DISES President’s Letter – March 2025

Dear DISES Family,

This year we celebrate 35 years of DISES and our unwavering dedication to inclusive and equitable for learners around the globe.  As I reflect on the first few months of my role as DISES President, I am proud to share the success of our recent participation in the CEC Convention in Baltimore. We engaged in meaningful discussions centered on advancing global inclusive education and reaffirmed our collective commitment to equity and access for all learners. To our newest members—welcome! You are joining a passionate, dedicated community, and we are eager to embrace the fresh ideas and perspectives you bring.

We continue to prepare for our upcoming conference in Nairobi and Lake Naivasha, Kenya, July 1-4. This conference promises to be an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with global colleagues, share best practices, and deepen our understanding of inclusive education across diverse contexts. Registration is still open, and we hope to see you there. You can register on our website or at the link here.

While we celebrate our global connections, we remain keenly aware of the current challenges within the United States. The ongoing efforts to dismantle DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and the Department of Education threaten the progress we have made toward inclusive practices. Now more than ever, our voices and actions are crucial. DISES, along with CEC, remains committed to advocating for inclusive policies and supporting educators worldwide who are working tirelessly to uphold the rights of all students.

We also want to highlight opportunities for you to become more involved with DISES. In our continued efforts to recognize the exceptional work of our colleagues and DISES members in advancing inclusive and equitable education for students with disabilities, we invite you to participate in our Member Spotlight series. This is an opportunity to nominate a colleague - or yourself - to showcase outstanding efforts in inclusive education. Additionally, we encourage you to join one of our committees to further support the work and initiatives that DISES is committed to. Your engagement is meaningful way to influence our work, contribute your expertise, and grow as a leader in the field. Get started by indicating your committee interest here: DISES Committee Interest

Thank you for your continued dedication to global inclusive education. Together, we can make a lasting impact. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to reach out. Be on the lookout for upcoming Virtual Events, Sip & Chats, and other events,

In solidarity,

Jennifer Ward

President, Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES)