Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

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9:15am CDT

Bridging the Gap: Linking LTSAE and The DEC RPs for Families

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

This session will explore the intersection of two powerful frameworks: Learn the Signs. Act Early (LTSAE) and the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices (RPs) to empower families in recognizing developmental milestones, acting early on developmental concerns, and engaging in early intervention that supports improved developmental outcomes.

Speakers

Melissa Crist

Director of Early Childhood Programs, Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development

Melissa Crist, M.S. is the Director of IdahoSTARS at the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development, the state University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). IdahoSTARS houses the majority of quality initiatives in early care and education for the... Read More →

Bethanne Vergean

CT Learn the SIgns Act Early Ambassador, UCONN UCEDD

Bethanne Vergean provides technical assistance and training for Connecticut’s Early Childhood system. Her work over the past 20 years has been centered on improving developmental monitoring in Connecticut. Through her dedicated advocacy, she has developed strong networking systems... Read More →

Deepa Srinivasavaradan

Kristen Paul

Director of Early Childhood Programs, The Parents' Place of Maryland

Kristen Paul has devoted over two decades to various roles serving children and their families; her career has included work as a science teacher, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at NASA, STEM Coordinator at Salisbury University, and family support for Birth to Five... Read More →

Deana Buck

Act Early Ambassador, Early Childhood Consultant

DEC 2024 Bridging the Gap pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Prince of Wales - 2nd fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

9:15am CDT

Oh...I'm so sorry: Shifting from Sympathy to Celebration

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Chequers - 2nd fl

Despite efforts to promote positive views of disability, the deficit model permeates our practice and society. Upon the birth of a child with differences, parents are continually confronted with sympathy. and pity. Drawing from our own lived experiences and the field of disability studies, we discuss shifting to parent support that celebrates all children and families.

Speakers

Ann Mickelson

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Holly Dregne

Teacher, Elm Lawn Elementary, Middleton, WI

Kristi Godfrey-Hurrell

Becky Hoffman

Professional Development Specialist, CESA5 RESource for the WI Birth to 3 Program

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Chequers - 2nd fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

9:15am CDT

We Hear You Sis: Black Mothers Advocacy in Special Education Process

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

GrandSalon 19 - 1st fl

This presentation will discuss the lived experience of three Black mothers navigating the special education process. We will discuss (a) the inequities our children experience and (b) the barriers we navigated to ensure our children receive appropriate services.

Speakers

Monique Matute-Chavarria

Assistant Professor, New Mexico State University

Dr. Monique Matute-Chavarria is an assistant professor of Special Education at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Before obtaining her Ph.D. in Special Education, she worked with Nevada Early Intervention Services, working with children from birth to three with disabilities. Dr... Read More →

Asia Johnson M.S. BCBA, LBA

Founder | BCBA | Executive Advisor, Seizing 611 LLC

As an executive advisor and licensed behavior analyst, I specialize in driving organizational success through strategic behavior analysis and executive coaching. With over eight years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), I empower leaders and ambitious professionals to... Read More →

Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg

Mirage Sanders

OT, N/A

Meridith M. Rose, MS, CCC-SLP

Education of Students with Exceptionalities Doctoral Student and Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia State University

Meridith M. Rose, MS, CCC-SLP is a pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) of over 15 years. Her journey to become an SLP began over 20 years ago following her youngest brother’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. She has worked with neurotypical and neurodiverse populations... Read More →

William White

Dr. William L. White hails from Seattle, WA and holds a PhD in special education from the University of Washington where he received the Gordon C. Lee Dissertation Award for his dissertation entitled “Through Our Eyes: The Lived Experiences of Black Male Early Childhood Teachers... Read More →

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
GrandSalon 19 - 1st fl

Family

Age 5-8
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

10:30am CDT

Partnering with Immigrant Families for Promoting Social Emotional Learning

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

GrandSalon 15 - 1st fl

Early Childhood Education (ECE) practitioners must partner with families to promote early Social Emotional Learning (SEL). With the increasing number of immigrant families in the U.S., practitioners need more guidance for partnering with immigrant families. This session will provide strategies for promoting SEL with immigrant families of children with disabilities.

Speakers

Gounah Choi

Lecturer, University of Oregon

Kathryn Bigelow

Associate Research Professor, Juniper Gardens Children's Project, University of Kansas

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
GrandSalon 15 - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

10:30am CDT

Saluting Strengths: Military Families with Children with Disabilities

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

Burgundy - 1st fl

Researchers affirm the importance of professionals’ knowledge and skills when working with children and families from backgrounds different from their own. A population that has received little attention in ECSE is military families. In this session we discuss the experiences of military families and provide an overview of military-connected programs and resources.

Speakers

Karen Terry

Program Analyst, Dept of Defense

Robyn DiPietro

Asst. Project Director, OneOp-University of Illinois at Urbana-Chamapaign

Michaelene Ostrosky

Professor, University of Illinois

Amy Santos

Associate Provost and Professor of Special Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

DEC 2024 Resources pdf

DEC Saluting Strengths Slides pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Burgundy - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

10:30am CDT

Survivor: Starting, Reviving and Keeping Your Subdivision Alive

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

GrandSalon 22 - 1st fl

The Subdivision Support committee and a panel of subdivision leaders will provide resources and actionable tasks to support you in starting subdivisions, reviving subdivisions, and maintaining active membership. Participants will engage in panel discussions and small group activities and will leave with immediately actionable items related to their specific needs.

Speakers

Katy Green

Interim Department Chair and Associate Professor, University of West Georgia

Amanda Quesenberry

Professor, Illinois State University

Summer Gunn

Professional Practices Assistant Professor, Utah State University

Summer received a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Birth to 5 services and significant disabilities and a Master’s of Education in Special Education from Utah State University. She is currently a Professional Practice Assistant Professor in the... Read More →

Donna Wadsworth

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Julie Rutland

Associate Professor, Eastern Kentucky University

Survivor Invited Session 2024 pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
GrandSalon 22 - 1st fl

Family

1:00pm CDT

Disability, Diversity, and Identity in Early Childhood

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Chequers - 2nd fl

Disability is a naturally occurring human variation. Some variations, such as nearsightedness, are so common that they're no longer considered disabilities. Others are considered an inconvenience to society. How do professionals help children and families form a positive disabled identity amid these implicit and explicit messages created by society?

Speakers

Charissa Darland

Educational Resources Specialist, Indiana University Bloomington

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Chequers - 2nd fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Families
Content Level Introductory

1:00pm CDT

Setting the Stage for a Peaceful and Productive IEP Meeting

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Burgundy - 1st fl

Have you ever had an IEP experience that just didn’t go well? What did you do to help get the meeting back on track? This session will discuss strategies to promote family engagement throughout the IEP process and to empower families to be their child’s advocate.

Speakers

Amanda Duncan

BCBA, Research Assistant, Doctoral Candidate, University of Kentucky

Julie Rutland

Associate Professor, Eastern Kentucky University

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Burgundy - 1st fl

Family

Age 5-8
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

1:00pm CDT

Strategies to Include Family Voice and Choice in the Behavior Support Plan

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Prince of Wales - 2nd fl

Empowering families and practitioners collectively in communication, planning, and social-emotional support development is pivotal for enhancing outcomes in young children. With practical examples and user-friendly resources, participants will learn to foster family partnership, amplifying voice and choice in the Individualized Positive Behavior Support Process (IBSP).

Speakers

Meghan von der Embse

Learning and Development Facilitator, University of South Flordida

Ben Riepe

Senior Project Manager, University of Denver

Ben began his early childhood experience as a Head Start teacher, coach, and trainer. He is on staff at both the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, where he supports high fidelity program-wide implementation of the Pyramid Model with families of diverse backgrounds in Denver, Colorado. His previous work includes the Colorado Center for Social Emotional Competence and Inclusion, where he supported communities in their efforts to embed evi... Read More →

Jackie Joseph

Research Associate Professor, University of Denver

Jackie Joseph is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Denver Positive Early Learning Experiences Center, where her work promotes high-quality inclusion across the early care and education system. She specifically focuses on family partnerships and evidence-based strategies... Read More →

Aniva Lumpkins

National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) Fellow; Doctoral Candidate, FIU

Aniva Lumpkins, Ed.S., is a clinical supervisor of school psychologists and a doctoral candidate pursuing her PhD in Special Education at Florida International University. As a recipient of the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) and Project INCLUDE fellowships... Read More →

family voice choice pdf

DEC Family Voice and Choice PPT Handout pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Prince of Wales - 2nd fl

Family

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Families
Content Level Intermediate

2:15pm CDT

Creating Connection for Families of Children with Developmental Needs

Thursday September 19, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Families of children with developmental needs may wish to connect with similar families for support but getting together can be challenging due to the varying availability of each family. We set up a family support event “Time with Me” within our EI centre to facilitate connection. Feedback showed that families enjoyed this event and gained valuable insights.

Speakers

Nurul Ain Bte Mohd Komari

Senior Speech Therapist, Head of Programs Development (Early Intervention), THK Early Intervention Centres (Singapore)

Nurul, a speech therapist by training, currently serves as the Head of Program Development in an early intervention service within a social service agency. Passionate about family-centered practices, she is committed to developing solutions that create a meaningful and lasting impact... Read More →

Shaun Ng

Senior Research Assistant, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities

Multi-disciplinary research experience across industries from social service to healthcare, with diverse and adaptable capabilities in psychology and business development. Passionate about youth development and aspire towards working with like-minded individuals to promote positive... Read More →

Thursday September 19, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Family

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

2:15pm CDT

Lights, Camera, Red Flags! Roll Out the Parental Red Carpet

Thursday September 19, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Chequers - 2nd fl

Practical skills and sensitive language are crucial for addressing neurodiversity, physical diversity, and family differences in Early Head Start/Head Start classrooms. This presentation covers prevalence, best practices, and supporting underprivileged communities. If you're an educator, administrator, or advocate interested in fostering inclusivity, join us.

Speakers

Brooke Frenkel

Lights Camera Red Flags (1) pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Chequers - 2nd fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

3:30pm CDT

Addressing Gaps in Family Support Through Family-Informed Micro-Trainings

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

Participants will learn about the co-creation with families and early childhood professionals of brief "micro-trainings" on topics identified as gaps during family interviews with families of young children with disabilities. Participants will understand how format and content decisions were made and will consider new methods for dissemination.

Speakers

Katherine Herron

Director, Indiana University Early Childhood Center

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Introductory

3:30pm CDT

Building Hope: Exploring Infant Mental Health in Diverse Families

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

GrandSalon 7 - 1st fl

Embark on a transformative journey in this session, strategically crafted to elevate professional practices and directly impact outcomes for children and families. With a spotlight on under-resourced or culturally diverse communities, this exploration and interactive discussion promise to revolutionize the approach to caregiving.

Speakers

Lisa Terry

Early Intervention Professional Development Consultant, Virginia Commonwealth University/Partnership for People with Disabilities

Lisa provides support for the design and implementation of professional development activities for early intervention providers and administrators in Virginia. She has worked in early intervention for over 15 years as an educator, service coordinator, clinical supervisor, and consultant... Read More →

Elvia Cortes, PhD, MSW

Founder, IMH Interventions, Refective Practice Mentor- Ca, FINE Infant Program

Elvia Cortes, PhD, MSW, is the founder and executive director of FINE Infant Program, an Early Intervention program, leading in-home visitors and mental health practitioners providing direct services to children 0-3 years and their families in California. She collaborates with in-home... Read More →

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
GrandSalon 7 - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate