Inclusive and quality education is the cornerstone of the Sondra and Howard Bender Early Childhood Center (ECC) at the Bender JCC. Our educational philosophy celebrates and embraces each student’s unique abilities, interests, and personalities. Empathetically discussing our differences gives students the confidence, grace, and safety to be their authentic selves. It also creates an environment of emotional safety and mutual trust, which empowers our staff to advocate for and proactively support our students with disabilities.
The Bender ECC routinely provides individualized and specialized support for our young friends like Sam*. Early in the school year, Sam’s teachers noticed she played and interacted differently than her peers. The relationship and trust we established with Sam’s parents allowed our team to share these observations and initiate the school’s child support process. The Bender ECC’s Developmental Support Coordinator — our in-house child-development expert available to all students and their families — took action to ensure Sam received the individualized support she needed to thrive, which included introducing basic sign language to aid her communication and providing quiet spaces when she seemed apprehensive.
Initially, when classmates approached Sam with a toy, she often cried and walked away. By early January, Sam had the tools and support to acknowledge and respond appropriately to her friends’ gestures, transforming her relationships and bolstering her confidence. The Developmental Support Coordinator built on Sam’s progress by introducing her family to additional community resources, including programs through Montgomery County Public Schools and the Maryland Infants & Toddlers Program. The Bender ECC actively accompanied Sam’s family on this journey by attending meetings with the Maryland Infants & Toddlers Program, advocating for Sam’s needs, and collaborating with her therapists.
Sam’s story is a testament to the power of inclusion and demonstrates that every child, regardless of their disabilities, can thrive in an environment that champions their potential. At its core, inclusive education ensures that every child receives support tailored to their specific needs in a learning environment where they feel valued and empowered. Through compassion, collaboration, and commitment, the Bender ECC creates transformative educational experiences— just as they did for Sam and her family. At the Bender JCC and ECC, inclusion isn’t just about education; it is a promise to everyone that they belong and matter. Sam’s story reminds us of the profound impact we can make when we uphold that promise.
*The student’s name was changed to protect their privacy.
