DISES President’s Letter – December 2024

DISES President’s Message

December 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, it is a beautiful time to reflect on the last year. It is with joy, humility, and gratitude that I write this last presidential message to you all. Here are some of the things I am so proud to share about DISES’ last year!

On a personal note:

First, I want to thank the DISES community for supporting our programs, initiatives, conference in Panama, and getting involved in committees. Our success comes from all of you showing up and doing the work. In the world of social justice we often have people who see the importance of the work, but are unable to find the time and capacity to ensure things come to fruition– our DISES community moved mountains this year! So many of us showed up for DISES even as we juggled our day jobs, finding time for family and friends, and not to mention, when life was “life-ing” us with health concerns, the loss of loved ones, political shifts, and so much more. Second, on a more personal note, I want to thank you for the love I felt when you celebrated my tenure at the University of San Diego, encouragement as I started my sabbatical, and the kind words you sent after I learned about my mom’s declining health and with the unexpected passing of my partner. I truly could not have gotten here without all of you. For those of you who know my work, you know I do not shy from using the word, love. Audre Lorde wrote, “each time you love, love as deeply as if it were forever.” I pray my love for youth, families, and educators around the world came through this year. As I have been reminded, life is so brief and there is much work to be done. So on that note…

DISES 2024 At-a-Glance

The four seasons of the year brought so much. As an organization, we have grown in engagement with our DISES community, highlighted inclusive practices across the globe, and increased collaboration with our fellow CEC Divisions and global partners (yellow indicates things we have not done in the past or for a very long time).

DISES in Kenya July 1-4, 2025! (Strategic Goals 1, 2)

DISES serves the global community through our conferences by curating a space for “international communication, cooperation, and progress in education and services for children who have disabilities and/or gifts and talents.” The Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES) 2025 Conference will be held in two locations over 4 days! DISES, Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), and Egerton University will be co-hosting July 1-2 at KISE in Nairobi and July 2-4 at Lake Naivasha Resort in Lake Naivasha. Your registration covers all four days of lunch and tea service, transportation from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha with a stop at a local school/program supporting youth with special needs, knowledge exchange, collaboration, human rights and advocacy to those who provide services and support for individuals with disabilities (registration does not include optional excursions, receptions, or boma dinner). The call for proposals and registration (early bird prices end January 1, 2025) are still open and we have an opportunity to donate to support local Kenyan educators and others who need financial assistance with their registration this year. Please reach out to me (rjez@sandiego.edu) or Dr. Robai Werunga at Robai_Werunga@uml.edu for any questions that are not answered in our DISES in Kenya Information document (find out about locations, call for proposals, registration, lodging, schedule-at-a-glance, travel information, and tourism before/during/after).

DISES Professional Learning Gallery (Strategic Goals 2, 3)

We value our global community and as our mission states, “DISES serves as a catalyst for the international exchange of special education practice, promotes international research, and sponsors forums for professional development, and establishes networks that foster international association.”

One of the major initiatives this year was to begin building a DISES Professional Learning Gallery so that learners, families, educators, leaders, and advocates could have access to general information about culturally responsive and sustaining inclusive practices. I am so excited to announce that our first module is available–check out the Assessment Module to learn and apply assessment practices. A special thanks to Ms. Tisha Ewen-Smith (MSc), Dr. Lyliana Rivera (EdD), and myself, Dr. Rebekka Jez (EdD) for sharing your knowledge, resources, and tools with our global community. Be on the lookout for the release of the other modules. We look forward to more modules being released in 2025. If you are interested in getting involved in the creation of a module, reach out to our incoming president, Dr. Jennifer Ward at jlward@svsu.edu or me at rjez@sandiego.edu.

Critical Global Conversations: Supporting Youth, Families, & Educators in Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Practices Video Podcast Series (Strategic Goals 2, 3, 4)

Another aim of DISES is to promote “knowledge exchange, collaboration, human rights and advocacy to those who provide services for individuals with disabilities.” DISES, Division for Career Development and Transition, Division for Visual and Performing Arts, and Division for Early Childhood were awarded the 2025 CEC 2025 Inter Division Grant create an innovative cross division video podcast series to foster critical global conversations that support youth, families, and educators in culturally responsive and sustaining practices during and beyond the Birth-to-20 experience. Each podcast highlights members of the CEC community, provides application activities, and shares research-based quick facts and practices. This four-part series walks our members through (1) self-awareness of intersectionality, (2) learning about others and uncovering our own positionality, (3) critical examination of current practices, and (4) learning and unlearning culturally responsive and sustaining practices for living, learning, and working. The collaborative series not only acknowledges the great work being done across CEC divisions, but amplifies the gifts and practices of learners, families, and educators at the local, national, and global levels. Check out the episodes, resources, and activities here.

Getting Involved in DISES (Strategic Goals 1-4)

DISES is a non-profit, board supervised international organization with many opportunities for engagement. Here are some of the DISES committees you could join (email our executive director Alice Farling or President Jen Ward if you would like to join a committee next year):

• Membership: dream up ways to share the spirit and resources from DISES around the world! Many thanks to Jen Ward, Robai Werunga, Keitha Osborne, Dake Zhang, Dani Lane, Keri Mignano, Sofia Mavropoulou, and so many more volunteers for making these initiatives move forward:
  • FREE DISES membership for new CEC members! PROMO Code: DISESFREE Below is the information you need for the promo code. This provides NEW members of CEC with a free membership to DISES. They will add the CEC Membership and the DISES membership to their account, and when they apply codes, it will zero out the DISES costs (but DISES will still get the membership revenue). All codes are valid from October 23, 2024 – July 31, 2025. Restrictions: Can only be used for DISES; only valid for new members for a 1-year membership. Code is only valid once per contact and/or once per shopping cart. Alice Farling should be able to answer questions about membership info@dises-cec.org.
  • Country Leads: Considering the increasingly wide outreach of DISES membership, we are eager to establish the role of Country Leads as a means for expanding and diversifying membership and growing deeper roots in countries with active professionals and researchers interested in knowledge exchange, collaboration and advocacy for services for individuals with disabilities. Would you or someone you know like to be a DISES country lead? Contact Dr. Sofia Mavropoulou for more information at sofia.mavropoulou@qut.edu.au
  • Sip & Chat: This year we hosted three Sip & Chats–informal online meet and greets to discuss topics related to DISES. Find out more from Keitha Osborne keitha.osborne@themico.edu.jm.
  • Virtual Events: This year we hosted three Virtual Events (you can watch them on our youtube channel) and read about two of them in the information briefs published on the event. Nicci Dowd will be the one to contact if you want to get involved next year- ndowd@marymount.edu.
• Professional Learning Committee: This committee aims to provide professional resources to increase culturally responsive and sustaining inclusive practices around the world. This year we created the Professional Learning Gallery. You can share your expertise and assist with building the modules that are under construction- email Dr. Ward jlward@svsu.edu or me at rjez@sandiego.edu if you want to join us!
• Student Engagement Committee: Saurym Quezada was DISES student representative on the board and she did such a wonderful job connecting with other DISES students through writing groups, online workshops, co-hosting a virtual event, Sip & Chat mixer, and the DISES Student Mentorship survey and mentorship program (if you are interested, let Alice and Jen know).
• Family Engagement Committee: Nicci Dowd ndowd@marymount.edu and Hannah Ehrli hannahehrli@gmail.com organized a professional development in Panama, worked on the Family Engagement module for the Professional Learning Gallery, and co-hosted some events. Let them know if you have more ideas about engaging with families globally. Congratulations to Afia Kyei for being elected our next student representative.
• Awards Committee: Thank you our awards committee for helping us honor DISES members making an impact at the DISES awards (thank you Keri Mignano and team).
• Election Committee: A special thanks to Nicole DeClouette, DISES Past President, for overseeing this year’s election along with her team.
• DISES Conference in Kenya Planning Team: Putting on an international conference requires unique skills and dedication as we maneuver through cultural norms, time zones,  

Journal for International Special Needs Education (Strategic Goal 2)

We are so impressed with the JISNE, DISES’s flagship journal, continuing to put out impressive articles. A special shout out to Dr. Keller and Dr. Martin for their articles on the history of international engagement in the CEC. With our 35th anniversary coming up next year, we welcome you to peruse the new and past articles. We thank our editorial team for all of their hard work this year– Editor Morgan Chitiyo; Associate Editors Maryam Alakhzami, Richard Boon, Sofia Mavropoulou, Andrew Scheef, Angi Stone-McDonald, and Helen McCabe; Managing Editor Kelly Kearney; Technical Editor Tahnee Wilder; and the entire editorial board.

CEC Announcements (Strategic Goals 1, 3)

Being a part of a large organization like CEC allows us to collaborate with people across the field and DISES is so honored to be a part of such an important organization. We aim to continue working with other divisions to ensure culturally responsive and sustaining inclusive practices are being shared with all. Here are the 2024 Interdivisional Grant Projects:

• Critical Global Conversations: Supporting Youth, Families, & Educators in Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Practices Video Podcast Series: Learn about intersectionality, positionality, practices, and implementation of culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy in this four episode series. (DISES, DCDT, DARTS, DEC).
• Bright Spots Newsletter: This Inter-Divisional Grant project highlights CEC members and the great work they are doing- check it out!  (DDL, CEC-DR, CCC)
• Leading the Way Webinar Series: This series looks at ways to use AI to support youth with disabilities and literacy for talent. (TAG, TED, ISET)

With love, humility, kindness, appreciation, and care,

Rebekka Joanne Jez, EdD

DISES President 2024