Special Interest Groups

DEC members can now align themselves through Special Interest Groups that are emerging and forming within DEC based on members' interests on specific topics and focus. 

SIGs are part of the restructured DEC Governance 

to provide a "home" within a home for all DEC members.

Currently, there are five SIGs that have been presented to and approved by the DEC Board:

1. Research (DEC Board Liaisons: Greg Cheatham and Megan Purcell) 
2. Professional Development (DEC Board Liaison: Kristie Pretti-Frontczac)
3. Subdivision (DEC Board Liaisons: Lisa Backer and Kristie Pretti-Frontczac)
4. Children's Action Network (DEC CAN Coordinator: Sari Gupta)
5. Early Intervention (DEC Board Liaison: Bonnie Keilty)

NOW is a  great time to be part of these groups as you can help shape and provide direction for them. 

Each SIG is provided with logistical support by the DEC Executive Office. For example, DEC staff members can help SIGs set up a listserv, dedicate a page of the DEC Website, or arrange a meeting space at the DEC annual conference.



 A member of the DEC Board also serves as a liaison for each of the SIGs to allow for direct communication between SIGs and the DEC Board. The liaison's main job is to bring back to the DEC Board issues, concerns, and recommendations from each of the SIGs. The DEC Board liaisons are not expected to lead the SIGs. It is hoped that SIG leaders would emerge from members. I included above the names of the liaisons for each of the existing SIGs. Feel free to contact them to find out more about each of the SIGs

Other than the liaisons from the DEC Board and the Executive Office, no other organizational structure is required for the SIGs. Thus each SIG can develop and form based on their members' needs. For example, a SIG can elect a chair to facilitate activities as they deem necessary, or maybe not.

I hear that a Student SIG is being planned -- this is really exciting! If you are interested in forming a SIG, it's really easy. You just need to contact one of the DEC Board members or the DEC Executive Staff to complete a Request for Board Action (RBA), which will then be submitted to the DEC Board for discussion and approval.

Find your home within our DEC home today...

Form a SIG

Join a SIG!

President’s Budget Includes $50 Million Increase for Part C!

DEC Update

February 14, 2011

President’s Budget Includes $50 Million Increase for Part C!

The President’s Budget was just released this morning and includes a $50 million increase for Part C for FFY 2012!  This is wonderful news for young children with disabilities and their families. Unfortunately, the budget includes a freeze for the 619 Preschool Program. A $200 million increase for Part B, 611 grants is also included. Part D programs were generally held to a freeze except for a Technology cut for ear-marked programs.

This is the first step in the 2012 process. The Congress and President must agree to a final figure before October 1, 2011 when the FFY 2012 year begins.  These FFY 2012 funds will determine the amount states will receive for IDEA grants on July 1, 2012.  

Additional information on the President’s FFY 2012 Budget will be provided later today.

For additional information contact Sharon Walsh, DEC Consultant at walshtaylo@aol.com

In with the new...

Results of the DEC 2011 elections are out!!

Congratulations to our newly elected DEC Board Members:

Carol Trivette (NC), Vice President (2011-2015)

 Mark Smith (NE), Treasurer (2011-2014)

Hannah Schertz (IN), Member-at-Large (2011-2014)

Carol, Mark, and Hannah bring extensive experience, energy, and enthusiasm to the DEC Board. DEC is indeed very lucky to have the level of commitment from its members. DEC members' sustained involvement in the organization ensures that we continue to thrive and be a strong voice for the professionals and families in early childhood special education and early intervention.

Carol, Mark, and Hannah will begin their term on the DEC Board on July 1, 2011.

Carol, Mark and Hannah -- thank you for stepping up and congratulations on your election! I look forward to working with you on the DEC Board.

Meeting with colleagues at NABE

I am looking forward to traveling to beautiful New Orleans next week to present at the upcoming National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) annual conference. This would mark my third time to present a this annual conference to colleagues who have a strong interest in bilingual education, early childhood, and special education.

A View of the Famous French Quarters - photo credit

This unique opportunity is made possible through a partnership among several key national organizations pulled together by the Center on the Social for Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL).

This year at NABE, I get to wear my two favorite hats as I plan to share with NABE attendees about our ongoing work on CSEFEL and relating it to DEC's Position Statement on Responsiveness to all children, families and professionals: Integrating Cultural and Linguistic Diversity into Policy and Practice.

NABE's Special Education Special Interest Group is chaired by Dr. Amy Mazur and Ms. Patricia Rice Doran who have worked tirelessly to bring forth issues of children with disabilities who are also bilingual.

Dr. Amy Mazur of George Washington University

But before I get too excited for a bowl of jambalaya, I have to remind myself it's February and I live in the Midwest. That means I keep my eye out for "typical" weather issues that seem to prop up every time I'm on travel. 

More later!!

If you haven't heard yet, the first DEC/CEC collaborative webinar was a phenomenal success! 

Thank you Kristie and Mary Ruth for a job well done!!

CEC/DEC Webinar on RTI...

As one of its seventeen divisions, DEC works collaboratively with CEC on many projects and activities throughout the year. To kick off 2011, DEC is excited to co-host with CEC a Webinar on... 

"Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction in PreK and K Programs"

Register Now!

The webinar will focus on curriculum differentiation for preschoolers and Kindergarteners to achieve quality Tier One instruction. Differentiation is conceptualized as creating multiple and varied learning opportunities within the same activity or routine. Strategies to help providers expect and allow children to participate and engage with materials in varied and different ways will be discussed. Overall, a curriculum framework approach with multiple tiers is highlighted, representing the underlying foundation of all practices from which supports and services are differentiated to meet the differing needs of children.

The webinar will provide a range of content and is geared toward professionals in several areas: those who provide direct services to young children (e.g., teachers, specialists, paraprofessionals); administrators of PreK and K programs; and teacher educators and preservice teachers interested in working with young children with diverse abilities.


Presenters are...

 

DEC President-Elect, Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Kent State University 

CEC Past President Mary Ruth Coleman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 

4:00-5:30 p.m. ET*

 *NOTE: This webinar is scheduled to last for one and a half hours.

Each registration is for a site, so get a group together to participate. 

Member Registration $89 (per site)
Non-Member Registration $114 (per site)

Everyone who registers receives a copy of the Webinar (audio and video) to download on their own computers and replay at any time

 

Closed captioning available.

Register Now!

Lucky Tessa!

Last week, we officially said goodbye to Bethany Morris, our DEC Director for Member Services. After about 7-1/2 years with DEC, Bethany has decided to stay home and be a full time mom to baby Tessa.

Bethany and Tessa ready for some outdoor fun!

Bethany joined the DEC Executive Office staff  in May of 2003, about one year after Sarah Mulligan was hired as Executive Director. Bethany has been instrumental in helping DEC grow and be the quality organization that it is today. Bethany's main role was to support DEC members through the subdivisions as well as work with CEC to get new members.

Over the years, Bethany has been a reliable fixture at the DEC conferences and the NTI conferences -- you can often find her at the registration area, armed with a bright smile and always ready with a helping hand for conference attendees.

Bethany shares, "I'm going to miss the variety and challenge that my work at DEC provided me.  My tasks at DEC were ever-changing and through DEC and under Sarah's guidance, I have had a lot of opportunities to problem-solve and learn new skills. 

After DEC, I am most looking forward to variety and challenge of a different sort! :)  Staying home with Tessa will be a huge 'miind shift' for me, but my daughter has already taught me a lot about patience and how to go-with-the-flow. I am looking forward to developing THOSE skills even more!"

After this week, Bethany will continue to assist DEC on some of our activities, if only for a limited basis. DEC is lucky to have Bethany continue to be part of its family.

Bethany for sure, would most likely say she's lucky to have Tessa. In the end, Tessa is THE lucky one to have Bethany for her mommy.

With a face like this how can one resist??

Thank you Bethany for all that you have done for DEC!! 

You will be missed! 

You will always be part of the DEC family!

College basketball and DEC

I love college basketball, men's basketball in particular. So of course, every opportunity I get to talk about it, I take. If you were at the Opening Session at the DEC Conference, you would have heard my basketball reference in my speech (my chance to rile up the KU fans in the audience!).

This is me with Steve Warren (a KU basketball fan) 

minutes before the DEC Conference Opening Ceremonies

After an inspired game by my favorite team tonight, I just had to find a way to bring my passion for basketball once again to the DEC world via this blog.

Our school team played the Tar Heels of North Carolina for the 11th annual Big 10-ACC match up. It was a fun game to watch especially with Illinois coming out on top. The rivalry between these two schools has intensified over the years and thus every time they meet, it's almost always an emotional game.

Illinois and North Carolina on the court 

during the pre-game warm up

During the pre and post game interviews, both Coaches Bruce Weber and Roy Williams talked about their admiration and respect for each other as a competitor and as a human being. Don't be fooled however by the niceties between the two because both teams battled long and hard on the court. But once the game was over, the hand shaking and verbal exchanges between the two teams remind us that there is more to the game than what is played in those 40 minutes.

Behind the North Carolina bench at the start of the 2nd half. 
That's Roy Williams getting ready to sit down (or maybe stand up)!

For those of us in the university world, we really are not much different from these basketball teams. We do compete with each other -- in terms of federal grants, US News and World Report rankings, faculty, students, etc. Yet, my experience has been that while we are competitors, more often than not most of us folks tend to hold a deep respect for each others work, accomplishments, and humanity.

I have found this to be true among colleagues I have met through DEC. We eagerly learn more about each others work. We celebrate those who receive awards, grants, etc. After all, what we all do should always be about the young children with special needs and their families.

In my own experience, one of the the biggest benefits of committing my time to DEC (whether it be as a board member, an editor, a reviewer, a presenter, a work group member, etc.) has been the opportunities I have had to work with colleagues from all over the country.

The chance to network with colleagues from other universities (and from all across the field) has opened many doors for me as a professional.Over the years, I've been fortunate to work with colleagues from Washington to Florida, from Texas to Minnesota, including colleagues from  "basketball rivals" schools in Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky! Many of these collaborations were formed and continue to form through DEC.

The University of Illinois Drum Corp perform at half-time.

Yes, we will continue to compete with each other but once those grants are submitted, we go back to friendly ribbing when our favorite basketball teams meet each other again in the basketball court.