Ohio DEC Subdivision

The Ohio Division for Early Childhood (ODEC) aims to support those who work with or on behalf of young children with disabilities and their families in Ohio.

Ohio Activities Include

Producing a quarterly newsletter
Professional development (e.g., state conference)
Dissemination of DEC Recommended Practices
Communication and outreach

Mission of DEC
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. DEC is an international membership organization for those who work with or on behalf of young children (0-8) with disabilities and other special needs and their families.

Student Volunteer Opportunities

The Ohio Division for Early Childhood would like to increase our connections with undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of Early Childhood Special Education, Early Intervention, Early Childhood Education, and related fields (e.g., Human Development and Family Studies, Speech & Audiology, Occupational and Physical Therapy, and Pediatric Medicine).

Student Volunteer Tasks

Assisting leadership chairs
Communication (e.g., reaching out to undergraduate and graduate students via email and social media, commenting on social media posts to encourage member interactions, contributing to quarterly newsletter)
Membership (e.g. recruiting other student CEC member to be ODEC members)
Student connections (e.g. participating at university campus events and organizations on the behalf of ODEC, updating ODEC board regarding campus events and current events to publish in quarterly newsletter)
Family connections (e.g. gathering and summarizing information provided by families for newsletter features or parent panels, locating high quality, family-friendly articles and resources)
Higher education connections (Locating research following evidence-based practices to distribute to professionals, reaching out to university and college faculty for conference proposals, newsletter features and disseminating DEC Recommended Practices)
Volunteering at conferences (e.g., registration/check-in table, room monitor, etc)
Participating in ODEC advocacy and policy activities

Incentives

Volunteer/leadership experience in state-level professional organization (can include in resumé)
Transition to officer or leadership position, based on satisfactory performance
Recommendation letter from ODEC board member, based on satisfactory performance (Recommendation letter should have a specific recipient and should be for a specific position. We are unable to provide generic letters of recommendation.)
Networking with other professionals in the field
Mentoring from board member/leadership team

Contact

ohio.dec@gmail.com (include “Student Volunteer” in subject line)