CDC Disability & Inclusion Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which of the following is a childcare center generally required to do?
- Enroll every child regardless of staffing capacity
- Make reasonable modifications to policies to include children with disabilities (Correct answer)
- Build a separate classroom for children with disabilities
- Hire a dedicated nurse for every child with a medical condition
Correct answer: Make reasonable modifications to policies to include children with disabilities
The ADA requires childcare programs to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to accommodate children with disabilities unless doing so would fundamentally alter the program.
Question 2: A child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has difficulty with transitions. Which inclusion strategy is MOST effective?
- Excuse the child from all transitions between activities
- Use visual schedules and advance warnings before transitions (Correct answer)
- Assign a peer buddy to carry the child between activities
- Reduce the child's time at the center to minimize transitions
Correct answer: Use visual schedules and advance warnings before transitions
Visual schedules and advance warnings help children with ASD predict and prepare for transitions, reducing anxiety and behavioral challenges.
Question 3: Which term describes the right of children with disabilities to be educated and cared for alongside their typically developing peers to the maximum extent appropriate?
- Mainstreaming
- Least restrictive environment (Correct answer)
- Full inclusion mandate
- Developmental grouping
Correct answer: Least restrictive environment
The 'least restrictive environment' (LRE) principle, rooted in IDEA, requires that children with disabilities be placed in settings as close to the general education/childcare environment as appropriate.
Question 4: A parent shares that their 3-year-old has a hearing impairment. What is the daycare provider's FIRST step?
- Refer the family to a special education school immediately
- Consult with the child's early intervention team and request an IEP/IFSP meeting (Correct answer)
- Place the child in a quieter corner of the room away from noise
- Purchase a hearing aid for the child using program funds
Correct answer: Consult with the child's early intervention team and request an IEP/IFSP meeting
The provider should collaborate with the child's intervention team and review any existing IFSP or IEP to understand accommodations already in place.
Question 5: What does 'child-find' refer to in early childhood special education?
- A database of children in foster care
- The obligation of states and agencies to identify, locate, and evaluate children with possible disabilities (Correct answer)
- A registry of licensed childcare centers accepting children with disabilities
- A federal program that funds transportation for children with special needs
Correct answer: The obligation of states and agencies to identify, locate, and evaluate children with possible disabilities
Child-find is a requirement under IDEA obligating states to actively identify and evaluate all children who may have disabilities, from birth through age 21.
Question 6: Which practice BEST supports the inclusion of a child with physical disabilities in outdoor play?
- Having the child observe outdoor play from a window
- Adapting equipment and play areas to allow full participation (Correct answer)
- Scheduling a separate outdoor time for the child alone
- Limiting the child's outdoor time to prevent injury
Correct answer: Adapting equipment and play areas to allow full participation
Adapting equipment and environments ensures that children with physical disabilities can participate meaningfully alongside their peers.
Question 7: A daycare staff member notices that a 2-year-old is not babbling and does not respond to her name. What is the appropriate action?
- Wait until age 3 before expressing concern
- Document observations and discuss with the family, recommending a developmental evaluation (Correct answer)
- Diagnose the child with a speech delay and begin therapy
- Separate the child from the group to observe in isolation
Correct answer: Document observations and discuss with the family, recommending a developmental evaluation
Documenting developmental concerns and sharing them with the family while recommending evaluation is the appropriate, professional first step.
CDC Disability & Inclusion Practices 2
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which of the following is a childcare center generally required to do?