Frequently Asked Questions

If you are a license-exempt family, friend, or neighbor (FFN) caregiver in Colorado, we encourage you to watch the Introduction to Universal Design course available at no cost on the Office of Early Childhood’s Professional Development Information System (PDIS), and explore other professional development which will be posted there soon. Also, check out other resources on our website, which include:

Links to local and national resources on Universal Design
Community forum to house frequently asked questions about creating inclusive and universally designed early education environments

If you are a licensed Colorado childcare program, you can participate in Adapt to Impact by first submitting an Interest Form. After you complete the form, we will contact you to discuss next steps. You will have access to the Introduction to Universal Design training online. We recommend you complete this training early on, prior to using further project resources. You will also be eligible to receive quick program support and check out a Universal Design Kit to try adapted equipment in your program. These kits are available through your local Early Childhood Council and CIDE and organized by domain: Communication & Literacy, Fine & Gross Motor, Vision & Hearing, Behavior & Cognition, and Infant. You also can check out individual items through the statewide loan library and have items delivered to a library near you.

Families will have access to all the information available on our website. Resources will continue to be added over the course of the project and will include the following and so much more:

The Universal Design training module, available through the PDIS System
Links to local and national resources on Universal Design on the website
Community forum to house frequently asked questions about creating a universally designed early education environment

There is no cost to the childcare program or its employees. All resources are provided by the Center for Innovative Design and Engineering (CIDE), Department of Bioengineering at the University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus. Funding for this support is provided by the Colorado Department of Human Services – Department of Early Childhood and the Colorado Department of Education.

No, it does not cover information about screenings nor evaluations, but we encourage you to contact child find (CDE) for this support. However, we do provide support for childcare programs that have children who have been identified or are suspected of having a delay or disability and programs that want to be better prepared to support children with a disability.

You can request several individual items and/or kit boxes. However, we would strongly recommend you start with just a few items the first time. The kits are available for 4–6-week periods and there is a lot to explore and interact with. Some items have many pieces so it may be easier to manage and return all the items if you limit your loan to a manageable amount.

Assistive Technology (AT) describes any device or adaptation that helps increase the independence and functioning of a child with delays and disabilities so they can participate with their peers. AT includes items that help with communication, movement, positioning, play and learning. Although it has the word “technology” in it, AT can include using simple, everyday materials, like popsicle sticks attached to the pages of a book, to create an adaptation for a child with a delay or disability. The terms AT and adaptive equipment are often used interchangeably.

Center for Innovative Design and Engineering

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Frequently Asked Questions

Center for Innovative Design and Engineering (CIDE)

Frequently Asked Questions

What resources are available to license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor caregivers?

What resources are available to licensed centers or preschools?

How can I make my playground more accessible?

Colorado Early Learning vs. Project Include vs. Adapt to Impact - What's the difference?

How can I check out a Universal Design Kit for my childcare program?

What resources are available to families?

Is this free? Who pays for it?

Does Adapt to Impact provide training on screenings or support in conducting screenings or evaluations for children?

What are the steps of participation in Adapt to Impact?

Where can I find more resources on Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

Do I have to live in Colorado to participate?

How many items can I borrow?

Will I get PDIS credit for completing the online training?

What is the time commitment for programs wishing to participate?

What is AT or adaptive equipment?

Center for Innovative Design and Engineering (CIDE)