Disability Services

Services to Children with Disabilities
Research tells us that the presence of children with disabilities in early childhood classrooms has a positive impact on the developmental progress of all children. Recognizing this, Head Start in general and PICA in particular, has been providing inclusive services for children with disabilities for more than 25 years. At least 10% of Head Start enrollment opportunities are made available to children with disabilities. Children with disabilities are specifically recruited for Head Start enrollment. Some children are identified after enrollment, through the screening and assessment process. Referrals are made, and PICA works with the public schools, which are the early intervention provider to provide the best possible services, least restrictive and most natural environments for all children.

Special Quest

Program year 2002-2003 marked PICA's successful four-year participation in the Special Quest Program. The ultimate goal of Special Quest, a Head Start/Hilton Foundation Training Project, was to improve the capacity of Early Head Start programs to appropriately serve infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

Beginning in 1999, a team of PICA staff, a team of staff from the public schools, and a PICA parent of a child with disabilities, completed Special Quest project activities to learn how best to recruit and serve infants and toddlers with significant disabilities.