About the Experimental Education Unit
The Experimental Education Unit (EEU) began in 1960 as a privately funded pilot school for children with neurological injuries, with one class for preschoolers and two classes for older children. In 1969-70, the EEU moved to its present location as part of the Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD) complex on the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Currently, the EEU provides comprehensive early childhood services to children and their families from the greater Seattle area.
The EEU is a comprehensive early childhood center providing inclusive educational services for children with and without disabilities. The EEU offers educational programs and services to support children with disabilities and their families. All EEU programs encourage the development of children's cognitive, motor, communications, and social interactive skills by emphasizing educational and therapeutic interventions that are geared to each child's individual needs. In addition, we provide community outreach and education services.
Program's Goals
Our program's goal is to increase the confidence and competence of the children and families with whom we work. Our program is committed to providing children opportunities to learn communication skills, develop social relationships, and learn other functional skills in an integrated, developmentally appropriate classroom. Families are involved in identifying the priority skills for their child and are encouraged to take an active role in the classroom.
A goal of our program is to promote active social integration between children with and without disabilities, across all parts of the school day. Effective and systematic assessment and instructional strategies are used to identify, teach, and support these important skills. Skills are taught within the context of meaningful activities across the classroom curriculum. Support services (e.g., speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy) are provided in naturalistic settings (i.e., the classroom) and use activity-based instruction to enhance skill acquisition and generalization. Data are collected to monitor child progress and instructional decisions are based on those data.
From the outset, the EEU has offered a threefold program of professional training, research, and services to children and families. Over the years, EEU has provided comprehensive services to children with disabilities in model demonstration programs; developed numerous instructional and assessment materials; promoted research to improve classroom instructional methods; and trained professionals who have become leaders in their fields.
Principal Functions of the EEU
Training
At present, undergraduate and graduate students in special education and other disciplines (e.g., social work, psychology, speech and hearing sciences, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, and pediatric medicine), as well as Head Start/ECEAP and public school teachers, obtain valuable training and experience in EEU classrooms under the supervision of master teachers and faculty. A national trend toward including children at all levels of ability and disability in regular school classrooms makes the EEU an increasingly important center for learning. Two of our many collaborative projects include the Sister School exchange with the Seattle School District, and our work with the University of Washington's Center for Architecture and Education which resulted in our new playcourt.
Applied Research
Faculty, EEU teaching staff, and graduate students collaborate in research to improve educational practices. They collect pupil performance data from EEU classrooms in order to upgrade teaching procedures and prepare new instructional materials. Many of our studies focus on developing "best practices" for including children with disabilities in educational settings with typically developing children. Some of the innovations that resulted from EEU research are now widely used in public schools.
Services
EEU programs annually serve between 150 and 200 children with diverse abilities, ranging in age from a few weeks to 7 years. These children join EEU programs after referral by parents, professionals, school districts, and community agencies. No child is discriminated against because of race, gender, national origin, or disability. Through coordination with local education agencies, the EEU ensures that children make a smooth transition into educational programs in their own school districts.
The Clinical Training Unit (CTU)
The CTU (another component of the CHDD) and the EEU form part of the University Affiliated Program, one of the federally funded facilities for research and training in areas related to developmental disabilities. CTU faculty and staff prepare graduate students for professional careers in the field of developmental disabilities, provide clinical services to children and their families, and conduct interdisciplinary research. The CTU provides technical assistance and training to professionals in the field of developmental disabilities through special projects, workshops, and dissemination of information. EEU staff consult with nutritionists, audiologists, pediatricians, and other professionals at the CTU to provide high quality services for CTU and EEU clients and students.
Research and Other Activities
EEU faculty and staff are also engaged in a number of service and research projects that involve children, families, and professionals both inside and outside the EEU. Some recent examples are: o Investigations of communication and social skill development. o A 5-year project to identify the meaningful outcomes of full inclusion for children with and without disabilities for students from preschool through middle school. o A longitudinal study of special education students that profiles their lives after high school.
General Information
The EEU is part of both the University of Washington's College of Education and the CHDD. This special school is a major training site for university students enrolled in special education within the College of Education and for students in related disciplines. It is also one of the units of the CHDD, an interdisciplinary research and training facility.
Tours
The EEU welcomes over 2,000 visitors every year, including high school and college students; teachers and administrators; staff from other programs, agencies, and organizations serving people with disabilities; parent groups; interested citizens; and representatives from the press. Trained tour guides and volunteer docents take small groups from classroom to classroom, where visitors hear a short lecture on each type of child served, the procedures used by the teachers, and other interesting facts about the class. Visitors observe each classroom from the observation booths, which are fitted with one-way glass and an intercom system. Tours are scheduled by the morning receptionist. Please call (206) 543-4011 for more information.