Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference

This session will explore opportunities for DEC members to influence policy changes for more equitable and inclusive early childhood systems for young children with disabilities and developmental delay using the 5 Ws framework (Who, What, When, Why, How).  You already know the WHY – early childhood systems are not working for families with young children with disabilities and developmental delays. This session will provide an introduction for attendees to understand WHAT state-level policy and systems change is all about and some of the hot topics states are tackling; WHO can help you make the changes you want to see; WHEN the windows of opportunity for policy change happens in states; and HOW you can influence and strengthen early childhood policies.

This session will also include a panel of state-level advocates discussing ways to get started in advocacy, how to engage families and providers in advocacy work, and other ways they have brought the 5 Ws to life.

Join us for a transformative session designed to offer equitable and essential social emotional skills to resource caregivers in understanding the myriad of factors that play into nervous system regulation.
Gain insight into your specific stress reactions and acquire a set of non-pathologizing, evidence-based techniques that offer immediate relief and long-term support.

This presentation will describe the processes and outcomes of bringing together a) families of children who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH); b) DHH leaders; c) EI Providers; and d) Researchers to develop International Guidelines for FCEI-DHH, informed by Consensus Panelists from 14 countries. The FCEI-DHH Principles are evidence-informed & reflect current best practices.

This session will offer a world café model for attendees to explore early childhood disability policy issues they would like to influence.  Each table will have a different early childhood policy topic for discussion -- Early Intervention access, Early Childhood Special Education and inclusion across settings, child care access for children with disabilities, and another topic(s)   Each table will start with a state spark story to get the discussion going, with opportunities for attendees to identify specific activities (guided by a worksheet ) they can take back to their home states to begin to explore policy change opportunities.

To address the critical need of preparing high quality professionals to collaboratively serve young children with disabilities and their families, session presenters will share their unique experience from three institutions and strategies in developing and implementing an interdisciplinary Master’s level personnel training program.

The CDC (2019) recommends that children aged 3-5 years old should be active throughout the day. In this session, we will explore research, activities, and tools to help you foster active opportunities for your children, students, and families. Join us to play, collaborate, and have fun while learning how to facilitate children's movement!

This session presents opportunities afforded by professional development focused on teaming and collaboration. Using an interactive format with audience participation, this session will illustrate how teaming and collaboration EI/ECSE Standards & RPs can be addressed using a 3-phase case study approach in interdisciplinary personnel preparation and professional development