FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Registration

How do I register for the DEC Annual Conference?

Conference registration is available through the DEC conference registration system. Registration options and rates vary based on registration category and applicable deadlines.

Please review the registration information carefully before completing your registration.

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Are discounted registration rates available?

Yes. DEC offers a range of registration categories designed to make conference participation more accessible, including discounted rates for eligible early career professionals, families, students, and others.

As a nonprofit organization, DEC works to keep conference registration as affordable as possible while ensuring that conference revenue supports both the event and DEC's year-round work, including advocacy, open-access resources, professional development, webinars, and support for members and the field.

 

Do presenters receive discounted or complimentary registration?

No. Due to the large number of conference presenters—typically 500–600—DEC is unable to provide complimentary registration or a special presenter discount.

All accepted presenters are required to register for the conference.

Presenters who qualify for another discounted registration category, such as student, early career, or family registration, may use the applicable registration rate.

 

Are presenters paid?

No. Presenting at the DEC Annual Conference is considered a volunteer professional service opportunity. Presenters generously contribute their knowledge, experience, and expertise to advance learning across the field.

All accepted presenters must register for the conference to present.

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Group Registration

How do I register a group?

Groups can register through the regular conference registration process.

During registration, select the option indicating that you are registering for someone else. Near the end of the registration process, you will have the opportunity to select “Register an Additional Attendee” and add multiple registrants.

This allows an organization to register multiple participants and pay for the registrations together.

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How do I obtain a group registration code?

Group registration codes are available by contacting DEC at dec@dec-sped.org.

Group codes must be used at the time of registration to qualify for the applicable group rate.

Each group member will receive an individual registration confirmation. Participants should work with their organization or administration to ensure that confirmations and other required documentation are provided to the appropriate office.

 

Cancellations, Refunds & Transfers

What is the 2026 conference cancellation and refund policy?

Registrations paid or promised by credit card, check, or purchase order are subject to the following cancellation policy:

• Within 24 hours of the initial registration: 100% refund

• By August 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time: 50% refund

• After August 1, 2026: No refund

If you need to cancel within 24 hours of your initial registration, email conference@dec-sped.org so DEC can cancel the registration on your behalf.

 

Can I transfer my registration to another person?

Yes. Registrations may be transferred to another conference participant through October 9, 2026.

To request a transfer, email conference@dec-sped.org with the name and email address of the new registrant.

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Professional Development & Certificates

Will I receive documentation of my professional development?

Yes. Attendees receive a Certificate of Attendance documenting the conference dates and times for which they registered.

Attendees participating in conference sessions will also be able to complete a self-reported transcript documenting their professional development activities.

 

How will I receive my Certificate of Attendance?

Certificates of Attendance are sent by email shortly after the conference concludes.

Please download and save your certificate when you receive it. The certificate download link is available for only 30 days.

We strongly recommend saving the certificate in a secure location so you can access it later when documenting professional development.

 

Does DEC offer CEUs?

DEC provides documentation of Division for Early Childhood Professional Development Hours through the conference's self-reported transcript process.

DEC does not maintain specific accreditation with organizations such as ASHA or other professional licensing bodies for these conference hours.

Because professional development and licensure requirements vary, attendees should confirm requirements with their state, licensing organization, employer, or other credentialing body.

If additional documentation is needed, DEC can provide available session information—including session titles, descriptions, and presenter information—to help participants document their professional development.

 

Conference Format

Will there be a virtual conference option?

The DEC Annual Conference is an in-person event and does not currently include a general virtual attendance option.

DEC may offer additional virtual professional development opportunities throughout the year. We encourage you to subscribe to DEC communications to learn about upcoming opportunities.

 

Children & Families

Is childcare available at the conference?

DEC values the participation of families and recognizes that childcare can be a significant barrier to conference attendance. Unfortunately, DEC does not have the capacity to provide onsite childcare.

Because of insurance requirements, children who are not registered conference participants may not attend conference sessions, the exhibit hall, or other conference activities.

An exception is made for non-mobile infants who remain in the continuous care of their parent or caregiver.

 

Are scholarships available to help families participate?

A limited number of family scholarships are available and may help offset participation-related expenses, including childcare.

Family scholarship applications are due May 25. Please review the Family Scholarship information and application for eligibility requirements and details.

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International Attendees

How do I request an invitation letter for international travel or visa purposes?

International attendees who need an invitation letter may submit a request using DEC's International Registration Invitation Letter Request form. Please allow adequate time for processing and for any visa or travel requirements associated with your trip.

 

Conference Schedule

When will the conference presentation schedule be available?

The conference schedule is now available! Access the current version here.

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Proposal Submissions

Can I receive an extension on the proposal submission deadline?

DEC follows the published proposal deadline to maintain a consistent and equitable submission process for everyone interested in presenting.

Proposal submission extensions are therefore not generally available.

We encourage prospective presenters to submit their proposals as early as possible and contact DEC before the deadline if they experience technical difficulties.

 

If my session proposal is not accepted, can it automatically be considered as a poster?

No. Because DEC receives a high volume of proposals, submissions that are not accepted in their original category are not automatically reconsidered for another presentation category.

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Presenter Information

How many presenters can be included in a presentation?

A presentation may include a maximum of four presenters total, including the lead presenter and co-presenters.

DEC expects all listed presenters to participate actively and meaningfully in the presentation.

 

When should presenters upload their presentation materials?

Presenters should upload presentation materials approximately 24–48 hours before their scheduled presentation.

Uploading materials in advance helps ensure they are available to participants and reduces last-minute issues.

 

What are the requirements for poster presentations?

Poster presentation spaces accommodate posters up to approximately 8 feet wide by 4 feet high. Posters should not exceed the dimensions of the assigned display space. 

Presenters may also wish to check the standard poster requirements of their university, institution, or organization so the poster can potentially be reused at other professional events. 

Poster sessions are approximately one hour. 

Tables and electrical connections are not available during poster sessions, so presenters should plan their displays accordingly.

 

Virtual Co-Presenters

Can a co-presenter participate virtually?

Virtual co-presentation is not generally available. Exceptions may be considered with advance permission from the Conference Committee when virtual participation enables a family member or community partner to contribute lived experience that is important to the value and integrity of the presentation. 

Presenters should not assume virtual participation has been approved until they have received confirmation from DEC.

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What technology is provided for an approved virtual co-presenter?

Presenters are responsible for setting up and managing their own Zoom or similar connection for an approved virtual co-presenter. 

Because many conference participants may be using the venue's network simultaneously, internet stability cannot be guaranteed. Presenters using an approved virtual participant should:

• Test their audio and video equipment in advance.

• Arrive early enough to troubleshoot connectivity.

• Consider bringing a personal hotspot as a backup.

• Have a backup plan in case the live connection fails.

DEC strongly recommends pre-recording the virtual participant's portion of the presentation and saving the recording locally on the presenter's computer.

If connectivity issues occur, the recording can then be played during the session. The family or community partner may still be able to participate in discussion or Q&A by video or phone if connectivity allows.

 

Presenter Changes & Cancellations

My co-presenter can no longer attend. Can their name remain in the conference program?

Only presenters who are attending and participating in the conference can remain listed as presenters in the conference program or app.

Presenters are welcome to acknowledge non-attending collaborators, contributors, or co-authors in their presentation slides and handouts.

 

What happens if a presenter needs to cancel?

Presenters make an important commitment to DEC and conference attendees when accepting a presentation. Cancellations after the established July deadline will therefore be considered only in exceptional emergency circumstances.

Examples may include serious illness or injury, an immediate family medical emergency, bereavement, natural disaster, or another unforeseen circumstance of comparable severity.

Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing and may require appropriate supporting documentation. Examples include medical documentation, an obituary notice, travel disruption documentation, insurance documentation, or another official record verifying the circumstances.

Providing documentation does not guarantee approval. Requests are reviewed individually to promote fairness and consistency.

Registration cancellations and refunds remain subject to DEC's conference registration cancellation and refund policies.

Presenters experiencing extenuating circumstances should contact DEC as soon as possible for guidance.

 

I'm waiting for institutional funding or approval. Can I receive additional time to complete presenter registration?

DEC understands that institutional funding, purchase orders, and internal approval processes can sometimes delay registration.

Presenters experiencing this situation should contact DEC promptly rather than allowing the registration deadline to pass without communication. DEC will review individual circumstances and advise the presenter regarding available options.

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Hotels & Travel

What conference hotel rates are available?

DEC's discounted hotel rates are as follows:

Main Hotel) Hilton Omaha — $221 Overflow Hotel) Hilton Garden Inn — $179 
Rates are subject to the conference hotel's terms, availability, applicable taxes, fees, and reservation deadlines.

Please use DEC's official conference hotel information when making reservations so you have the most current booking instructions and conference rates.

 

Can DEC help me justify conference travel to my employer?

Yes. DEC provides a Conference Justification Toolkit to help prospective attendees communicate the professional value of conference participation to supervisors, administrators, or funding organizations.

The toolkit can help you describe anticipated professional learning, networking opportunities, and the potential benefit of bringing conference knowledge and resources back to your organization or community.

 

Sponsors & Exhibitors

How can my organization become a DEC conference sponsor or exhibitor?

DEC welcomes organizations interested in connecting with conference participants and supporting the DEC community.

Information about available sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, benefits, and participation options is available on the Sponsors & Exhibitors section of the conference website.

 

Additional Questions

I couldn't find my question here. Who should I contact?

We're happy to help. For general conference questions, registration assistance, presenter questions, or other conference support, please contact the DEC conference team at conference@dec-sped.org.

When contacting us about a registration, proposal, or technical issue, please include enough information for our team to locate your record and assist you efficiently.