Discussion Question 1

My name is Whit Hayslip and I serve as the Coordinator of Infant and Preschool Special Education for the Los Angeles Unified School District.  I was a member of the School Readiness Working Group and am extremely excited about the potential within the Master Plan for improving services for young children in California, particularly those with disabilities and other special needs.  There is a large body of research confirming the efficacy of early intervention in diminishing the impact of a disability and reducing the need for special education in school-age programs.  The research also indicates the importance of the delivery of these early intervention services in inclusive environments with typically developing peers.  The Master Plan's emphasis on health and developmental screenings gives us the opportunity to identify children who may require early intervention and the recommendations for universal access to preschool and increased availability to infant and toddler services gives us the opportunith to deliver those services in inclusive programs.  The federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) mandates services in the natural or least restrictive environment and the Master Plan gives us the opportunity to successfully fulfill that mandate.