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Mission
of project: Research supports
the idea that all children, those who have disabilities and their typical
peers, who are socially engaged and share a sense of belonging in their
communities and classrooms are more successful at reaching academic goals. And
since children's attitudes towards
disabilities are formed in the preschool and early elementary years, these early years are
an ideal time for children to develop understanding of others and develop
positive social behaviors. Using
similarities awareness as a bridge to friendship, the
lessons and resources described in this website facilitate the development of
relationships among pre-kindergarteners through 2nd graders,
which is an optimal age range for building positive inclusive behaviors,
compassion and understanding.
To learn more
about facilitating friendships and inclusion, read our literature
review.
Thank you to Elmwood
Elementary School, in Baltimore, Maryland. We especially thank
Peggy Deremeik and Nancy Costello, Elmwood's pre-k teachers, and their students,
for inviting us into their school to pilot our pre-k/kindergarten lesson in
March, 2004.
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