October 25 Professional Development and E.C.E. Appreciation Event
October 25, 2025, Agenda
We look forward to coming together as a community to honour the contributions of key educators and engage in meaningful opportunities for continued professional growth.
Meet the Presenters
- Dr. Shelley Moore
- Katie Jameson
- Lori Kempe
Speaker Presentation Overviews
Dr. Shelley Moore
Evolution of Inclusion
Calibrating our understanding of inclusion today is critical to inclusion’s success. This session guides participants through the evolution of inclusion over time through humour and real-life stories.
Supporting One, Supporting All: Collaborative support models for inclusive communities
The inclusive planning process is aiming to situate Disability as an identity, not a deficit, and so to determine what supports children require, teams are shifting to look at needs, instead of disabilities, as a reference point. In this way, planning for inclusive learning environments can be universal, and anticipate the needs of everyone in a community. In this session, we will connect to Universal Design for Learning principles and look at how we can plan for a child with a disability, in ways that can support many children in a community.
Katie Jameson
Side by Side: What is inclusion?
This session chronicles the story of Kenzie and Wally, twins navigating the same community, but Kenzie, who has Autism and Down Syndrome, is navigating a very different journey. Witnessing these two has defined and redefined what inclusion means for them as a family and how different that sometimes looks in childcare settings. Join Katie as she shares her family’s story of the impact of mindset and how they are (still) navigating barriers in today’s community spaces. We will reflect on how Kenzie’s experience can empower inclusive decision-making and advocacy efforts.
Lori Kempe
Planning with Purpose
This presentation explores how Children First in Essex County supports families with young children facing developmental or mental health challenges. The organization serves over 2,100 children annually and emphasizes the importance of early intervention during the critical years highlighting early investment in mental health and development yields significant long-term benefits, both socially and economically. The presentation introduces the "F" Words for Child Development — Function, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends, and Future — as a practical and inclusive language for collaboration between families and professionals.
Event Satisfaction Survey
Presentation Slides