CenterPoint: The Newsletter of The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies

Collaboration brings speaker to Maine

“All children, regardless of their backgrounds and abilities, deserve beautiful environments,” according to Rochell Bunnett, M.ED., environmental designer. “If we want our children to reach their fullest potential, our environments must be rich in both potential and possibilities.”

In February 2005, over 100 early childcare and education providers from six Maine counties had an opportunity to hear Bunnett discuss, Designing Beautiful Environments for All Children: Rethinking the Possibilities at the Senator Inn in Augusta. The training provided strategies for making positive and lasting changes in early childcare and education environments. Through mini-lectures, hands-on activities, and slide presentations, participants had an opportunity to rethink the possibilities for how to design purposeful, playful, and beautiful environments where together, all children and adults can thrive.

Workshop participant Marlene Myers of Catholic Charities, Fairfield, wrote of her experience, “This workshop was very inspiring...I seem more alert to the environment, with color, playfulness, and fun...Thank you all for having Rochelle give us the opportunity to expand our minds and think about our environments.”

Bunnett, from Washington State, has designed innovative environments for young children for over 25 years. She is the author of Friends in the Park, Friends at School, and the poster series, Friends Together: More Alike Than Different and has worked with young children of all ages, including infants and toddlers with special needs. Bunnett has traveled extensively, studying environments in England, Japan, and the Reggio Emilia schools in Italy. She has evaluated children's museums across the United States and has shared her ideas and vision at local, state, and national conferences.

Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies researchers discovered Bunnett's work while exploring resources to share with programs pursuing National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation. NAEYC accreditation standards seek to improve the quality of early education environments and teaching practices, and include standards related to accessibility and diversity.

“We found [Bunnett’s] web site (www.ourkidspress.com) to be rich. The wonderful publications she has available for early care and education settings were exactly what we were looking for to show inclusion in natural environments,” said Debra Rainey, a research associate with the Center. “The physical environment is the foundation to any early childhood program.”

The environmental design workshop was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Center, Kennebec/Somerset and Coastal ACCESS Early Learning Opportunity Act Grants (90LO0999 and 93-577) from the Child Care Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

CENTERPOINT: The Newsletter of The University of Maine
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies,
Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Education, Research, and Service


In This Issue Spring 2005 • Volume 1 • Issue 1 Early Learning Opportunities Support Quality and Access Director’s Corner Daring to Dream Awards New EC Resource In memoriam: Marcia Lovell LEARNS: Work Keeps Team Hopping IDS Curriculum Changes Dissemination Team Leads Web Accessibility Collaboration Brings Speaker to Maine Center Sponsors Exhibit Venue for VSA arts Center Hosts Visiting Fulbright Scholar UMaine Students Lead EC Conference 10 Students Graduate TOP Program Healthy & Ready to Work: Engaging Youth in Their Future Standards for All Model: Personalizing Elementary Education Selected Presentations & Publications CenterPoint Home	Center Home \| UMaine Home \| CenterPoint Home Rochelle Bunnett Collaboration brings speaker to Maine “All children, regardless of their backgrounds and abilities, deserve beautiful environments,” according to Rochell Bunnett, M.ED., environmental designer. “If we want our children to reach their fullest potential, our environments must be rich in both potential and possibilities.” In February 2005, over 100 early childcare and education providers from six Maine counties had an opportunity to hear Bunnett discuss, Designing Beautiful Environments for All Children: Rethinking the Possibilities at the Senator Inn in Augusta. The training provided strategies for making positive and lasting changes in early childcare and education environments. Through mini-lectures, hands-on activities, and slide presentations, participants had an opportunity to rethink the possibilities for how to design purposeful, playful, and beautiful environments where together, all children and adults can thrive. Workshop participant Marlene Myers of Catholic Charities, Fairfield, wrote of her experience, “This workshop was very inspiring...I seem more alert to the environment, with color, playfulness, and fun...Thank you all for having Rochelle give us the opportunity to expand our minds and think about our environments.” Bunnett, from Washington State, has designed innovative environments for young children for over 25 years. She is the author of Friends in the Park, Friends at School, and the poster series, Friends Together: More Alike Than Different and has worked with young children of all ages, including infants and toddlers with special needs. Bunnett has traveled extensively, studying environments in England, Japan, and the Reggio Emilia schools in Italy. She has evaluated children's museums across the United States and has shared her ideas and vision at local, state, and national conferences. Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies researchers discovered Bunnett's work while exploring resources to share with programs pursuing National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation. NAEYC accreditation standards seek to improve the quality of early education environments and teaching practices, and include standards related to accessibility and diversity. “We found [Bunnett’s] web site (www.ourkidspress.com) to be rich. The wonderful publications she has available for early care and education settings were exactly what we were looking for to show inclusion in natural environments,” said Debra Rainey, a research associate with the Center. “The physical environment is the foundation to any early childhood program.” The environmental design workshop was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Center, Kennebec/Somerset and Coastal ACCESS Early Learning Opportunity Act Grants (90LO0999 and 93-577) from the Child Care Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

CENTERPOINT: The Newsletter of The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service

In This Issue

Collaboration brings speaker to Maine