inclusion

A conversation about the how the National Child Care plan will impact the lives and inclusion of children, families, and community.

About this event

The Early Childhood Resource Teachers Network of Ontario (ECRTNO) partnered with the Inclusive Early Childhood Service System Project to create a discussion supporting the inclusion of all children and families within the provincial implementation of the National Child Care plan.

The Ontario agreement to the National Child Care plan does not include an inclusion strategy supporting inclusive practices to ensure all children and families have access to quality child care. The panel will bring together researchers, resource consultants, early childhood educators, activists, parents of children with disabilities, and community members to share knowledge and perspectives on the challenges and successes of childhood disabilities and inclusion within the child care sector in Ontario.

Discussions will explore the ways in which the National Child Care plan with or without an inclusive strategy will impact the lives of children, families, and community. The goal is to inform, share, and create action to support all children, families, educators, and the early years sector within the provincial plan.

About this event

The Inclusive Early Childhood Service System Project (IECSS) is a longitudinal study that aims to understand disability in early childhood from the perspective of families. For the past 7 years researchers from the IECSS project have mapped the institutional organization of disabled children’s lives across a variety of service systems. Through a relational model of disability, Blackness and disability are both social and political constructs of identity that may affect the ways Black children with disabilities and their families navigate these systems. Discussions will explore the ways in which anti-Black racism and ableism affect the lived experiences of Black families and children and consider the possibilities of Black disabled identities.

Where: Zoom Webinar. You will be required to download the Zoom client to view the live webinar. For instructions on how to set up Zoom, follow this link.

Access Information: ASL-English interpretation and live captioning are available. Please contact inclusion@ryerson.ca for access inquiries. 

Important: If typing in the chat and Q & A functions are an access barrier for your participation, and you would like your microphone and/or video to be on from the beginning of the webinar, please email inclusion@ryerson.ca.

Panelists:

Sherron Grant is an educator and advocate for persons with special needs. She is currently an elementary school Principal with the Toronto District School Board.

Kevin McShan is the host of the YouTube podcast entitled Lets Have This Conversation. In addition to his hosting duties McShan previously served as the Regional Ambassador for the Discover Ability Network.

Trevor McAlmont currently serves as Executive Director of Macaulay Child Development Centre, a multi-service organization focusing on community services and childcare for marginalized children and parents.

Moderator:

Alison Smith (she/her) has worked as a Project Coordinator with the Inclusive Early Childhood Services Project for the past 7 years and is currently PhD Student in Social Justice Education at OISE University of Toronto.