Conference: Child Care and Early Education Policy Research Consortium
Date: April 2019
Presenters: Kathleen Hebbeler

Disability and special need is defined differently across the early childhood sectors and there is no one definition of disability that is universally accepted. How disability is defined can determine the types of educational environments to which children have access. Understanding at all levels of the system about the types of services children with disabilities and special needs receive can help ensure equity and quality. This presentation describes how different systems define disability and how that impacts services. It also addresses how researchers can better use administrative data about disability to understand program outcomes.

What do we Need to Better Understand Special Populations from a National Perspective?