Abstract
What is your vision of early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE)? How can you achieve that vision given our current times? These questions are at the heart of what we all do in our respective roles to support young children with disabilities in maximizing their learning and development. For the last year, DEC’s Executive Board has engaged in the process of identifying what DEC’s vision is for young children with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who affect their lives, and DEC’s unique position in achieving that vision. This board work will continue during my presidential year, with the help of all of our members.
As has been shared through DEC’s Facebook page, the President’s blog, and this President’s message throughout the past year, the board has applied a new governance structure, called
Through the board’s visioning process thus far, the following “big picture” end was identified:
So young children with disabilities and other special needs participate as full members of families and communities and benefit from competent, informed, and connected professionals, families, and policy makers.
We have also defined specific characteristics of this end to guide the many activities in which DEC engages. While the overarching end is expected to remain for quite a while, it is the particular criteria that the board continually analyzes and redefines to ensure DEC is a proactive leader in the EI/ECSE field.
Throughout this year, the resulting differences in DEC’s structure will become more apparent. Some will be a significant shift, such as who makes what decisions (i.e., Executive Office versus Executive Board), and some will be less radical, such as how social media and our current communication mechanisms are used (stay tuned).
Interestingly, while this board transformation has created a different structure for governing and operating, set clear expectations for achievement, and opened the door to innovative directions, some things remain the same. For example, DEC recommended practices were a centerpiece of the 2009-2012 strategic plan, and these practices continue to be at the forefront of the board’s definition of competent professionals and families, access to professional resources, and connections among professionals and families. In addition, the DEC board clearly articulated a commitment to ensuring the EI/ECSE field continues to benefit from the DEC Conference (October 28 through 30, 2012) to access professional resources. The theme of this year’s DEC Conference just so happens to be Realizing the Vision, focusing on answering the questions stated at the beginning of this message. We welcome DEC members and nonmembers to attend the conference to learn, share, and discuss ways to translate your vision into action, and action into achievement.
This past year, the entire board has been fully engaged and committed to shifting our role to a focus on connecting with members and visioning. I want to thank those board members who have been so vital in this shift and whose terms have ended this year—Amy Santos (Past President; Illinois), Rob Corso (Treasurer; Colorado), Lisa Backer (Secretary; Minnesota), and Diana Valle-Riestra (Member at Large; Florida). And, all that the board has achieved last year could not have occurred without the leadership of Kristie Pretti-Frontczak (Ohio) who, as President, tirelessly steered the board through this process. We look forward to her continued work on the board, now as Past President.
And finally, I want to welcome our new board members who began their terms in July—Juliann Woods (Vice President; Florida), Susan Connor (Treasurer; Illinois), Misty Goosen (Secretary; Kansas), and Michael Barla (Member at Large, Missouri). Their insight and ideas will provide fresh eyes into the board’s work to continue the vision in the future.
