Sharing Web Resources

The newsletter for this month had a lot of information regarding professional development:

·      They offer DEC's online professional development-

The topic this time is: Addressing Challenging Behavior and Child Learning

The presenters will describe strategies to address challenging behavior and child learning through assessments linked to intervention. 

·      They call to participate in DEC's Lead Academy-
      Applications available now for a four-month cohort-based program designed to bring together leading young professionals from across the country.  Through exploring personal, leadership values and beliefs, participants will:
      * Share their knowledge with colleagues

      * Develop and implement strategies to advance in their careers
      * Empower one another to advocate for themselves and their ideas
      (This sounds a lot like what we do here at Walden University)

·       They promote the DEC Conference on October 7-9, 2014 in St. Louis-

They encourage early childhood professionals to register, serve as a sponsor or exhibitor, register for the pre-conference sessions/workshops, reserve a meeting or event space as well as nominate a colleague or student for the DEC Award.

From the website there was a message that was posted about more information about the UN Treaty on Disability Rights.  With the support of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) I learned that the, “United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that protects the human rights of individuals with disabilities…Opponents continue to use inaccurate scare tactics to diminish support in the Senate”.  I was shocked to learn that there are “opponents” to such a treaty.  It made me think and wonder who could be against the push for human rights for every person?

Through links on the website I was able to find information that adds to my understanding of how politicians support the early childhood field.  Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole is advocating for the ratification of the disability rights treaty (McHugh, 2014).  Children are included in this treaty and have already been a focus of concern in the past such as how it might be:

…used to interfere with the ability of parents with disabled children to decide what action is in the best interest of their children. Unelected, foreign bureaucrats, not parents, would decide what is in the best interests of the disabled child, even in the home (McHugh, 2014). 

I can see how this is a concern and why when it comes to politics there has be support from people who really understand the situation.  Politicians have to help advocate as it might make huge differences in the early childhood field if they don’t.  

Reference

McHugh, J. (July 23, 2014). Dole Back on Hill to try and push through U.N. disabilities treaty. [Web Article/Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/23/dole-back-on-hill-to-try-and-push-through-u-n-disabilities-treaty/