WHSA 2025 Annual Conference

"But I'm not a therapist!" This session will equip participants to support children with autism in early childhood settings. Using evidence-based strategies and practical tools, participants will address communication, sensory, and behavioral needs, and learn how to effectively collaborate with care teams. By course end, participants will feel more confident and prepared to work with children with autism.

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Culturally Responsive Teaching: Creating a sense of belonging in the early childhood environment for each and every child is critical for their success. Teachers/caregivers can ensure a sense of belonging by being intentional in their relationships with each child. Being culturally responsive can help children feel seen and valued. In this session, we will discuss the importance of building relationships by gaining an understanding of what culturally responsive teaching is and is not.

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Learn about programs and services for children with disabilities from two parents who have lived experiences, and how best to partner with families and communicate your concerns. We will explore the Birth to 3 Program, Children’s Long-Term Support Programs and important Medicaid benefits. Attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences caring for young child with developmental delays and challenges communicating with their parents.

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Three and Four-Year-Old children are natural investigators. They explore their surroundings as they play with materials, wonder and ask why, and investigate their surroundings to learn more. This session will explore how using developmentally appropriate, hands-on explorations in the preschool classroom helps children experience the excitement of discovery and develop their scientific thinking as they engage with the physical and natural worlds around them.

-Attendees will describe and share developmentally appropriate strategies for encouraging scientific inquiry and joyful discovery that can be implemented in classrooms
-Attendees will identify topics of interest for three and four-year-olds that lend themselves to in-depth investigation and hands-on exploration
- Attendees will demonstrate ways to leverage the natural inquisitiveness of preschool age children through the use of a project based whole child approach to learning

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Celebrate the diverse abilities of all children by learning the benefits of inclusive learning environments. Dive into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and uncover its three principles: representation, engagement, and action and expression. Explore fun and creative ways to implement UDL, enhancing your program environments to be more inclusive and effective for children with disabilities and delays.

Please evaluate this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XQBRSM3