Woman with Downs Syndrome child

The Head Start Disabilities Services Newsletter

The Head Start Disabilities Services Newsletter is produced monthly by the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL). It is dedicated to staff working with young children with disabilities and their families. This page provides current and past issues of the newsletter.

Child with Down Syndrome playing

Program Planning

Planning is crucial to the success of children with disabilities. It also is important to the Head Start programs they attend. Explore these resources to plan for and create high quality programs for children with disabilities. Find out how to create programs that are accessible, inclusive, collaborative, well organized, and set to show positive outcomes.

Special needs children at lunch table

Services for Children with Disabilities

Head Start regulations require that at least 10 percent of enrollees are children with disabilities. Explore these resources to learn more about specific disabilities. Find out about identifying eligible children, providing high quality individualized instruction, and much more!

Teachers taking special needs children to recess

Staff Support and Supervision

Explore these resources to learn ways to build program awareness of disabilities. Find out how to support staff in developing practices that promote the inclusion and acceptance of children with disabilities. Disabilities coordinators will find links to many helpful resources. These include an orientation guide and training tools.

Mother with special needs children

Families Too!

Review these resources to help children with disabilities thrive in your program through family-centered care. Learn ways to engage families in decision-making. Also, discover how to promote families' health and well-being, empathize with their struggles, and connect them to other families.

Woman with Downs Syndrome child

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about child development, disabilities, and providing effective services to children with disabilities.

Last Reviewed: January 2017

Last Updated: January 24, 2017