Improving Early Childhood Education through Inclusive Preschool Programming

IMPACT. 1: Assist children with disabilities in meeting family-centered and educational goals in all developmental areas, including communication, socialization, and motor skills. -- 2. Provide training for students across the university on how to provide high-quality developmental care and education for children with a wide range of needs and abilities. -- 3. Enhance the development of young children by providing play-based educational programming, augmented by the presence of peers with and without disabilities.OSU PARTNERS: The Nisonger Center; Department of Psychology; OSU Child Care CenterCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities; Help Me Grow (Ohio Department; of Health); The Columbus Foundation; Children with disabilities and their families from across Franklin CountyPRIMARY CONTACT: Katherine Walton (katherine.walton@osumc.edu)The Nisonger Center Early Childhood Education Program serves 64 young children with developmental disabilities on the OSU Medical Center Campus. The program aims to enhance the development of children with disabilities through high-quality developmental programming. A partnership with the OSU Child Care Center and the opening of a new Full-Day Child Care program provide a more enriched and positive learning experience where children with and without disabilities can learn and play alongside one another