UD Guidelines for Early Learning and Care Settings
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Research Pillar: Healthy and Inclusive Places
Project Name: Universal Design Guidelines for Early Learning and Care Settings
Funding Body: Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the NDA
Project Partners: Early Childhood Ireland (project lead), TrinityHaus, Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Nathan Somers Design
Project Timeframe: 2017 - 2019
Project Description:
This project was coordinated by the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority (CEUD-NDA) on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone, T.D. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) funded the development of these Guidelines, to support the implementation of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM).
Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings provide one of the most important environments that infants, toddlers, and young children experience in their early lives. These settings must provide inclusive environments that cater to a diversity of children with varying abilities and a range of care and learning needs. They must also provide a supportive working environment for the staff working in these settings. Finally, they must support the families who use the buildings every day. Considering the important role played by all members of a child's family, the settings must take into account the wide spectrum of ages, sizes, abilities, or disabilities these families will represent.
Project Partner(s):
Funder(s):
Key Output(s):
- Universal Design Guidelines document : See here.
- Audit tool : See here.
- Literature Review : See here.
Publications:
- Corbett M, Grey T, Heeney T, O’Sullivan L, Ring E. Universal Design Guidelines for Early Learning and Care Settings Design for All, An Leanbh Óg - Journal of Early Childhood Studies, 2020.
- Corbett M, Grey T, Heeney T, O’Sullivan L (2019). Universal Design Guidelines for Early Learning and Care Settings - Design for all. Ireland's Yearbook of Education 2019-2020, Early Childhood. (See here)
This project looked at internal air quality therefore addressing some issues ‘Healthy and Inclusive Places’ and also covered issues around heating and energy conservation and thus linked with ‘Climate Action and Sustainability’. Through the research and engagement process adopted, the project also supported the 4th TrinityHaus pillar - Co-creation, collaboration and stakeholder engagement
Internationally, it supports various UN Sustainable Development Goals as indicated below:
If you would like more information on this research project, please contact Research Fellow Tom Grey at tom.grey@tcd.ie.