ERIC Number: EJ923325
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jun
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: N/A
A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Services for Young Children with Disabilities Using the ACEI Global Guidelines Assessment (GGA)
Hardin, Belinda J.; Hung, Hsuan-Fang
Early Childhood Education Journal, v39 n2 p103-114 Jun 2011
Because young children with special needs frequently experience unequal access to quality education worldwide, understanding characteristics of services currently provided to them is critical to identifying practices that work as well as gaps in services and the reasons behind these trends. Two studies were conducted using the ACEI Global Guidelines Assessment (GGA) to investigate the access to and quality of special education services in early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs across eight countries in the Americas and Asia. Study I included 138 participants in 69 programs across five Latin American countries and Study II included 336 participants in 168 programs across four countries and six sites. Results from both studies indicate that ECCE programs strive to provide equal access to young children regardless of ethnicity, religion, language, gender, and socio-economic status. However, insufficient resources and policies were cited as a barrier to services for children with disabilities. This situation was especially true in rural communities. Therefore, national policies are needed to improve the quality of service and to make funds consistently available for services for young children with special needs. This finding is congruent with international reports.
Descriptors: Cross Cultural Studies, Disabilities, Young Children, Educational Quality, Guidelines, Foreign Countries, Special Needs Students, Early Childhood Education, Barriers, Access to Education, Special Education, Evaluation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Asia; North America; South America
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Equal Access
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A