Basically the Ontario DNA has a line that states "all non walkers must be kept separate from walkers" .... so it depends on how the centre is interpreting that how they make their rules ... cause reality is that some kids walk at 9 months while still in the infant room and well you cannot move up to the toddler room at 9 months so they have to figure out a way to meet that child's early development ~ so how are they keeping those kids 'separate' from the non walkers by using play areas where non walkers are kept 'safe' from being stepped on by those walking. They should be able to do the SAME thing up in the toddler room and if the client really PUSHED how do they handle 'infants' who are walking in the infant room and what is the difference than they could push the centres hand to allow the toddler to start!

Lots of centres I worked at had toddlers who were still 'bumming/crawling' around and once they were up in the toddler room seeing ALL the other kids walking/toddling they quickly realized they better get motivated to do it!

This is no different than the 'old' rule that preschoolers had to be toilet trained to graduate into preschool ~ the rule was because preschool rooms were not equipped with 'change tables' well eventually children came a long who were just not 'ready' to train but were ready in every other manner for the preschool room and so parents were getting angry their kid was being discriminated against over something that there was no control over and well now preschool programs have change tables and being toilet trained is no longer a requirement.

If the child has some physical disability 'preventing' walking well all the more reason the centre would be required to take her cause well you cannot discriminate service based on disability ~ they would have to accommodate unless they can prove undue hardship which they cannot ... we had preschoolers in our programs who could not walk independently and used braces or a wheelchair ... it is called inclusion and all centers are required to practice it!