Alberta Parents’ Experiences of Inclusion and Exclusion in Early Learning and Child Care Programs - Study Results
Early learning and child care (ELCC) plays an important role in supporting children’s development and well-being while enabling families to participate in employment, education, and their community. For children with additional support needs, access to high-quality, inclusive ELCC can support learning, social development, peer relationships, and a sense of belonging. Despite growing recognition of the importance of inclusion, many families continue to experience barriers when accessing and participating in ELCC programs.
This study explored the experiences of Alberta parents or caregivers who had at least one child with additional support needs, including but not limited to, developmental delays, learning difficulties, medical needs, challenging behaviours, social-emotional concerns, or diagnosed disabilities and disorders. Parents had to be currently looking for, currently using, or had previously accessed ELCC within the past three years.
The survey was conducted by the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families (CUP) at the University of Alberta in collaboration with the Council for Early Learning and Care (CELC).
