Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

9:00am CDT

Building Blocks for Teaching All Children in Inclusive Settings *Early Learning Session*

Tuesday September 17, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT

**Early Learning Session are an additional cost.**

The Building Blocks Framework (Sandall et al., 2024) providers early childhood teams with a range of evidence-based strategies and tools to meet the needs of all young children in any early learning setting. This interactive workshop will focus on things providers can immediately use to support children with disabilities or other support needs in their programs.

Speakers

Ariane Gauvreau

Senior Director, Professional Development, Haring Center for Inclusive Education, University of Washington

Julie Ashmun

Education Specialist, University of Washington - Haring Center for Inclusive Education

Child Assessment Worksheet pdf

Child Activity Matrix docx

Planning Worksheet Section II docx

Clarifying the Schedule Checklist docx

Planning Worksheet Section I docx

Curriculum Modification Planning Form docx

ELO at a Glance docx

Embedded Learning Opportunities Checklist docx

Curriculum Modifications Checklist docx

Tuesday September 17, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Practice

1:00pm CDT

Caregivers as the Change Makers: Capacity Building through Coaching *Early Learning Session*

Tuesday September 17, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

**Early Learning Session are an additional cost.**

This session will present a coaching framework designed to structure EI visits and build caregiver capacity to ensure positive child and family outcomes. Video exemplars will highlight joint planning, observation, guided practice, reflection, and feedback coaching quality indicators. Participants will consider opportunities to implement the coaching framework in practice.

Speakers

Serena Wheeler

Assistant Professor and Associate Director, Coaching in Early Intervention Training and Mentorship Program, University of Louisville

I train and mentor EI Providers in a statewide PD program and support ongoing program quality and improvements efforts. My primary areas of interest are evidence-based practices related to effective PD for early intervention providers and caregiver coaching to build family capaci... Read More →

Scott Tomchek

Professor, University of Louisville

Lauren Little

Minda Kohner-Coogle

Early Intervention Specialist Coach, University of Louisville

I work for Coaching in Early Intervention Training and Mentorship Program, which provides professional development around caregiver coaching to early interventionists in the state of Kentucky. I am a Speech Language Pathologist. Let's chat about caregiver coaching, early intervention... Read More →

Caregivers as the Change Makers DEC 2024 Early Learning Session Handout pdf

Tuesday September 17, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Practice

11:00am CDT

It Takes a Village: Community Partnerships Supporting Inclusive Childcare

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Hear from inclusive childcare providers and interventionists about partnerships to meet child, family, and teacher needs. This creative blend of individualized supports includes PD/coaching, EI, public preschool, Head Start, music therapy, and community-based mental health and related services. Challenges such as limited funding and personnel burnout will be addressed.

Speakers

Elizabeth McLaren

Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

By Practitioners for Practitioners

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

12:00pm CDT

DEC Early Intervention Community of Practice Meet Up - All are welcome!

Wednesday September 18, 2024 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Speakers

Lorelei Pisha

Professional Development Consultant, Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center at VCU

Wednesday September 18, 2024 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Meetings and Socials

1:30pm CDT

Coaching the Coach to Support Caregivers: A Cascading Approach to Coaching

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

This session will explore coaching approaches to enhance EI providers’ practices and improve child & family outcomes. We’ll discuss the roles and benefits of systematic coaching practices and hear from families, providers, and PD specialists via video recorded interviews, meetings, and EI sessions, and reflect on opportunities to infuse elements into practices.

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Speakers

Serena Wheeler

Assistant Professor and Associate Director, Coaching in Early Intervention Training and Mentorship Program, University of Louisville

Scott Tomchek

Professor, University of Louisville

Minda Kohner-Coogle

Early Intervention Specialist Coach, University of Louisville

Cascading Coaching DEC 2024 9.12.24 pdf

Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Professional Development

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

2:45pm CDT

Foundations of the Neurorelational Framework - Nurturing Well Being For All

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

The NeuroRelational Framework helps practitioners and families identify stress and regulation in adults and children. It emphasizes the importance of sleep for optimal development, and the importance of relationships across the lifespan, starting in early childhood. Participants will see themselves in the framework and their role in supporting children’s brain development.

Speakers

Twyla Bruce

Early Childhood Services Manager, GRIT-Edmonton

Sara Murchison

Neurorelational Framework final DEC WORKBOOK docx

Neurorelational Framework DEC final ppt No Notes pptx

Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Practice

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

4:00pm CDT

Navigating New Waters: Immigrant Families Special Education Experiences

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

This session provides information about the lived experiences of immigrant Somali, Hmong, and Mexican caregivers of children receiving special education services. This presentation highlights commonalities, unique representations, and socioculturally sustaining strategies to guide the work of educators in supporting children and families from various ethnic backgrounds.

Speakers

L. Lynn Stansberry Brusnahan

Parent and Professor, University of St Thomas

Deeqaifrah Hussein

Executive Director of Special Education, Minneapolis Public Schools

I'm passionate about speaking authentic parent engagement, making instructional decisions using data, interdepartmental collaboration, cultural responsive service delivery and equitable evaluations.

Korto Dixon

2024 Immigrant DEC pdf

2024 DEC Navigating pptx

Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Content Level Introductory

9:15am CDT

Research Committee - Updates, Activities, and Ways to Get Involved!

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Are you curious about the DEC Research Committee? Join us to hear about the committee’s purpose, structure, and how it fits within the DEC organization. Presenters will provide updates, share membership details, and identify how to get involved. Participant feedback will be solicited to help inform the committee’s future work.

Speakers

Sloan Storie

Research Associate, University of Cincinnati

Sondra M Stegenga

Assistant Professor of Special Education, University of Utah

I have over 20 years experience in the fields of health and education working with individuals across the lifespan. I have provided services and supports to children and families as a home visitor, occupational therapist, early intervention program administrator, and state council... Read More →

Ann Mickelson

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Angi Stone-MacDonald

Professor, California State University, San Bernardino

Dr. Angi Stone-MacDonald is a Professor and Department Chair at California State University, San Bernardino. She earned her doctorate from Indiana University in Special Education and African Studies, where she studied the role of culturally relevant curriculum and cultural beliefs... Read More →

Defining the Research Committee 2024 Presentation pptx

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Research

10:30am CDT

Scaling-up Community Partnerships to Prepare Inclusive EC Educators

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

EPIC-ECEL is an equity-focused partnership between 2-year and 4-year IHEs to prepare inclusive EC practitioners and leaders through targeted and systematic curriculur enhancements, coaching practices. and intentional field experiences in inclusive EC settings. We will share strategies and resources for embedding inclusive practices in community college coursework.

Speakers

Rashida Banerjee

Professor, University of Denver

Ritu Chopra

Executive Director, PAR2A Center & Assistant Research Professor, University of Colorado, Denver

Julianne Daniel

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Professional Development

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Administrators
Audience 2 Faculty
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

3:30pm CDT

Connecting Awareness to Action: Nationwide Findings and Policy Solutions

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

We will present findings from roundtables of local, state, and federal stakeholders about EI/ECSE and kindergarten for children with disabilities. Themes include dual-identified students, family engagement, workforce, and connecting awareness to action. We will invite attendees to reflect on findings and share solutions to strengthen our recommendations to policymakers.

Speakers

Carrie Gillispie

Senior Policy Analyst, New America

Nicole Hsu

Policy Analyst, New America

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

Policy

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

9:00am CDT

What New EI Providers Need to Know about Home Visiting

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Preparing for your first home visits can feel daunting considering the importance of initial interactions with families. This session highlights strategies for building the confidence and competence of EI providers new to the field. Participants will gain insight into the intricacies of home visits and develop essential skills to navigate them proficiently.

Speakers

Kimberly Hile

Nikki Thompson

Director of Early Childhood Services/EI Service Coordinator, UCP Huntsville

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Doctoral Student/Primary Interventionist, UT-Austin

Howdy! I have been an early interventionist for the past decade. I am currently a doctoral student at UT-Austin. My reserach interest include therapuetic alliance and providing increased acessbility to early intervention services to marginalized groups. A large emphasis of my reseach... Read More →

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Professional Development

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

10:15am CDT

Building Inclusion for Young Children in Mississippi - One State’s Journey

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Cross sector leaders in Mississippi have committed to increase inclusion in early childhood settings. This session is the story of Mississippi told by the state leaders who supported the inclusion initiative, community leaders who worked to make processes to support inclusion and coaches who committed to collaboration with providers.

Speakers

Alissa Rausch

Faculty, University of Denver

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 →

Nicole Briceno

Associate Director, Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center

As Associate Director, Nicole coordinates the professional development programming and develops curriculum used in topical training and technical assistance at the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center. Mrs. Briceno created the Special Needs Credential and Social-Emotional... Read More →

Alicia Westbrook

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Professional Development

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

12:00pm CDT

Coaching and Educator Capacity Building in Early Childhood Environments

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Alberta’s new Inclusive Child Care program is committed to educator capacity building and on-site coaching of inclusive practices. GRIT will share its role in providing short term support to prevent child expulsion and a comprehensive leadership development approach focusing on program wide implementation of Pyramid Model practices.

Speakers

Julia Moore

ASaP Manager, The Grit program

Janice Comrie

Inclusive Child Care Manager, GRIT Edmonton

DEC Coaching and Educator Capacity Building WORKBOOK pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Practice

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

1:15pm CDT

Using Rich Talk to Support Inclusive Classrooms Every Day

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

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

•Setting the tone: Building warm relationships through discussion and dialogue
•Whole-classroom strategies to support children’s engagement, belonging, and connections with teachers and peers;
•Enhancing dialogue and discussion around differences; developing an inclusive learning environment
•Conversational frameworks using UDL principles to enhance communication

Speakers

Rebecca Rolland

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Professional Development

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