| Americans with Disabilities Act | A 1992 law, (Public Law 101-336) also called ADA that defines disability, prohibits discrimination, and requires employers, transportation, and other public agencies to provide access to the disabled in places of employment, public facilities, and transportation services.
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| early childhood culture | The culture (largely unrecognized) that results from early childhood training. Related to the dominant culture of the society but not exactly like it.
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| full inclusion | A concept that goes beyond simply including children with special needs into whatever setting is the natural environment of their typically developing peers. Full inclusion means that such children, regardless of their disability or challenge, are always integrated into a natural environment and that services are as culturally normative as possible.
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| home culture | The family life of the child, which encompasses cultural beliefs, goals and values--including how they play out in child-rearing practices.
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| integration | The incorporation of children with special needs into programs with their typically developing peers and giving them the support they need so they really belong. Part of integration is giving attention to the interactions between the two groups of children. The goal is for all children to participate in the program to the greatest degree possible.
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| mainstreaming | A term that means placing children with special needs into programs that serve children who are typically developing. In some such programs support for the children with special needs may be minimal, so those who can't handle the mainstream may never feel they belong there.
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| natural environment | A setting (such as a home or early care and education program) where children with disabilities will find their typically developing peers. A natural environment can be defined by the fact that it will continue to exist whether or not children with disabilities are there.
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| normalization | A term which means that services such as early care and education programs provided to those with special needs are based on circumstances that are as culturally normative as possible.
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