Podcast

Inclusion Matters welcomes Dr. Jenn Hall-Lande, licensed psychologist and researcher from the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration and Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain back to the program to share updated autism prevalence numbers in Minnesota.  She helps us understand the trends in the research and gives useful insights on ways early educators can support early intervention efforts and partner with families.

🌟Additional Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
  🔗 CDC - Learn the Signs. Act Early
  🔗 Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder
  🔗 2025 Community Report on Autism
• MN Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network
  🔗 https://addm.umn.edu/
• U of M Institute on Community Integration:
  🔗 https://ici.umn.edu/
• Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain:
  🔗 https://midb.umn.edu/

Inclusion Matters welcomes Lanay Jacobs, Provider Support Specialist for the Child Care Assistance Rate at the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.  Our conversation highlights the process that early childhood educators and families can follow to submit a request for a higher child care assistance payment for their child care setting. 

 🌟Additional Resources:
🔗CCAP Special Needs Rate Variance Request - Parent and Provider Request (DHS-4194)
🔗Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): https://www.ada.gov/

Federal and State Requirements
🔗Minn. Rule 3400.0130 Subp.3
🔗Minn. Stat. 142E.17, Subd. 3

CICC Tip Sheets:
📝What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
📝What Does the ADA Mean to Child Care?

Questions? Contact The Childcare Assistance Provider Support Team
📧 Contact us at CCAP.Providers.DCYF@state.mn.us or 651-431-4848  

Cory Woosley from Minneapolis College joins us again to highlight key information about inclusion.  Our focus during this conversation is on the ways we as those caring for and teaching young children can help them build positive friendships.  We discuss the importance of friendships and the ways we can set up the environment to support quality play connections for children with special needs. 

Be sure to check out our NEW Self-Study on this important topic: 

• Positive Friendship Connections For Children With Special Needs

Longtime CICC partner and colleague Cory Woosley of Minneapolis College joins us for an important conversation about navigating the relationships of siblings when one has a diagnosis of a special need.  Cory shares her perspective as a parent of a child with a disability and how her family traversed this path.  We discuss the idea of Glass Children, Parentification, and ways to support healthy overall development of the sibling who may have some unique needs and behaviors that get overlooked. 

Be sure to check out our NEW Self-Study on this important topic: 

• Navigating Sibling Dynamics-The Impact of Special Needs on Family Relationships

Our guest Trinette Potts from The Family Partnership joins us to share a wonderful toolkit for early educators to support executive function and regulation in young children.  This simple-to-use toolkit can support school readiness, buffer children against the harmful effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and improves lifelong outcomes in physical, mental, and behavioral health that continue to the next generation.

Interested in learning more? Please contact:

• www.eggtoolkit.com

• Trinette Potts EGG Project Manager

• tpotts@thefamilypartnership.org

Listen as Priscilla Weigel interviews our guest, Alyssa Greene, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Eating Disorder Specialist, and currently at the Minnesota Department of Health in the Children and Youth with Special Health Needs and Disabilities Division.  Alyssa shares some key practices that can help set children up for a healthy view of their own bodies, acceptance of all body sizes and shapes, and how we as parents and professionals can advocate for people of all body sizes in your space whether that is children or adults.