Illinois Subdivision of the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children

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National Autism Awareness Month

by Jennifer Loncola

April Is National Autism Awareness Month!

This year the Autism Society of America will sponsor the 33rd annual campaign to help raise awareness of this disorder. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability and is believed to occur in as many as 1 in 250 births. The “Rooted in Hope” tree-planting campaign, which kicks off this April, is a national movement designed to help recognize the grassroots efforts made by the over 190 local ASA chapters and to promote ongoing awareness of autism.

Early diagnostic tools for identifying children with autism, such as the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT; Baron-Cohen, Allen, & Gillberg, 1992) have made it easier for those of us in special education to provide early intervention services. Research indicates that the provision of early intervention services results in a 2/3 reduction in the cost of lifelong care. This research continues to emphasize that our role as early childhood educators is critical.

Last November, leaders in the autism community spoke at the National Autism Summit Conference in Washington . As a result of this summit, the federal government has laid out a long-term plan to support research in the area of autism. This plan is currently awaiting review before being presented to congress. While the Autism Society of America and other advocacy groups have made great strides, there is still much to do.

So what can you do? As early childhood special educators, we are in a unique position to make positive transformations in the lives of children with autism. One way to make sure we are up to date with current practice in the field of autism is to continue our education.

Information on autism and treatment options can be found at the ASA website: http://www.autism-society.org. The Autism Society of Illinois, http://www.autismillinois.org/ has information on Illinois-based conferences and ways you can become involved in local policy issues. Additionally, the Division for Early Childhood’s Annual conference, to be held this December 5-8, 2004 in Chicago , will offer more training opportunities. Together we can continue to make a difference in the lives of young children with autism.

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2003 Sharing A Vision Conference Report

by Lynette Chandler and Pam Reising-Rechner

The 2003 Sharing A Vision Conference in Springfield was a great success. Over 1300 individuals representing early intervention, early childhood, and early childhood special education providers, elementary school teachers, therapists, families, and training and other programs attended the conference.

We introduced some new activities this year that participants said were beneficial and enjoyable. These included the Career Corner, Style Show, and the Creative Expressions Art Gallery. We continued to offer early morning Table Talks, Showcasing, Exhibits, Keynote Speakers, and opportunities for networking through various activities. We were very pleased that we received feedback from over 50% of the conference participants. We have carefully read all written comments and compiled the numbers from the rating scales to identify what to keep for the next conference and what suggestions might help us to offer a conference to meet the needs of all participants.

We want to thank members of the conference planning committee. It is their work that makes this conference possible. It takes over a year to plan each Sharing A Vision conference and these individuals donate their time and efforts during each planning year. We also would like to thank Susan Ferry, our conference coordinator. She helps the committee with planning, conducts negotiations with vendors, puts the program together, deals with unforeseen problems during the conference, and so much more. She has made the job of conference planning much more manageable since joining our team. Finally, we also want to thank the many volunteers who worked during the conference. As Co-Chairs, we have come to appreciate that not only does it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village of dedicated individuals to plan and provide a successful Sharing A Vision Conference!

Our next Sharing A Vision conference will be held October 19-21, 2005 in Oak Brook, IL. Amy Santos and Madelyn James have agreed to Co-Chair the 2005 conference. We hope to see you in Oak Brook in 2005!

Editor's Note: Visit the Sharing A Vision Conference at its new Web site: http://sharingavision.org/.

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Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Illinois!

This program represents a joint effort between the Department of Special Education and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Students complete the requirements for an Illinois Approval in Early Childhood Special Education, which qualifies them for positions as teachers in public school programs for children ages 3-5. The focus of the program is on the development of skills necessary for successful integration of preschoolers with disabilities into regular classroom settings and on the skills needed for consulting with other classroom teachers to assure successful integration.

For more info contact Amy Santos at (217)333-0260 or rsantos@uiuc.edu.

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Chicago Metro Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) Conference Summary

Our conference day had more presentation times; attendees were pleased to be able to attend extra sessions. Our exhibit The Power of Documentation was an excellent draw and source of much learning! Next year, the Hyatt at McCormick Place will be our new venue.

Our conference will be held on January 27th – January 29th, 2005. Please visit http://ww.chicagometroaeyc.org/ for more information about registration and proposals for presentations.

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Congratulations! Jeanette A. McCollum Service to the Field Award

At each Sharing a Vision Conference, the Illinois Division for Early Childhood announces the recipient of a competitive award, the Jeanette McCollum Award for Service to the Field.

The Jeanette McCollum Award for Service to the Field Award is earmarked for an individual who meets the high standards of professional practice set by Jeanette, a leader in ECSE research and personnel preparation. Guidelines state that this award be given to an individual who has made significant contributions on a state, regional, or local level which have improved or will improve the lives of young children with special needs, their families, or those who work on their behalf.

The Award committee had a difficult task this year as we had excellent nominees – all who have significantly impacted the lives of young children and their families in Illinois. Before announcing our newest award recipient, we would like to describe a few of the reasons she was selected for this prestigious award.

This year’s recipient has been a direct service provider, staff development facilitator, university instructor, presenter at local/state/national conferences, NAEYC validator, and committee member and board member for numerous organizations. For the past 9 years she has coordinated STARNET Regions I and III ECSE Technical Assistant Training Project. Additionally, she coordinates the Apples Magazine satellite program, focusing on cutting edge early childhood topics. In her current roles, this year’s recipient constantly seeks to ensure high quality training with a focus on developmentally appropriate practices.

She is described by colleagues as a mentor to other EC professionals and family members of young children, especially children with special needs. Her “nominators” report that she not only knows the principles of scaffolding children’s learning, but she is able to apply these principles as she scaffolds staff learning too.

This year’s recipient is passionate about the importance of providing quality services to young children and their families. She is an advocate of inclusion who has touched many lives in the 30+ years that she has been in early education.

By now I am sure that most of you have figured out that Dr. Char Ward is this year’s recipient of the IDEC’s Jeanette McCollum Award for Service to the Field. We are thrilled to present Char with this award. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Char Ward.

DEC 2004 Conference Volunteers Needed

This year, many volunteers are needed to assist with registration, distribute and collect session evaluations, and generally help out with the committee. If you are naturally helpful and interested in volunteering, contact Elizabeth Delaney.

You Can Make a Difference ... in IDEC

Do you want to know how you can be more involved in Illinois DEC? Being a part of IDEC can make a difference in the lives of young children and families in Illinois . We are on the lookout for committed volunteers who are interested in taking on leadership roles in the IDEC board.

If you want to know more about what you can do to be part of IDEC, contact Amy Santos, IDEC Past President at rsantos@uiuc.edu or call her at 217/333-0260.

Useful References

Submitted by a group of ECSE graduate students at the University of Illinois. This information was presented at the Illinois Head Start Association Conference, Spring 2004

Websites

Project Approach in early children & elementary education
http://www.project-approach.com/

Inclusive Education
http://www.uni.edu/coe/inclusion/

Information on the project approach
http://education.illinois.edu/ups/curriculum2002/links/

ECAP Collaborative, University of Illinois: The Project Approach
http://ecap.crc.illinois.edu/eecearchive/books/projapp1/

Best practices recommended resources on the project approach
http://www.bestpracticesinc.net/ProjectApproachResources.html

Books

Fisher, B. (1995). Thinking and learning together. Portsmouth: NH: Heineman.

Helm, J. H. & Katz, L. (2001). Young Investigators: The project approach in the early years. New York: Teachers College Press.

Katz, L., & Chard, S. C. (2000). Engaging children’s minds: The project approach (2 nd Ed.). Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Corporation

Meier, D. (1995). The power of their ideas. Boston: Bacon Press.

Books That Support Emotional Literacy

Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes

Crow Boy, by Taro Yashima

Go Away, Big Green Monster, by Ed Emberly

The Grouchy Ladybug, by Eric Carle

Hands Are Not For Hitting, by Martine Agassi

How Are You Peeling? By Saxton Freymann

I Am Happy, by Steve Light

I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson

I’m Gonna Like Me, by Jamie Lee Curtis

I’m Mad, by Elizabeth Crary

Making Faces, by Nick Butterworth

My Many Colored Days, by Dr. Seuss

No, David, by David Shannon

One Lonely Sea Horse, by Saxton Freymann

President's Message

by Jeffri Brookfield, President Elect

I am pleased to be able to fill in temporarily for our president, Beth Delaney, while she is busy with her wedding and honeymoon.

As I hope you are all aware, the International DEC Conference for this year will be held in Chicago from December 4 th through the 8 th. Because the conference is being held in our state, IDEC has a responsibility to serve as hosts and to coordinate many of the local arrangements that are needed to produce a successful conference. We are up to the challenge! Illinois has a strong DEC subdivision with a long history and a number of committed, active members. And we are going to need the help of every single one of you!

What’s in it for IDEC, you ask? Our subdivision will receive a percentage of the proceeds from the conference. What can we do to help? I’m so glad you asked, because there are a number of ways you can contribute to the success of this conference. First, encourage your friends and colleagues to join DEC, if they are not already members, and plan to participate in the conference in Chicago . Increasing membership and conference attendance strengthens both DEC and IDEC. Second, volunteer your time! In the next few weeks I will be preparing a mailing to all of our members asking you to sign up for the conference host committee. We need about 150 of you to check badges when participants enter sessions, distribute and collect session evaluations, and welcome and assist the session presenters by doing things like distributing materials during the session. What’s in it for me, you ask? Well, of course, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a substantial contribution to the success of the conference. And, perhaps even more rewarding, you will be able to participate in this most important conference for professionals and families in our field, at a greatly reduced rate! Don’t wait long to sign up after you’ve received the mailing since these valuable volunteer opportunities will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. And IDEC members will have the first chance to volunteer.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and to seeing all of you in Chicago in December!

If you have questions or comments please direct them to:

Dr. Jeffri Brookfield
Child and Family Development Center
University of Illinois at Chicago
1640 W Roosevelt Rd. Room 343
Chicago , IL   60608
Voice (312) 413-1413
FAX (312) 355-3787

Website Change

Please make note that the Illinois Division of Early Childhood’s website address has changed to:

http://illinois-dec.org/

Upcoming Events

Week of the Young Child:

Children’s Opportunities-Our Responsibilities, April 18-24, 2004

For events in Chicago, visit www.chicagometroaeyc.org/

Upcoming Conference Dates

2004 CEC Annual Convention and EXPO
April 14-17, 2004
New Orleans , LA

For more information, visit the CEC Web site at:
www.cec.sped.org
OR
Call CEC @ 1/888/232/7733

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20th Annual DEC
International Conference
on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families

 “Lessons Learned: Weaving Our
Future from the Threads of the Past”

December 5-8, 2004
Chicago , IL

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

The Illinois Division of Early Childhood is sponsored by the Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
        Last updated: March 30, 2015

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College of Education
Early Childhood and Parenting Collaborative
Send a message to the IDEC staff.