Inclusion is considered best practice in the field of early childhood special education. A neglected area of research in regard to inclusion is the study of mothers and fathers views of the inclusion experience. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the expectations and concerns of mothers and fathers of 3-6 year old children with disabilities currently in inclusion settings. Data from the interviews of 18 parents, including both fathers and mothers formed the basis for the findings. The findings were that 1) the world view of mothers and fathers has a strong influence on the decisions made about the child's placement, 2) parents have a broad view of inclusion, seeing the child as a member of a larger system, 3) parental expectations of the parent-professional relationship are more pronounced because of factors related to inclusion. This study is significant because it reveals the perspectives of both mothers and fathers which may be useful to professionals in forming partnerships for educational experiences.
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