Inclusion Services
Support for Including Children with Special Needs
Children with developmental, behavioral or physical challenges and their families are offered security, compassion and understanding. We assist families in locating quality inclusive programs and work with the program staff to assure the best care possible.
We also know that the American with Disabilities Act (the ADA) requires that child care providers make reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of these children. Our hearts tell us that we want to meet the needs of ALL the children we care for – but it’s not always easy to know HOW to successfully include a child with special needs.
Are you a parent or guardian in search of childcare for a child with special needs or challenging behaviors?
You will always be the expert about your child and the one best prepared to help childcare providers meet your child’s needs. However, sometimes the process of searching for and beginning care can be overwhelming. United 4 Children Inclusion Specialists can offer the following support to assist you as you work to ensure that your child’s special needs are met.
- Give you a list of childcare providers to contact on your own, or, with a release, we can make initial contact to providers for you. When contacting providers, we identify who has vacancies and special needs training or experience.
- Provide on-going assistance and counseling to your family regarding appropriate childcare options and resources available.
- Provide on-side observation, technical assistance, short-term consultation, and training for the childcare provider caring for your child to ensure your child’s individual needs are met.
Do you care for a child with special needs or challenging behaviors?
United 4 Children’s Inclusion Specialists offer the following services to assist you as you work to meet the needs of children with special needs in your centers and homes.
On-site or telephone technical assistance, short term observations, consultation and training specific to the needs of a particular child.
This service is provided free of charge.
Community-based workshops about Inclusion.
Watch for information about dates and times several times each year in email notices, flyers and on the Missouri Training Calendar.
Providers – To reach your Inclusion Specialist please call 1-800-467-2322 plus your Inclusion Specialist’s extension below. You can also email inclusionservices@united4children.org.
Free, Private Training Available For Your Team
United 4 Children Inclusion Specialists can hold free, private trainings for your early childhood education team from the A Place for All Children training catalog. You can view the catalog here.. Trainings are Missouri clock-hour approved. All private trainings must have a guarantee of a minimum of 5 participants to qualify. Contact us to learn more at 1-800-467-2322 or by reaching out to your region’s inclusion specialist from the list below.
INCLUSION SPECIALIST BY REGION:
Call: 1-800-467-2322 to connect to United 4 Children Inclusion Services. You can select the extension for your region’s Inclusion Specialist from the list below.
Northwest Region
Tammy Wilkes Ext. 154
Samantha Dugger Ext. 132
South Central Region
Abby Sites Ext. 153
Christine Pogue Ext. 160
Southwest Region
Samantha Dugger Ext. 132
Christine Pogue Ext. 160
Southeast Region
Gail Wulff Ext. 117
Christine Pogue Ext. 160
St. Louis Region
Gail Wulff Ext. 117
Amber Simino-Velasquez Ext. 115
North Central Region
Abby Sites Ext. 153
Amber Simino-Velasquez Ext. 115
Northeast Region
Abby Sites Ext. 153
Tammy Wilkes Ext. 154
Statewide Inclusion Services Manager: Gail Wulff
Funding Statement
United 4 Children’s Inclusion Services contract is monitored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood. This project is/was funded in part by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Title V Maternal Child Health Services Block Grant and is/was supported by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #B04MC45226, Maternal and Child Health Services for $12,469,248, of which $0 is from nongovernmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Phone: (314) 531-1412
Toll-Free: (800) 467-2322
Fax: (314) 531-4184
5501 Delmar Blvd.
Suite B520
Saint Louis, MO 63112