Must read: New book on the impact of COVID-19 on child care inclusion

A new publication by Donna S. Lero and Sharon Hope Irwin that exposes the impact of the COVID pandemic on children with disabilities in child care in Canada provides important insight into what governments and the sector must do to make licensed programs truly inclusive of all children.

When the pandemic struck in March 2020, child care centres faced unprecedented disruptions — closures, reduced staffing, changing public health directives, and heightened health concerns among families and educators. Lero and Irwin show that while child care centres remained open to support essential workers, many faced pressures that strained their capacity to provide high-quality, inclusive care. 

“The data in this book supports the conclusion that the needs of children with disabilities—individually and as a specific group—largely became invisible at this time.” state Lero and Irwin.

The report examines the experience of children who continued to receive services and those who were denied access during this period. It provides critical insights to inform future policy, research, and practice in inclusive early learning environments.

The e-book is available here.