Thursday, September 29th - Spotlight Sessions

Conference Sessions Sessions will take place 9:15 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 - 4:15 PM at meeting rooms throughout the Hilton Chicago! There's dozens of sessions to choose from. Be sure to pace yourself and don't forget to take breaks! View all sessions here.

Spotlight Sessions Become stronger: War Challenges, Present and Future of ECI in Ukraine - Presented by: Anna Kukuruza PhD • Ana Maria Serrano PhD • Noor Van Loen - Add this session to your schedule. This presentation will trace the history of the development of ECI in Ukraine, starting from the beginning of the 21th century. The process of (1) changing the paradigm from the medical model to family-centered, routine based ECI, and (2) developing cooperation between national and regional government levels, the professional community, and the All-Ukrainian movement "Parents for Early Intervention" is described. Results of the national pilot project 2016-2021 showed the possibilities and the need for further development of ECI in Ukraine. The pandemic created greater possibilities for ECI and its provision online. Russia's invasion of Ukraine didn’t stop ECI services provision to families, regardless of where specialists and parents were located. Internal and external displacement due to the war and the traumatic experiences for all involved made continuing services even more important, as demonstrated by the outcomes of a study done with 80 families and 76 professionals (May-June 2022).  The presentation will also address the fact the war did not stop development on ECI. It intensified the efforts on how to organize our professional community while professionals and families migrate and needs continuously change.

Family Partnerships: Families Knowing Their Rights and Using Research to Advocate for Appropriately Ambitious Educational Opportunities - Presented by: Ann Turnbull • Rud Turnbull - Add this session to your schedule. Part C’s evaluation of the family outcome of knowing rights always indicates very high percentages of family progress in this important area. To what extent do families in Part C and 619 programs actually know their rights? What is needed to enhance significantly not only knowledge of their rights but advocacy strategies for acting on their rights? Furthermore, what can we do, individually and collectively, to increase family access to research findings related to IFSP/IEP decision-making? We will use our time together to brainstorm about next steps on how we can move in positive directions related to rights, research, and advocacy.