Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference

Please bring your coffee/beverage and join the DEC Executive Board & the DEC Executive Director for an informal chat about what is happening at DEC! Bring your ideas, your dreams, your questions, your challenges . We want to hear what it "looks like" in your family//program/school/university/agency and how DEC might support with national/international practice and policy solutions. We especially want to hear from families and practitioners as we elevate your voice alongside higher education faculty, researchers, administrators, policy makers, students at undergraduate and graduate level and advocates!

Children and families from marginalized backgrounds face many disparities in early intervention (EI) services. Analysis of Section 618 exit data by exit reason and across racial/ethnic categories can provide insight into the reasons historically marginalized families exit and transition EI programs. In this session we discuss implications for Child Find and transitions.

Many myths exist about language development in autistic children, myths about milestones, prognosis and treatment. Participants will review the research to decipher neuromyths from neurotruths. Participants will learn how that research should be guiding the conversation on how best to support early language development.

Monitoring a child's progress toward IEP goals is important for documenting skill acquisition and determining if interventions are effective. This presentation introduces using an activity matrix and Goal Attainment Scaling for progress monitoring while meeting the individual needs of children with disabilities. Strategies, applications, and resources will be shared.