October 2002

Preschool program takes disability on board

Yooralla’s Altona North Kindergarten Early Childhood Intervention Program gives children with a disability access to an inclusive kindergarten with therapist services.

Community Services Minister Bronwyn Pike launched the program.

On first appearances, the Altona North Kindergarten looks like any other preschools.

There are plenty of happy, boisterous three and four-year olds, a sand pit, play equipment and the obligatory toys and games.

However, on closer inspection this centre boasts a remarkable arrangement that is a benchmark for the integration of children with a disability.

Yooralla has adapted this highly innovative and cost-effective program to deliver inclusive early childhood intervention services to young children from its Narre Warren model.

Ms Pike said inclusion could seem like a little step but it had enormous potential to benefit society.

‘Inclusion of children with a disability or additional needs in kindergarten can seem like a little step but it has enormous benefits—not only for children of all abilities but also for our community.

‘Getting the special supports needed to attend their local school will offer children with a disability or development delay the opportunity to develop greater independence.

‘This kindergarten offers the first, important steps down that road for those with additional needs.

‘It also offers something special to children who don’t have a disability—the chance to learn that we can include, accept and appreciate people with a disability.

‘From small communities like kindergartens can grow larger communities which respect differences, which include people with additional needs, where access and participation are the norm.’

According to Altona North Program Coordinator Lyn Foster, the program enables full time access for children with a disability to local kindergarten programs.

‘Our programs are play-based.

‘We combine the therapy and early education components of the program and integrate them in the normal routines of the kindergarten.

‘A great thing about our kindergarten is that families are able to receive the full range of early intervention services–including specialist teaching, speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and family support programs.

‘Usually this range of therapy would assist kindergarten children with additional needs in a specialist setting but at Altona North this all takes place under the one roof,’ Ms Foster said.

The Altona North kindergarten is a partnership between Yooralla, local government and the Department of Human Services.