Save the Date: DEC2025 - Join us in Portland, Oregon - Tuesday October 7th - Friday October 10th

About DEC2024

Division for Early Childhood's 40th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families will focus on The Future of Inclusive Practices: Creating Equitable Access, Participation, and Supports.

Join us this year for three days (plus optional pre-conference workshops!) packed with sessions presented by experts in the field and opportunities to connect with fellow attendees who are passionate about early childhood, early intervention, and early childhood special education. DEC attendees include practitioners, researchers, family members, students, and professionals from around the globe.

WHEN Tuesday, September 17th through Friday, September 20th, 2024

WHERE Hilton Riverside New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana

Conference Schedule

Access Conference Sessions using the link below. This year's full schedule is available on Sched (the DEC2024 conference app).

Conference Sessions

Are We There Yet?: Moving the Field Toward Equity One Day at a Time
Tuesday, September 17th, 2024
Monique Matute-Chavarria, PhD & William White, PhD

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children is taking a stance at dismantling racism and advocating for equity and social justice in early childhood education. Addressing the impacts of systematic racism is critical in creating inclusive environments and equity for all infants, toddlers, young children, and their families, including those with disabilities. We will address policies that have impacted early childhood education and advocated or hindered inclusivity, equity, and social justice. In addition, early childhood educators must understand the history of these policies and how they have impacted minoritized and marginalized communities. By addressing these critical areas in the keynote, DEC can inspire early childhood educators to advocate for change, equity, and inclusivity as we work together to create and sustain equitable education systems for all young children.

Dr. Monique Matute-Chavarria is an assistant professor of Special Education at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Before obtaining her Ph.D. in Special Education, she worked with Nevada Early Intervention Services, working with children from birth to three with disabilities. Dr. Matute-Chavarria identifies as a Black mother scholar, and Afro-Latina; therefore, her research focuses on Black students and families. Her research centers on the intersections of race, family, and disability. She also researches the use of hip-hop pedagogy practices (i.e., DJing) as a tool for writing with Black students with and without disabilities.

Dr. William L. White hails from Seattle, WA and holds a PhD in special education from the University of Washington where he received the Gordon C. Lee Dissertation Award for his dissertation entitled “Through Our Eyes: The Lived Experiences of Black Male Early Childhood Teachers.” William earned his B.A. in political science and his M.Ed. in special education from Virginia State University. William also holds an Ed.S. in early childhood special education from The Graduate School of Education & Human Development at The George Washington University. William is serving as the Interim Associate Dean of Workforce Instruction at North Seattle College, which includes their early childhood and parent education programs. He continues to provide pro-bono special education consulting to families of students in Washington, D.C. and Seattle, WA.

The Journey of Joy
Wednesday, September 18th, 2024
Amy Nelson, LCSW, LSCSW, RPT-S™

"Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else."
– Fred Rogers.

There is no denying that the pandemic has reshaped the education landscape across our country. But the journey is not over. In many ways, it is only the beginning. When we shift our primary focus from what is behind to what lies ahead, our journey opens with endless possibilities to find joy. Participants will rediscover the joy our colleagues and children bring to our work and lives in this invigorating keynote.

Amy Nelson, LCSW, LSCSW, RPT-S™, is a dynamic keynote speaker in early childhood education and a self-proclaimed "Quirky Kid." She is deeply passionate about promoting neurodiversity and fostering inclusion in the classroom. With firsthand experience as an autistic professional, Amy's commitment to fostering inclusive environments extends beyond her classroom support and speaking engagements. She is also an award-winning children's book author. Her book "Every Bunny Can Learn: A Tail of Inclusion" received 1st Place in Disability Awareness in the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. As the founder of Emotional Milestones, Amy aims to inspire and motivate educators to "LEAN IN" and embrace these thinking and learning differences.