Childhood is a unique and valuable stage in the human
life cycle. Our paramount responsibility is to provide care and education in
settings that are safe, healthy, nurturing, and responsive for each child
(NAEYC. 2005). In order for a professional serving children in early childhood
the professional is obligated to ethical responsibilities to children, such as
the following;
- · 1-1.1 – To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and stay informed through continuing education.
- · 1-1.9 – To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful.
The foundation of this code is based on sound ethical
reasoning related to professional practice with young children with
disabilities and their families and with interdisciplinary colleagues (The
Division for Early Childhood. 2000). As
a professional working with children and families along with other
professionals in order to be successful we must practice the following;
- · We shall honor and respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of the multidisciplinary colleagues with whom we work recognizing their unique contributions to children, families, and the field of early childhood special education.
Although there are many more code of ethics that
professionals in Early Childhood must follow these 3 are more meaningful to me.
I know that in order to provide effective services to children, families, and
my colleagues continuing education is a must. Through life things change and
staying up to date and in tune with the latest will only help me to better
provide services. Counting education can be as simple as a webinar, workshop or
training!
Also, knowing when a child may need services is not only
important but crucial to a child’s development. Parents must know that we are
there to support them through every step of the way and ensure services are
rendered in a timely manner. We have to speak up for them when they do not know
how to!
Finally, there is no “I” in team. Together with your colleagues, or other professionals that can contribute to the children and families that we serve, especially those with special needs deserve honor and respect. Working together is always better than working alone!
I recently had the pleasure of watching this video based on
5 different professionals who spoke on their views in regards to leadership and
advocacy. They were all great and had wonderful things to say but Ms. Renatta
Cooper’s words on advocacy just brought chills to by body because this is exactly
how I feel about advocacy, this is how everyone should feel. Here is what she
had to say;
“How to be and advocate and what does that really
mean? It’s speaking up for someone who’s not able to speak up for themselves,
being the voice for the voiceless. And I believe that if you see that as part
as whom you are, and part of what draws you to this work that you do not have
to run around looking for ways in which you need to advocate, it will find you
and it will come in a meaningful way and in a very natural way and at the same
time you will know, if you really pay attention, so you need that strong inner
voice that inner guidance, you will know when this is for you to do and when
you need to get someone else’s support. When you are advocating you are doing
what’s best for someone else, someone that does not have the access you have
someone who does not have the voice that you have. So this can never be about
you, and sometimes you are just making a bridge and it may be the other person
on the other side of the bridge that is going to get all the credit for it and
you know what, that’s ok, because if you are doing it for the child and you are
doing it for the family, the point is that they get over the bridge (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).”
NAEYC. (2005). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment.
Retrieved from: http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
The Division for Early Childhood. (2000). Code of ethics.
Retrieved from http://www.dec-sped.org/(NAEYC, 2005). (DEC, 2000).
Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). Professionalism, advocacy, and leadership in early childhood.
Retrieved from: https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_4855535_1%26url%3D
NAEYC. (2005). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment.
Retrieved from: http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
The Division for Early Childhood. (2000). Code of ethics.
Retrieved from http://www.dec-sped.org/(NAEYC, 2005). (DEC, 2000).
Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). Professionalism, advocacy, and leadership in early childhood.
Retrieved from: https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_4855535_1%26url%3D
