What is your educational background?
I received my undergraduate degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Special Education. I have my master's in special education (behavior disorders). I also have Ed.S. in School Administration

What other experiences, or staff development has prepared you for inclusion?
We have worked closely with KUAP (Kansas University Affiliated Program) staff in preparing our personnel and families for inclusion. We participated in and sponsored a variety of inservice opportunities for our staff. We visited a variety of community programs to plan for how we could best work together.

What is your job role?
I supervise the early childhood special education program and personnel in three of our communities.

What is your role regarding the inclusive component of the program?
I work with our ECSE (Early Childhood Special Education) staff to develop collaborative relationships with our community programs and to subsequently establish interagency agreements with those agencies. Once our relationships are established, I help with trouble shooting and improving our inclusive programming.

How has your role changed or have you adapted your role as it related to the inclusive program?
I find that I spend less time with children and families and more time with the administrative concerns - paperwork, trouble-shooting, personnel issues, and interagency agreements.

What were your biggest concerns about participating in an inclusive program?
My biggest concern about developing a more inclusive program was whether or not we would be able to meet all the varied needs of the children and families we serve.

What were your experiences related to these concerns once inclusive services were implemented?
Although, some situations still represent a variety of challenges, our collaborative relationships have enabled us to work out plans that continue to provide inclusive opportunities that meet student and family needs.

What do you see as the benefits of moving toward inclusive services?
In our rural setting, one benefit that has dramatically impacted our families is that children are no longer transported long distances to receive their special education and related services. An additional benefit is that we are able to maintain the children in the community program that initially referred them to our agency.

Can you offer one or more anecdotes that you feel illustrate the benefits of inclusion?
A student with primarily behavior concerns, was referred by the day care provider so that she may be better able to care for this child. Initially, services were provided on a pullout basis with consultation to the provider. After approximately nine weeks, significant progress was observed and the behaviors were such that services could be provided within the regular classroom. Parents have been good to follow through with programming in the home and to educate themselves in behavior management.