Caring for Our Children (CFOC)

Chapter 5: Facilities, Supplies, Equipment, and Environmental Health

5.3 General Furnishings and Equipment

5.3.2 Additional Equipment Requirements for Facilities Serving Children with Special Health Care Needs

Note to Reader: See Standard 3.6.3.2 for medication storage.

5.3.2.1: Therapeutic and Recreational Equipment


The facility should have therapeutic and recreational equipment to enhance the educational and developmental progress of children with special health care needs, to the extent that they can be safely and reasonably furnished. Some therapeutic equipment such as trampolines will need to have proper supervision for safety. Such equipment must be securely stored and inaccessible to children when not being used.
RATIONALE
Children with special health care needs may require special equipment of various types. For the individual child, the equipment should be available to meet the goals and methods outlined in the service plan. This equipment, if accessible, may pose a hazard to children in the facility.
COMMENTS
Devices and assisted technology that individual children require is unique to them, based on their own specific needs.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require personal equipment (e.g., eyeglasses, wheelchairs, etc.) to be furnished by the child care program.

TYPE OF FACILITY
Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home