Abstract
As a new member on the DEC Executive Board, I am amazed at the work the past and present board members have accomplished, and I am honored to serve on the board with a group of individuals who work tirelessly to ensure that DEC activities are linked to the Ends (Mission) of DEC. The following DEC End Statement guides all work that our organization aims to achieve:
DEC exists so that 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, to the extent that justifies the overall cost-benefit ratio.
Through this End statement, DEC has identified the following four priority areas as the focus:
Professionals and families implement all of DEC’s Recommended Practices and pre-service educators implement relevant CEC Personnel Preparation Standards to fidelity. In collaboration with experts in the field, DEC provides guidance on up-to-date evidence-based practices in serving young children with disabilities and their families through resources, products, and training events within DEC and Office of Special Education Program grant activities.
Professionals are informed and guided by resources and events that have been identified, delivered, and evaluated according to the supports and practices perceived by professionals and families as needed to promote the full community participation of young children with special needs and their families. Through conference, institutes, position statements, journals, and other learning platforms, DEC ensures that dissemination of resources reaches its owners.
Professionals and families have various opportunities to connect and participate with others in ways that foster a sense of community focused on the full community participation of young children with special needs and their families. DEC creates and facilitates opportunities for DEC members to communicate and participate based on their interest and roles across all levels of the organization.
Policy makers have timely access to usable and accurate information when making decisions regarding young children, families, and professionals. DEC provides current and evidence-based information that easily translates in to policy. With input of its members, DEC presents unifying voice position papers and policy statements to ensure that the voices of young children with disabilities and their families are heard. Our most recent effort yielded the Guidance on Including Children With Disabilities in High-Quality Early Childhood Programs released by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.
Policy governance ensures that the DEC executive board are purposeful in making connections, seeking perspectives, and identifying missing voices through the members of DEC. These ownership linkages also ensure the accountability for the board’s performance in meeting the Ends of DEC. As members of DEC, you are owners of DEC’s mission. Ownerships can only be heard by DEC members’ active engagement and input on the identified priorities to ensure that needs of young children with disabilities and their families are met. As a member on the DEC executive board, I am committed to continue to seek your input to understand your values and priorities. I encourage you to engage in conversations with members of DEC and its executive board to share your priorities and perspectives of issues in early childhood special education and how we can best serve young children and their families.