DCF SPECIAL NEEDS ACADEMIC
INITIATION RESOURCE 2026
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
COMPLETE SCENARIO SET WITH
EXPLANATORY GUIDANCE MANUSCRIPT
Support Service Answer: Agencies and organizations that offer
various types of educational and other resources for children with
special needs and families.
⫸ What elements are most important to the parents during their first
meeting with a prospective childcare provider? Answer: • hours of
operation
• cost and quality of your care
• available enrollment space for a child that age
* by law, you cannot ask any parent if they have child with special
needs.
⫸ Accommodation Answer: Making or becoming something suitable;
it means adjusting to circumstances.
⫸ Modification Answer: Small changes in the environment that allow
all children to participate in activities to the best of their ability and
succeed at some level.
, ⫸ Inclusion Answer: All children have the right to be included with
other children in their own age group, in all activities and in their
natural environment.
⫸ Related Service Answer: Transportation, development, corrective
and other services that are needed by a child with special needs in
order for them to benefit from education.
⫸ Student with a disability Answer: A child with challenges to his it
her mental, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioral development,
or with special medical needs.
⫸ Natural Environment Answer: A situation in which day-to-day
settings, routines and activities promote learning for all children,
regardless of their ability or disability.
⫸ Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) Answer: A
federal law that requires states to provide education to all children,
regardless of their disabilities.
⫸ Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Answer: A federal law that
prohibits discrimination based upon disability.
⫸ Mainstreaming Answer: An obstacle method of working with
children with special need in which children earned the right to be in
INITIATION RESOURCE 2026
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
COMPLETE SCENARIO SET WITH
EXPLANATORY GUIDANCE MANUSCRIPT
Support Service Answer: Agencies and organizations that offer
various types of educational and other resources for children with
special needs and families.
⫸ What elements are most important to the parents during their first
meeting with a prospective childcare provider? Answer: • hours of
operation
• cost and quality of your care
• available enrollment space for a child that age
* by law, you cannot ask any parent if they have child with special
needs.
⫸ Accommodation Answer: Making or becoming something suitable;
it means adjusting to circumstances.
⫸ Modification Answer: Small changes in the environment that allow
all children to participate in activities to the best of their ability and
succeed at some level.
, ⫸ Inclusion Answer: All children have the right to be included with
other children in their own age group, in all activities and in their
natural environment.
⫸ Related Service Answer: Transportation, development, corrective
and other services that are needed by a child with special needs in
order for them to benefit from education.
⫸ Student with a disability Answer: A child with challenges to his it
her mental, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioral development,
or with special medical needs.
⫸ Natural Environment Answer: A situation in which day-to-day
settings, routines and activities promote learning for all children,
regardless of their ability or disability.
⫸ Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) Answer: A
federal law that requires states to provide education to all children,
regardless of their disabilities.
⫸ Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Answer: A federal law that
prohibits discrimination based upon disability.
⫸ Mainstreaming Answer: An obstacle method of working with
children with special need in which children earned the right to be in
