Our Purpose
The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) generates knowledge, informs policies, and supports practices to promote positive developmental and educational outcomes for all children, including those with disabilities from the earliest years. FPG’s annual Early Childhood Inclusion Institute is a premier educational experience for anyone involved in the care and education of young children with disabilities (birth to age 8) in inclusive settings.
For more than a quarter of a century, this event has drawn people from across the nation and around the world to:
- discover evidence-informed practices, resources, and tools for promoting and providing inclusive opportunities for every child;
- strengthen and support family choice by expanding high quality, evidence-informed opportunities for supporting children with disabilities;
- develop collaborative relationships and cross-agency partnerships that support early childhood inclusion; and
- meet, learn from, and problem-solve with peers sharing a commitment to meaningful inclusion for every child.
Theme for 2027
From Vision to Practice: Possibilities for Every Child
This year’s theme celebrates the release of the revised 2026 DEC–NAEYC Joint Position Statement on Early Childhood Inclusion and centers the essential role of family choice. The statement calls us to renew our vision of inclusion and to work collectively to ensure that every child with disabilities has the rightful presence in every early childhood community.
Inclusion means more than access. It means that children with disabilities can also fully participate alongside their peers, are celebrated and valued as members of the community, and experience a true sense of belonging. It also means that families are respected as partners and supported in making informed choices for their children. Together, with the necessary systemic supports in place to empower all professionals and families to implement high-quality inclusive practices, we can move from vision to practice and expand possibilities for every child.
2026 Keynote
Announcing our 2027 Keynote Speaker
We are excited to welcome Destiny Huff, PhD, LPC! Huff is a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD therapist, non-attorney special education advocate, speaker, author, and disability inclusion advocate. Drawing from her professional expertise and lived experience as a neurodivergent Black woman and mother raising two neurodivergent children, Huff’s keynote address will focus on challenging deficit-based narratives and transforming how we understand and support neurodivergent and disabled individuals.
In Her Words:
“Inclusion is not simply allowing disabled individuals into spaces. It is ensuring those spaces are willing to change so we can meaningfully access, participate, and belong.”
Your Contribution Matters
If you’ve attended the Inclusion Institute before, you know the incredible impact this experience has on the attendees and, ultimately, the children they serve. Each year, the Inclusion Institute brings together people who are shaping the future of inclusion. Unfortunately, not everyone has the financial means to attend. A gift to the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute’s Inclusion Fund can help provide financial support for families of young children with disabilities and early childhood educators, ensuring that more voices and perspectives can be a part of these crucial training and networking activities.
Thank you to our sponsors
