The Second National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute was held August 14 - 17, 2001 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Frank Porter Graham Child Development center, and staff from NECTAS hosted the Institute. Approximately 200 parents and professionals from early childhood/early intervention attended. Selected presentations from the opening and closing session are hotlinked below.

The opening plenary featured the book, Early Childhood Inclusion: Focus on Change, edited by Michael Guralnick, Ph.D. of the University of Washington, Seattle WA. Dr. Guralnick shared a framework for change that consists of four goal domains: Access, Feasibility, Developmental and Social Outcomes, and Social Integration.

Chapter authors, Don Bailey, Ph.D., FPG, Chapel Hill, NC, Mary Beth Bruder, Ph.D., Division of Child and Family Studies, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT; Carl J. Dunst, Ph.D., Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, Asheville, NC and Marion O'Brien, Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, reacted to Dr. Guralnick's key ideas and participated in a facilitated discussion on the topic of early childhood inclusion. Linda Brault, a parent from Rohnert Park, CA, provided a response and summary to the panel discussion.

The Closing Plenary, Making Change Happen: Beyond a Book Title was facilitated by Robin A. McWilliam, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, FPG, Chapel Hill, NC.

Goals of the Institute

• Learn about research findings and resources to guide inclusive policy and practice
• Gain awareness of strategies and models to facilitate state systems change to support inclusive communities
• Facilitate collaborative work in creating an agenda for change to support early childhood inclusion
• Better understand the contradictions in practice and policy that challenge successful inclusion
• Value and become more aware of each others’ perspectives regarding inclusion