World Inclusion Conference – India 2026: Advancing Inclusive Early Childhood Development

A Faculty Perspective on Inclusion

Dr. Deepika Jain participated as a faculty member at the World Inclusion Conference – India 2026, contributing to discussions focused on meaningful inclusion and support for children in early childhood and educational settings.

The conference provided an opportunity to bring together different professional perspectives and consider how health, education, and family support can work together rather than functioning as separate systems.

Practice Lab: Early Identification & Intervention & Learner Support Pathways

Alongside co-host and educationalist Dr. Geet Oberoi, Dr. Deepika Jain explored early identification, intervention, and learner support pathways during the Practice Lab.

The discussion highlighted the importance of medical, developmental, and educational pathways working in true symbiosis. When these disciplines communicate and collaborate, they can create stronger frameworks for supporting children and promoting inclusion within classroom settings.

Inclusive Beginnings: Reimagining Early Childhood Education for Every Child

The panel discussion explored what it takes to create supportive environments where every child has an opportunity to participate, learn, and develop.

The conversation considered inclusion through multiple lenses: brain plasticity from a medical perspective, the development of a holistic learning environment from an educational perspective, and the important role of caregiver well-being in supporting children and families.

Inclusion Requires Collaboration

One of the key themes from the conference was that meaningful inclusion cannot be achieved by one profession or system working alone. Children and families benefit when healthcare professionals, educators, developmental specialists, and caregivers work towards shared goals.

This collaborative approach can help create better pathways for early identification, intervention, learning, participation, and family support.

Building More Inclusive Beginnings

The World Inclusion Conference – India 2026 reinforced the importance of looking beyond individual interventions and thinking about the wider environment surrounding a child. Early childhood is an important period for development, and coordinated support can help children participate more meaningfully in their homes, classrooms, and communities.

At Shishu Child Development Centre, we believe that understanding a child's developmental profile and working collaboratively with families and professionals can support more individualized and meaningful developmental pathways.