Call for Committee Members: DEC Inclusion, Equity, & Social Justice (IESJ) Committee

Open: May 10th, 2024 - June 15th, 2024

The Inclusion, Equity, & Social Justice Committee (IESJ) is seeking new members. Join like-minded DEC members charged with supporting inclusion, equity, and social justice (IESJ) work.

The charge of the DEC Inclusion, Equity & Social Justice Committee is to support DEC’s priority to create an inclusive, equitable, and just environment for all individuals associated with DEC, including members and partners. The IESJ Committee was created to ensure that all early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) professionals, families, and children from diverse identities, backgrounds, lifestyles, values, and beliefs are included in the events, policies, recommendations, and practices put forth by DEC. The IESJ committee supports DEC’s overall inclusion, equity, & social justice priorities and policies. The committee seeks individuals willing to center racial equity, fight against ableism, and represent diverse identities.

Members representative of the diversity of DEC membership are encouraged to apply, including race, ethnicity, culture, language, dialect, age, ability, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion/spirituality, and national origin. We seek representation of geography, organizations, agencies, universities, and experience. We seek members representing all member categories (practitioners, family members, higher education faculty, etc.). Applicants should be knowledgeable about the DEC Mission and Policies (including the Priority Issues Agenda), and Racial Equity Point of View. Individuals will be required to be current DEC members or to join DEC as members of this committee.

Submit your application here by Saturday, June 15th, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Time for consideration.

What is the DEC IESJ Committee?

Committees work under the Executive Office to carry out the formal work of DEC. The DEC IESJ Committee functions as a necessary and significant arm of the DEC Executive Office. DEC’s Committees are officially recognized bodies of DEC members supported by the DEC Executive Office and are liaised by the DEC Executive Board members. Committees reflect the formal positions of DEC and participate in developing, maintaining, and evolving strategies and initiatives that are critical and central to supporting DEC’s mission and beliefs. The DEC IESJ Committee is a volunteer body of DEC members in good standing. Its members provide strategic direction and proposed recommendations for DEC’s inclusion, equity, and social justice priorities. Members of the IESJ Committee are not considered members of the DEC Executive Board, and all IESJ Committee members must be DEC Members in good standing.

Benefits of Becoming a Committee Member

• Connect with others who share a passion and commitment for inclusion, equity, and social justice

• Collaborate with other professional members, family members, and partnering committees, communities of practice and organizations

• Learn with and from others who are serving in an advisory capacity to an international organization

• Grow in your own ability to lead and influence change and advocacy efforts

• Receive a discount for DEC conference registration (if/when available)

Committee Member Qualifications and Expectations

• Must be a DEC member in good standing during the time of your volunteer commitment.

• Have experience and/or interest in inclusion, equity, and social justice 

• Willing to serve a two year term with one reappointment as an option upon approval by the Executive Office and Committee Chair(s)

• Willing to attend and contribute to monthly project work and team conference calls. Members must commit to attending all meetings and completing work between monthly meetings.

• Willing to make the necessary time commitment (approximately 8-10 hours per month, depending on the depth of the work)

When can I join the IESJ Committee? When will I be selected?

This committee has established an Annual Consideration Procedure. Applications are due on Saturday, June 15th, 2024; applicants will receive notification by the end of June 2024. The new members will start their terms on Monday, July 1st, 2024.  

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to the IESJ Committee Tri-chairs:

Courtney O’Grady, ceogrady3@ua.edu 

Megan Vinh, megan.vinh@unc.edu 

Ruby Batz, rbatzherrera@unr.edu