Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference

IEP teams have the unique opportunity to foster environments that celebrate each child's competence and that ensure their rightful presence in equitable, inclusive care and education environments. This session supports IEP teams to champion inclusion and belonging through the principles of presumed competence and rightful presence.

This project explored how ECSE teachers use trauma-informed care in their classrooms. Participants completed a survey that measured their trauma-informed attitudes and participated in interviews and photo-elicitation to explore their trauma-informed practices. Key findings will be shared, and implications for research and practice will be discussed.

Session covers the design of an online case-based, professional development model to support early interventionists in using authentic assessment data to support the identification of priority skills & develop embedded instructional strategies. We will review the Project ECHO model, the design of the cases & session tools, and highlight key data from participant surveys

This session will explore how the DEC Recommended Practices can be used to support access and meaningful participation for children with disabilities and their families. The Recommended Practices and associated ECTA Practice Improvement tools range from teaming and collaborating on a child’s IFSP/IEP team, to ways in which a family can be involved in their child’s assessment. This session will provide a more in-depth understanding of the Recommended Practices and how they can be used to support both families and practitioners. Participants will have opportunities to try out the practices individually and within small groups using realistic scenarios. There will be opportunities for participants to engage with Ambassadors of the Recommended Practices and learn ways in which they have used practices in a variety of settings with diverse audiences. Participants will be supported in examining how they can use the practices and tools to support child access and meaningful participation within everyday activities and routines, alongside peers. They will leave this session with ideas and free online resources to support children.

Caregiver coaching is not just for providers. It's a capacity-building interaction style that can help build sustainable change when used by Service Coordinators. Apply evidence-based coaching to family support interactions to increase focus on family-identified priorities, prioritize the family’s, and improve family outcomes and well-being.

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Service coordinators can use caregiver coaching to help families think about the outcomes that best match their family’s culture, priorities, and values and make informed decisions about the amount and frequency of services. More isn’t always better. Gain a parent perspective on receiving coaching support to advocate for what they need during the IFSP process.

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The transition out of the Part C early intervention services is an important time for service coordinators to use a capacity-building approach to support families with making informed decisions. Service Coordinators can empower families as they prepare them for next steps after Part C.

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.