Kids Included

What does access to inclusive early learning and child care really look like for Alberta families?

A new Inclusion in Childcare Policy Scan from PolicyWise for Children & Families takes a closer look at Alberta’s ELCC system, the barriers families continue to face, and opportunities to make inclusive, high-quality child care more consistent across the province.

For anyone who cares about the future of inclusive child care in Alberta, this report is worth a read.

Read it now:

policywise.blob.core.windows.net

September is CVI Awareness Month.

Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a brain-based visual impairment and a leading cause of childhood blindness and low vision, yet it is often missed or misunderstood.

CVI can impact much more than how a child sees. It can affect how they access information, navigate their environment, participate in activities, communicate and learn - and it can look different for every child.

A student putting their head down in class, avoiding eye contact or struggling with a worksheet may not be disengaged or unmotivated. Sometimes, there’s more happening beneath the surface.

This month, we’re encouraging families, educators and therapists to learn more about CVI and understand how it can impact a child’s learning and development. Greater awareness can lead to earlier recognition, more appropriate supports and environments that give every child more opportunities to participate, learn and grow.

Learn more at perkins.org/what-is-cvi

An upcoming learning opportunity for parents, educators and professionals working with children and youth! 💛

Our friends at Key Connections Consulting are hosting The Neurobiology of Big, Baffling Behaviors with Robyn Gobbel, MSW, on October 19 & 20 in Lethbridge.

This two-day conference will look beyond behaviour to explore what may be happening in the brain, body and nervous system, with practical tools for supporting regulation, connection and resilience.

📅 October 19–20, 2026
📍 Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge
⏰ 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Interested in attending? Learn more and register at the link below:

The Neurobiology of Big, Baffling Behaviors: With Robyn Gobbel MSW Join us for this two day training and leave with more tools in your toolbelt to support those big baffling behaviors!

Finding child care can be challenging for any family, but for families of children with disabilities or children who need additional support, there can be even more barriers to navigate.

We wanted to share two helpful resources from Inclusion BC for families and the people who support them:

👉 Navigating Barriers to Inclusion in Child Care: How Parents Can Advocate offers practical questions and strategies families can use when they encounter barriers to accessing child care: https://bit.ly/4iOy6Gt

👉 Inclusive Child Care Toolkit: Supporting Children of All Abilities explores what meaningful inclusion can look like in child care, with information and practical strategies for creating environments where all children can participate: https://bit.ly/4hGMaR5

While these resources were created in British Columbia and some of the programs and processes referenced are specific to B.C., there is still plenty of helpful information for families and educators here in Alberta.

Save this post, share it with a family who may find it helpful, and explore the resources to learn more - links in bio!

Tomorrow, our CEO Amber Mack is joining the conversation at Life Sciences Week Alberta!

As part of a panel featuring participants in the MedTech Innovation Highway program, Amber will share her experiences and perspectives on innovation, the realities of bringing new technology forward, and the impact it can have on children and families.

The panel takes place September 22 at Edmonton Unlimited and will explore the challenges, lessons learned and supports that help move innovations forward.

We’re proud to have Amber bringing the Kids Included perspective to an important conversation about innovation and community impact.

Your volunteer work could be life-changing. 💛

Kids Included is looking for passionate, thoughtful leaders to join our volunteer Board of Directors and help us continue building a future where children with disabilities and their families can fully participate, belong and thrive.

By bringing your experience, perspective and connections to our Board, you can help shape the direction of an organization that has been championing inclusion for more than 40 years.

We’re especially interested in hearing from people with experience in legal, finance, business, innovation and entrepreneurship, healthcare, and human resources. Kids Included parents and alumni parents are also encouraged to apply.

Ready to use your skills to make an impact?

Please send a short cover letter and resume outlining your relevant experience to [email protected], to the attention of the Board Chair, by October 5, 2026.

Learn more: https://www.kidsincluded.ca/post/call-for-volunteer-board-directors

Your voice can help shape the future of child care in Alberta.

The Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Education and Childcare is currently seeking feedback on quality, safety and compliance in licensed child care across the province. The surveys are open to parents, early childhood educators, program operators, family day home educators, sector organizations and others involved in Alberta’s child care system.

Feedback will help inform future policy, program improvements, operational changes and supports for Alberta’s child care sector — including practices that support inclusion and positive outcomes for children and families.

📅 Surveys are open until September 25, 2026.

We encourage our Kids Included community to take a few minutes to share your experiences and perspectives.

Complete the survey that best reflects your role:

Quality, safety and compliance in licensed childcare Input from Alberta's childcare sector will help inform improvements to quality, safety and compliance in licensed childcare programs across Alberta.

Preschool expulsion happens more often than many people realize, and at substantially higher rates than in Kindergarten through Grade 12.

When a young child is struggling, exclusion shouldn’t be the solution. Behaviour is communication, and it can be a signal that a child, educator or program needs more support.

With the right resources, coaching, professional learning and strong relationships between families and educators, we can create environments where more children are supported to participate, learn and belong.

Visit our website to learn more about our ASaP and ICC programs, or to get connected with an Inclusion Navigator at Kids Included.

We’re so grateful for the incredible donors who support Kids Included and the work we do. 💛

One of our donors is giving back in another big way by offering a deserving family or community hero the chance to win high-performance windows for their entire home!

Know someone who could use the gift of lifelong home comfort? Share their story and nominate them by September 14:

Centra Cares | Centra Windows Centra Cares Home Renovation 2026

Why join the Kids Included Board? Because your experience, perspective and connections can help build a more inclusive future for children and families. 💜

Our volunteer Board is governance-focused, strategic and collaborative. It’s a space where different viewpoints are encouraged, discussions are informed and respectful, and the perspectives of Board members help guide the organization forward.

Most importantly, we want a Board that brings different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the table — including people who understand the challenges and successes experienced by the children and families we serve.

Board members serve three-year terms and meet eight times in the early evening between September and June.

Interested? Please send a short cover letter and resume outlining your relevant experience to [email protected], to the attention of the Board Chair, by October 5, 2026.

Learn more: https://www.kidsincluded.ca/post/call-for-volunteer-board-directors