2018 Michigan DEC Annual Conference

This year's annual conference is fastly approaching! Join us for conference sessions and conversation about Understanding Behaviors: Strength-based Approaches on April 27, 2018.

Our keynote presenter will be Dr. LaShorage Shaffer. Dr. Shaffer is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education at the Universtiy of Michigan. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in early childhood and early childhood special education in the Department of Education.

Her presentation titled: Respect, Relate and Reflect: A Relationship-based Approach to Guidance will focus on supporting children's social-emotional development through positive child guidance. One of the major child outcomes of children in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education is to have positive social-emotional skills, including social relationships. Using the framework of respect, relate, and reflect, participants will learn key strategies to meet this outcome.

Where: Central Michigan University

For more information and to register see the Professional Development page of our website.

2018 MiDEC & MiAEYC Conferences > Now Accepting Poster Proposals

The Michigan DEC Professional Development Committee is working to ensure that sessions on Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education are included in state and local conferences. Please consider submitting a poster session proposal for ONE or BOTH of the MiAEYC conference or the MiDEC conferences. Encourage your graduate and undergraduate students to submit also! The focus of both poster sessions is research and practice in early intervention. We are excited to highlight the work in classrooms, homes, and higher education that focus on early intervention.

Faculty: Are you designing courses, projects, assignments, etc. that help your students consider differentiation, modifications, family involvement, assessment? Create a poster to share your work!

Students: Have your assignments, observations, projects, practicum/student teaching experiences included a focus on how to include all children? Create a poster to share your work!

Teachers/Practitioners: Have you been working on developing inclusive practices? Have you been developing strategies to ensure that all children are fully engaged? Do you have "lessons learned" from your collaborations, teaching strategies, etc.? Create a poster to share your work!

MiAEYC poster session - Friday, April 13, 2018 1:00-2:15 pm Grand Rapids, MI

MiDEC poster session - Friday, April 27, 2018 12:00 (during the lunch break) Mt. Pleasant, MI

For more information please contact Julie Ricks-Doneen, Oakland University at ricksdon@oakland.edu.

MiDEC Poster Proposal Link

MiAEYC Poster Proposal Link

MI DEC Supports $5 Million for Early On

Michigan DEC appreciates and applauds Governor Snyder's strong showing of support for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities through including $5 Million for Early On in his Executive Budget for 2019. Additionally, Michigan DEC's position is that these funds should be distributed to intermediate school districts through the current funding formula utilized by the Michigan Department of Education to distribute the federal award under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

We join the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education and the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators in their statement of support.

Congratulations to the New DEC Executive Board Members!

Congratulations to our outreach chair LaShorage Shaffer, PhD at the University of Michigan-Dearborn for her recent nomination to the DEC Executive Board as Secretary! Check out all of the new DEC Executive Board members at the DEC Website.

MI DEC Supports "Ask" for Early On Funding

Michigan DEC has joined the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE) in support of the Early On Michigan Foundation request for an initial allocation for state funding. While the estimated need for state funding is more than $67 million, the initial request is for $19.6 million, acknowledging that meeting the need can be incremental.

Early On Michigan Foundation Request for Initial Allocation

Request Rationale

MI DEC Support

MAASE Support

MIDEC NEWSLETTER

Greetings MIDEC!

The next issue of the MIDEC Newsletter is available to MIDEC members. This is an added benefit to being a member of the Michigan Division for Early Childhood. Share your thoughts on Facebook or by contacting us.

Newsletter link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=16C-Xv3NBrNM14BccZJcT3WNWF0rSSEgh

Please send your inquiries, comments, and article submissions to:

LaShorage Shaffer

Newsletter Editor Email: michigandec@gmail.com

MiDEC Board Election Results

The Michigan DEC 2017 Election results are in!

Member-at-Large Holly Hoffman

Treasurer Mark Kuipers

President Elect Christy Callahan

Holly and Mark will each serve terms in their respective positions from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019.

Christy's term also begins on July 1, 2017 and includes:

July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019 as President Elect

July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021 as President, and

July 1, 2021 though June 30, 2023 as Past President

Thank you to everyone who voted. Congratulations Holly, Mark and Christy! Welcome to your new positions.

Next spring our elections will include the positions of Member-at-large, Secretary and Family Representative. Each of these terms will from from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020. Start thinking now about whether you would like to run for one of these positions or know of another member who would be a good fit.

Jane Scandary Award Memorial Contributions

Michigan early childhood special education pioneer, Jane Scandary, passed away on February 9, 2017. To honor her legacy, her family has asked that for memorial contributions to go toward continuing the annual presentation of the Jane Scandary Award for excellence in the field of early childhood special education, presented by the Michigan Division for Early Childhood.

Checks for contributions for the Jane Scandary Award should be written out the Michigan Division for Early Childhood, with "Jane Scandary Award" in the memo, and sent to:

Michigan Division for Early Childhood

Attn: Jane Scandary Award

240 S. Bridge Street, Suite 250

DeWitt, MI 48820