers, and communities find, provide, and plan for affordable, quality child care.
• National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) The NCCIC provides tip sheets on looking for child care, funding sources and general information. In the Providers area of the website, the NCCIC has information on inclusion and serving children with disabilities in child care settings.  
• National Network for Child Care/Special Needs The National Network for Child Care/Special Needs provides a number of articles for child care providers on issues related to special needs children, for example: "Caring for Children with Challenging Behaviors."