Division for Early Childhood's 41st Annual International Conference
on Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families
Tuesday, October 7th - Friday, October 10th, 2025
Oregon Convention Center - Portland, Oregon
Call for Proposals and Mentors
Submit a Proposal to Present at the DEC 2025 Conference
DEC is seeking proposals for pre-conference workshops, 60-minute sessions, and poster sessions.
DEC conference strands (topics) include By Practitioners for Practitioners, Family, International, Policy, Practice, Professional Development, and Research.
Please keep reading to learn about the what, why, and how for the submission process.
The Division for Early Childhood's conferences and events are an integral part of accomplishing its mission.
It is critical that these venues are accessible and inclusive to all interested partners. Therefore, DEC is intentional in relying on the expertise of those who have been made most marginalized by systemic oppression to shape conferences and events so that their content and activities appeal to a diverse community of interested parties, and that attendees and presenters reflect the same.
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DEC intentionally advertises its requests for proposals to groups who have been historically excluded in an effort to ensure the submission pool reflects a diversity of expertise, lived and professional, and roles in the early childhood sector.
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DEC implements a call for proposals process that allows for an assessment of the racial equity perspective and experience of those who make submissions.
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DEC has a proposal review committee consisting of individuals who have professional and lived experience in the sector and show a capacity to bring a racial equity lens to the work of the committee.
The Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
Racial Equity Point of View (2024, pgs 9-10)
Mentors for the Proposal Process
Mentorships are available 1:1 or via small group for one or two meetings. Scheduling will be arranged between the mentor and mentee.
Assistance provided in any step of the process: proposal writing process, review drafts and provide feedback, proof before submission, help with the online submission platform.
DEC strives to match mentors as aligned with mentees experience and strand. (i.e., the writing may be slightly different for a Research proposal than the other strands.)
Assistance from the DEC Family Committee
Families have unique expertise and knowledge on many topics. Having a family voice in your DEC Conference session will add value to the topic presented as families will add their experiences. To include a families’ perspective and experiences in your presentation, please complete and submit a short form using the button below. The DEC Family Committee will connect with you and discuss how they can best support you.
Submit a Proposal to Present at the DEC 2025 Conference
If you have questions, please email conference@dec-sped.org for support.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Submit a Proposal
by Tuesday, February 18th, 2025,
11:59 PM Eastern Time
Complete Proposal Reviews
by Monday, March 3rd, 2025,
11:59 PM Eastern Time
Notifications Sent to Lead Presenter
by Tuesday, April 1st, 2025,
11:59 PM Eastern Time
Session Confirmation
by Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025,
11:59 PM Eastern Time
List of Accepted Sessions Published
by Wednesday, April 30th, 2025,
11:59 PM Eastern Time
