Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

11:00am CDT

Empowering Families Through Play

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Through a transdisciplinary model we will provide EI therapists with tools they can use to educate families on the importance of play in their child's development. We will demonstrate through play how babies explore their world and work toward developmental milestones. Participants will learn how to use play to empower families to meet their child's foundational growth.

Speakers

Sara Lemons

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, The Bell Center

Cindy Florence

ECSE Teacher, The Bell Center

Kierstin Cusumano

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, The Bell Center

Angela Anselmo

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, The Bell Center

The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs

Program Director, The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs

The Bell Center is dedicated to maximizing the potential of children from birth to three years of age who are at risk for developmental delay. Since 1984, The Bell Center has provided best-in-class early intervention services in the only center-based program of its kind in Alabam... Read More →

Chair Time The Bell Center pdf

Play for Infants and Babies The Bell Center pdf

Play Ideas for Home The Bell Center pdf

STAGES AND STRATEGIES FOR TOY PLAY The Bell Center pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

By Practitioners for Practitioners

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

1:30pm CDT

An Overview of the Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Center for Equity

Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

This presentation will provide a national overview of Early Childhood Intervention workforce needs and introduce the ECIPC- Equity framework, and equity centered tools and resources to assist in the development and delivery of IHE personnel preparation programs and professional development systems in ECI.

Speakers

Darla Gundler

Associate Director, Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Center -Equity (ECiPC-Equity)

Engaging families of young children with disabilities in early childhood

Mary Beth Bruder

UCEDD/ECPC Director, UNIV OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CTR

Infants & Young Children is an interdisciplinary journal focusing on children with disabilities or at risk for disability age birth to five years and their families. Of special interest are articles involving innovative interventions, summaries of important research developments and... Read More →

Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Professional Development

2:45pm CDT

We Hear You Sis: Black Mothers Advocacy in Special Education Process (including Keynote Speakers: Monique Matute-Chavarria & William White)

Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT

Eglinton Winton - 2nd 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 →

Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg

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 →

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 →

Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Family

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

4:00pm CDT

Moving From “Compassion Fatigue” to “Compassion Satisfaction”

Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Over 50% of children in early childhood settings have experienced trauma. Meanwhile, early educators support and nurture this population under their own emotional, physical and financial stressors. This session helps practitioners to build positive supports, proactively nurturing “Compassion Satisfaction” rather than surviving “Compassion Fatigue.”

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Speakers

Teri Dawn Pentz

Clinical Training Supervisor, Theiss Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma

Kimberly Blair, PhD

Program Director, Child and Adolescent Trauma Services (CATS) Outpatient Program, UPMC Theiss Center for Child & Adolescent Trauma

Moving from Compassion Fatigue to Compassion Satisfaction DEC 2024 pdf

Compassion Satisfaction Fatigue Self Test pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

By Practitioners for Practitioners

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

9:15am CDT

Using the Recommended Practices for Equitable Family Participation

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

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Because racial disparities exist in EI/ECSE, there is an urgency to provide each family with the information and support needed to access services and to meaningfully engage within these services. Participants will learn strategies to address these needs through use of the DEC Recommended Practices and related resources in their work with families.

Speakers

Stephanie Moss

Chief Operating Officer, Parent to Parent of Georgia

Pat Cameron

Andrea Laser

Meedra Surratte

Using the RPs for Equitable Family Participation pdf

Using the RPs for Equitable Family Participation pptx

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

Practice

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

10:30am CDT

Meeting Families When and Where They Are: FAB Scheduling

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

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Implementing a flexible, activity-based, bursts of support (FAB) scheduling system helps ensure visits occur during natural family activities and routines. Learn strategies for increasing scheduling flexibility and how and when natural learning environment practices are used to build caregiver capacity and increase child learning opportunities.

Speakers

Kaitlin Porter

Physical Therapist, Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP)

Teran Frick

Professional Development Coordinator, Family, Infant & Preschool Program (FIPP)

FAB Scheduling handout pdf

FAB Scheduling Tips Tricks pdf

FAB Scheduling Plain Text pdf

FAB Scheduling Tips and Tricks Plain text pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Practice

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

2:15pm CDT

Rural vs Urban Barriers to Accessing Inclusive Preschool Opportunities

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

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Access and equity issues to inclusive educational settings are present in both urban and rural settings. In this presentation we will compare barriers impacting access to inclusive educational opportunities in rural vs. urban settings. Through this comparison we will highlight common practices that work across settings as well as unique approaches for each set of needs.

Speakers

Cori More

Jennifer Buchter

professor, Eatern Illinois University

Paula Kerchenski

Assistant Professor, Utah Tech University

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

Policy

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

3:30pm CDT

Combatting Bias in Early Childhood Education Systems

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

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Using individual reflection and small and whole group activities, participants will gain awareness of their culture and identity and how they, as well as power dynamics, impact services through explicit and implicit biases. Participants will also learn evidence-based strategies for combatting biases to ensure equitable service delivery.

Speakers

Lynne Hall

Research Associate, Indiana University Bloomington

M.S. Ed.

Janet Ballard

Research Associate, Indiana University Bloomington

Janet has worked in the field of early childhood since 1993. She has been a developmental therapist in Indiana’s Early Intervention program (First Steps), a Bureau of Child Development Services State Program Consultant, developed and oversaw the day-to-day operations of an Early... Read More →

Handout DEC 2024 Combating Bias in Early Education Systems pdf

Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Practice

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

9:00am CDT

An Antibias Approach to Peer Mediated Interventions

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

We discuss considerations and adaptations for promoting social engagement and learning among peers using an antibias approach for peer mediated interventions. We will provide strategies for teachers, coaches, and early interventionists to implement PMIs in their educational settings to promote social engagement among children.

Speakers

Abby Taylor

Data manager, Wisconsin alliance for infant mental health

Brandy M. Locchetta

Assistant Professor, University of West Georgia

Create, Care, Connect pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Practice

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

10:15am CDT

Everyone Has a Voice: Embedded Functional Communication Systems

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

This session will focus on the functional communication needs of all students. Participants will examine embedded learning opportunities to create functional communications systems within typical routines that can reduce challenging behavior and increase social engagement, resulting in increased outcomes.

Speakers

Ron Roybal

Ronald Roybal

Everyone Deserves A Voice DEC 2024 pdf

Routines Embedded Instruction pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

By Practitioners for Practitioners

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

12:00pm CDT

Pathways to Inclusion: Social-Emotional Learning and Behavioral Supports

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

In this session, we address how using social-emotional learning strategies and behavioral supports fosters high-quality, inclusive early-childhood settings in alignment with the US Department of Education (2023) statement on the inclusion of children with disabilities and DEC Recommended Practices. We offer practical strategies and resources for practitioners.

Speakers

Shawna Harbin

Clinical Assistant Professor, Purdue University

Amanda Passmore

Assistant Professor, Elmhurst University

Dr. Amanda Passmore (she/her) is an Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Programs in the School of Education at Elmhurst University. Her research includes topics in teacher leadership related to early childhood special education. Dr. Passmore has experience as an early childhood... Read More →

Alina Mihai

Associate Professor of Education, Indiana University Kokomo

Pathways to Inclusion (Handout) docx

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Content Level Intermediate

1:15pm CDT

Partnering with Families to Create Inclusive Classroom Communities

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

In this session, we will demonstrate how programs, coaches, trainers, and practitioners can create inclusive, high-quality classrooms through family partnerships. We will review strategies for partnering with families and how to incorporate anti-bias principles into professional development, coaching, and classroom practices to create inclusive classrooms.

Speakers

DEC Creating Caring and Inclusive Communities slides pdf

Preschool Mod1 H10 words have impact (1) pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Eglinton Winton - 2nd fl

Practice

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