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Spring 2003 Volume 10, Issues 1 & 2

Official Newsletter of the Illinois Subdivision of the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.

One of Us: Access and Equity for All Young Children

The Illinois State Board of Education has been leading a collaborative project called Access and Equity for All Young Children. The collaborative partners of the Project include the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the Illinois Head Start Association the National Lekotek Center and the Governor's Office, Office of the First Lady. Support for the project came from the National Association of State Boards of Education. The members of the Project have been working together to develop and coordinate cohesive state policies to ensure all children are ready to learn upon school entry. The guidebook, One of Us is a product of the Access and Equity Project. One of Us was developed to address the specific policy issue of increasing local awareness and understanding of serving young children with disabilities in natural community and school environments. One of Us is intended to:

Rapidly emerging knowledge about children's early development and about the characteristics of home and community environments that foster optimal development and learning has led to many changes in early childhood services. The quality of services for all young children increasingly reflects this knowledge. For young children with disabilities and their families, change has also been linked to societal values about individual rights and community responsibilities. There has been an increasing emphasis on access to appropriate services and equity in receiving a free, appropriate public education. Inclusion is the term most commonly used to describe how services are organized to reflect these values. Inclusive education aims to foster developmental and learning outcomes that equal or exceed outcomes resulting from other intervention approaches.

Inclusion of young children with disabilities and their families in developmental and educational settings designed primarily for children without disabilities differs from inclusive practice for school age children because services for most young children are not a part of their local school systems. Instead inclusion is achieved through collaboration. The purpose of this guidebook is to provide impetus to collaborative efforts that support inclusive practices in early childhood services so that the needs and priorities of young children with disabilities and their families are addressed as a matter of course within the everyday environments of all young children and their families.

A statewide training based on One of Us is now in the planning stage. The training will be coordinated through the training entities already established by each of the Illinois Partners and a training of trainers model will be utilized to efficiently and effectively reach all early education and care providers in the State

One of Us is now available for download from the ISBE website at:

http://www.isbe.net/earlychi/PDF/oneofus.pdf [IDEC Editor's note (11-14-03): This URL has changed: http://www.isbe.net/earlychi/pdf/one_of_us_access_equity.pdf]

Please contact Pamela Reising Rechner at 217/524-4835 or preising@isbe.net for more information.

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Spring 2003 Early Intervention Update

by Kirsten Recupido, IDHS Bureau of Early Intervention

As with all things involving young children, there is never a dull moment in the Early Intervention (EI) Program. Local Child and Family Connections (CFC) staff have been busy serving record numbers of children and families. In April the number of eligible children being served by the EI Program rose to 12,043. This exceeds the previous record of 12,034 set in May, 2001.

Not only are our CFC staff serving more families, but they are serving those families more quickly. Just one year ago it took the average family approximately 65 days to begin services after referral to the EI Program. It now takes the average family approximately 35 days. … Great news for young children who grow by leaps and bounds in very little time.

Several of our local CFCs are participating in two exciting projects related to young children. The first is called the EI Social/Emotional Pilot Project. The EI Social/ Emotional Pilot Project is a multi-faceted approach designed to address concerns regarding the lack of mental health services for very young children in Illinois. CFC staff and EI service providers participating in the pilot are supported by an Infant Mental Health Specialist to 1) approach families from a relationship based perspective, 2) identify potential social/emotional concerns early and coordinate appropriate intervention, and 3) reflect with peers and management in a constructive manner. The project is currently being piloted in three areas of the state (Southeast Cook County, Will/Grundy/Kankakee/LaSalle Counties and McLean County).

The second project our local CFCs are participating in is called the Autism Project. The Autism Project is a systems development project designed to work side by side with the various systems that provide care to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including the Early Intervention Services System. CFC staff and EI service providers in the pilot areas will participate as teams in an experience-based training model in which experts in the field of ASD will work alongside team members. The desired outcome of the pilot project is that every child with an autism spectrum disorder, and every family will have ready access to a knowledgeable, compassionate circle of professionals who can provide diagnosis, treatment, training, ongoing consultation, and support. This project is also being piloted in three areas of the state (southern Cook County, South/Central Illinois serving the areas around Quincy, Springfield and Effingham, and the southern seven counties).

The Bureau of Early Intervention will be participating in a national pilot project called Natural Allies: Working with Community Colleges to Prepare Personnel to Provide Quality Services for All Young Children in Natural Environments. This project is designed to facilitate quality service provision for young children (0 - 5) in inclusive community settings by 1) preparing early childhood teachers to serve young children with diverse abilities in inclusive community settings, and 2) training and supporting early childhood teacher preparation programs, faculty, and administrators at community colleges to infuse exceptionality into their coursework and practica and to address the needs of young children with disabilities. Illinois is 1 of 8 states participating in this project.

The Bureau of Early Intervention and it's local CFCs have also been busy implementing procedures bringing them into compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's (HIPAA's) Privacy Rule. These procedures ensure that children's health information is protected from unnecessary/unintended disclosure. The Privacy Rule went into effect on April 14, 2003. Return to top

Sharing A Vision Conference: Windows of Opportunity

by Pam Reising-Rechner and Lynette Chandler, Conference Co-Chairs

Once again, we are delighted to invite you to join us and other members of the Illinois Division for Early Childhood (IDEC) from across Illinois, to the Eighth Illinois Early Childhood Sharing A Vision Conference: Windows of Opportunity. Through the collaborative efforts of early childhood supporters from across the state, this year's conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Springfield in Springfield, Illinois, September 29-October 1, 2003. We urge individuals and teams to take advantage of this statewide event. In order to address mutually shared issues and goals and to promote networking and collaboration among the various early childhood constituents, the committee has come together to plan and coordinate this joint statewide conference offering in-depth workshop sessions, networking and information sharing opportunities, and exhibits from local and national vendors.

If you are an early childhood educator early childhood special educator, early intervention specialist, therapist, other service provider, preservice and inservice educator, administrator, policy-maker or family member, then this conference is for you.

We sincerely hope you will be a part of the 2003 Sharing A Vision Conference beginning with the reception and keynote on September 29 through the final workshop on October 1. We are sure you will want to join in for networking, learning, sharing and fun. Register as soon as possible as space is limited. The conference theme, Windows of Opportunity, captures the goal of this exciting conference. The quality training offered at the Sharing A Vision Conference promotes the building of partnerships, implementation of recommended practices, and collaboration in systems change. Whether you're a family member, educator, support staff, local interagency council member, therapist, or administrator, plan to attend the 2003 Sharing A Vision Conference and join together with colleagues and families as we open…Windows of Opportunity.

IDEC General Membership Meeting at SAV Conference

Join other IDEC members or take this opportunity to find out what IDEC is all about at the IDEC Networking Lunch at the Sharing AVision Conference. This event will be held from 11:45 am - 1:00 pm on Tuesday September 30, 2003. Check the final conference program for room location. We look forward to seeing you there!

SAV Conference Volunteers Needed!

This year, many volunteers are needed to assist with registration, work in the conference store, and generally help out the committee. In exchange for four hours of donated time, volunteers will receive a complimentary registration. If you are naturally helpful and interested in volunteering, contact Daphne Southern at 217-525-2805 or email her at dsouthern@childcaresolutions.org.

 

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EIPALS: UCP to Train Early Intervention Parent Leaders

by Nancy Cheeseman, Elmhurst College

United Cerebral Palsy of Chicago has received a grant from the Illinois Planning Council to spearhead a program that will identify and support new parent leaders in the Early Intervention system. The goal of this project includes identifying, training and supporting 100 EI parent leaders who will then collaborate with EI administrators and providers to improve early intervention services for families who have children with special needs.

The goal of the Early Intervention Parent AS Leaders (EIPALS) program will be accomplished by providing opportunities for training, self analysis, reflection, problem solving and mentoring that support a transdisciplinary and family-centered process to advance positive developmental outcomes for infants and toddlers participating in EI services. Activities for the grant will be facilitated by 10 Regional Parent Facilitators who will participate in train the trainer modules and then train and support parent leaders in each of the regions they represent. The team of parent leaders will consist of parents who have children in EI services or whose child has exited the EI system within the previous six months.

An EIPALS website will be developed as part of this project to serve as a pivot point for parent leaders to network with each other across the state. Topic-based discussion opportunities via chat rooms, links and resources to assist developing parent leaders, a consumer reports section for input and resources for other parents on topics such as equipment, insurance coverage, services, and toys will be offered through this website. Parent leaders also will participate in an annual Parent Leadership conference.

"UCP is pleased to be part of this innovative project," said Dr. Paul Dulle, UCP Executive Director. "Our experiences in working with families who have children with special needs, particularly those families whose children are in the birth-to-three range, has given us a framework for how a program such as this should be developed and implemented. It's wonderful to think that over the next few years our agency and the parent facilitators we plan to collaborate with will have identified and supported 100 new parent leaders."

UCP has targeted the following outcomes for this project:

Providers who know any parents whose children are receiving EI services, and who would be good candidates for this EIPALS initiative, please call Ted Burke or Joan Debelak at 708-444-8460 ext. 23, or toll free at 866-509-3867.

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Presentations Needed…(Chicago Metro AEYC)

Proposals are being sought for sessions in the special needs track of the Chicago Metro AEYC Conference to be held January 29 - 31, 2004 at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. If interested, call or e-mail Mary Wonderlick ASAP at (312) 492-9819 or mnwonder@aol.com. Editor's Note: this url is no longer active.

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Congratulations, Ellie Kim!

Ellie Kim
(click on thumbnail image for larger image)

Congratulations Ellie Kim! Ellie is a graduate student in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received the Kathleen W. McCartan Award from the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children at the DEC Conference in San Diego in December 2002. Pictured above from left to right are: Dr. Micki Ostrosky, Ellie, and Dr. Amy Santos.

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DEC is coming to Illinois!

Illinois DEC has been asked to host DEC 2004: the 20th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families. IDEC is working with DEC and will need your help! More details will be available soon, but plan to attend this exciting event which will be held in Chicago December 4-8, 2004. Volunteers will be needed to help plan, work registration, facilitate sessions, collect conference evaluations, and many other tasks. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more information!

Interested in Advanced Study in Early Childhood Special Education?

by Therese Wehman, Elmhurst College

Check out the Masters Degree Program in Early Childhood Special Education at Elmhurst College. This Masters in ECSE is an innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative program designed to prepare professionals to meet the increasing needs in the rapidly emerging field of early childhood special education.

Graduates of this program will gain an understanding of the development process, the relationship and impact of disability upon development, and practices which create effective supportive living and learning environments for young children with special needs. At the heart of this program model is the philosophy of family-centered care. This graduate program has unique features that embrace our commitment to young children and their families. These include providing opportunities for students to learn directly from families by participating in a "Family Mentor" Program. A second feature is the Family Support Specialist, a faculty member who is also a parent of a child with special needs. This Family Support Specialist co-teaches courses, collaborates with field site placements, and supervises students and families in the program.

The Masters Program requires 37 semester hours and adheres to the cohort model to fulfill course requirements, strengthen cohesion and student-centered practices.

For more information about this innovative program contact:

Dr. Therese Wehman
Program Coordinator
(630) 617-3231
e-mail theresew@elmhurst.edu

OR

Elizabeth Kuebler
Director of Graduate Admissions
Elmhurst College
190 Prospect Ave.
Elmhurst, IL 60126-3296
(630) 617-3069
e-mail betsyk@elmhurst.edu

Nominations for the Jeanette A. McCollum Service to the Field Award

During the 2003 Sharing A Vision Conference to be held September 29, 30 and October 1, 2003, the Illinois Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children will present the Jeanette A. McCollum Service to the Field Award to an early childhood professional, family member, student, or community member who meets the high standards of professional practice set by Dr. Jeanette A. McCollum, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nominations are being sought for the 2003 award. If you would like to nominate someone who has made a significant contribution on a state, regional, or local level to improving the lives of young children with special needs and/or their families please send a letter of nomination to: Bernie Laumann, IDEC past-president, University of Illinois Early Childhood Programs, #61 Children's Research Center, 51 Gerty Dr., MC-672, Champaign, IL 61820, phone: 217/333-4123 or e-mail (blaumann@uiuc.edu). Nominations are due by July 1, 2003.

It's Election Time Again!

It is time once again to elect officers for IDEC. Jennifer Loncola is the candidate for Vice President of IDEC. She will be defending her dissertation in August and begins as an Assistant Professor at DePaul University in the Fall. Therese Wehman is running again for Secretary. Dr. Wehman is an Assistant Professor for the Early Childhood Special Education Graduate Program at Elmhurst College. Please see the ballot insert in this newsletter and return your ballot to Bernie Laumann by June 25, 2003.

Meet Your Candidates for the IDEC Board

Vice President (2003-2004) Jennifer Loncola
For the past six years Jennifer Loncola has worked as a clinical consultant for families with children who have mild to profound disabilities, including autism, pervasive developmental disorders, learning disabilities, and behavior problems. While completing her doctoral degree, she taught special education classes at the University of Illinois at Chicago and in the fall will join the School of Education faculty at DePaul University as an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the department of Leadership in Education, Language, & Human Services. Current areas of interest are autism, early childhood special education, behavior, and social-interaction skills of children with disabilities.

Secretary (2003-2004) Therese Wehman
Therese Wehman currently coordinates and teaches in the Early Childhood Special Education Graduate Program at Elmhurst College. She received her doctorate in Child Development from the Erikson Institute at Loyola University in Chicago. Her areas of specialization focus on young children birth through age six with disabilities, early childhood program administration, organizational development and team building. Her research interests focus on early intervention system change, building parent-professional partnerships, professional leadership development, and inclusion.

Illinois Division for Early Childhood 2003 OFFICIAL BALLOT FORM

Vice President:

__________ Jennifer Loncola

__________ (write-in candidate)

Secretary:

__________ Therese Wehman

__________ (write-in candidate)

Please mail or fax your ballot by June 25, 2003:

c/o Bernie Laumann
61 Children's Research Center
51 Gerty Drive,
Champaign, IL 61820
FAX: 217/244-7732

For more information, contact Bernie at blaumann@uiuc.edu or call her at 217/333-4123

President's Message

by Amy Santos

It has been my pleasure and honor to serve IDEC as President in the last year. It was an exciting and eventful year for the IDEC Board amidst planning for the 2003 Sharing A Vision Conference, which will be held in Springfield and serving as the Local Arrangements Committee for the DEC National Conference, which will be held in Chicago in December of 2004.

IDEC continues to stay in the forefront in many local, state, and national early childhood related activities. We are indeed fortunate to have committed and energetic members who bring fresh ideas to the table and work hard to ensure that our views and voices are heard on issues that impact Illinois' young children with disabilities and their families.

As I step down as President of IDEC, I strongly urge members of IDEC to remain active and vigilant to ensure that early childhood services in our state are of high quality and continue to be accessible and available to all. In these difficult times, services for children and families are in danger of being reduced and at worse, set aside for other priorities. Thus, we need to come together and focus our efforts to make sure early childhood services remain a top priority in the local, state, and national level! Learn more about DEC's advocacy efforts by visiting IDEC's Web site at http://idec.crc.uiuc.edu

You may contact AMY SANTOS at:

1310 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Voice: 217/333-0260
Fax: 217/333-6555
Email: rsantos@uiuc.edu

Public Policy/Legislative Update

Because things are changing so quickly at the federal level regarding the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), the IDEC Board encourages all members to remain informed about changes that happen almost daily. You can do this in several ways: by checking the CEC website for updates at

http://www.cec.sped.org/pp/Editor's note: This url has changed:http://www.cec.sped.org/

by viewing DEC's Public Policy page at

http://www.dec-sped.org/publicpolicy.htmlEditor's note: This url has changed:http://www.dec-sped.org/PolicyAdvocacy

or by joining the Illinois DEC Children's Action Network (CAN) List by contacting Deborah Bruns, IDEC CAN Coordinator at dabruns@siu.edu.

Webliography

Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org

Early Learning Illinois Project
http://www.earlylearningillinois.org

Autism Society of Illinois
http://www.autismillinois.org

Illinois Resource Center
http://www.thecenterweb.org

Project Choices
http://www.projectchoices.org

Upcoming Meeting Dates

Sharing A Vision Planning Committee
All meetings from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

IDEC Board Meeting

Upcoming Events (19th DEC, 8th SAV)

19th Annual DEC International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families

"From Practice to Policy and Back Again: 30 Years of Advocacy for Young Children and Their Families"

October 12-15, 2003
Washington, DC

Visit the DEC website for conference updates:
http://www.dec-sped.org

The 8th Annual Illinois Statewide Collaborative Early Childhood Conference

Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2003
Springfield, IL

More information available at:
http://idec.crc.uiuc.edu/conference.html