Council for Exceptional Children
Division on Developmental Disabilities (DDD)Committees
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Awards
The Awards Committee solicits and reviews nominations for Division-authorized awards and recommends individuals/subdivisions to receive those awards.  The committee also prepares suitable awards for presentations.

Chair:  
Toni Merfeld fullertjm@qwest.net

The Dolly Gray Award For Children's Literature in Developmental Disabilities
The Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award is presented by the DDD every year to honor exemplary portrayals of individuals with developmental disabilities. To see all books considered from 2000 to 2008 click here.

Fifth Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award Recipient

Contact:  Tina Taylor Dyches tina_dyches@byu.edu,  
(801) 422-5045

Communications
This committee is responsible for facilitating communications between the DDD Board of Directors and the DDD membership. This committee work includes the oversight of the DDD web site (http://www.dddcec.org/) , the DDD Express, and email lists and other emerging electronic communications.

Chair:
Darlene E. Perner dperner@bloomu.edu
(570) 389-4075

Conference
This committee is responsible for planning the Division's annual conference.

Co-Chairs:  
Dave Smith jdsmi24@uncg.edu
Cindy Perras cindy.perras@cogeco.ca

Critical Issues & Legislative
The role of this committee is to explore issues of critical importance to the Division and its members.  The committee selects issues of importance and works with the membership to develop position statements of value to the field of DDD.  Issue papers are presented to the Board and the membership for review and then published in the Division newsletter and/or journal.

Co-Chairs:  
Bob Stodden stodden@hawaii.edu
Nikki Murdick murdickn@slu.edu

For more information on CEC Public Policy please go to:
http://www.cec.sped.org/pp/legislative_update/modules/news/index.php

Diversity
 The Diversity Committee is responsible for identifying and reviewing issues concerning ethnic, racial, and linguistic diversity among (a) individuals with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities, and (b) the professionals who serve these individuals. The Diversity Committee is also responsible for developing proposals for the Division that are designed to address identified concerns.

Co-Chairs:  
Rosa Lockwood rosa.lockwood@earthlink.net
Charles Dukes cdukes@fau.edu 

Finance
This committee monitors and evaluates budget line allotments;  reviews suggested changes in budget line allotments; and proposes yearly budget plans based on suggested changes and previous needs.

Chair:  
Gardner Umbarger gumbarg@bgnet.bgsu.edu

Legislative
This committee follows federal legislation and policy development as it concerns children with developmental disabilities and the persons who educate and support them. The committee reviews legislative actions and can serve as a political action group taking positions on various pieces of legislation.  The chairperson/CAN coordinator also maintains a policy update LISTSERV for concerned members within the Division.  The LISTSERV provides immediate updates to the membership and a way to communicate positions and political actions in a timely manner.

Chair:  
Bob Stodden stodden@hawaii.edu, 
(808) 956-9199

Membership & Unit Development
The Membership Committee develops and implements measures to increase membership, retain members, and provide general membership support. The Unit Development Committee provides support to state and provincial subdivisions.   This support may include assisting with organizing and maintaining subdivisions, regional conferences, newsletters, subdivision manuals, and other forms of technical assistance. 

Co-Chairs:  
Debbie Wichmanowski dwichman@pasco.k12.fl.us

Nominations
The primary responsibilities of this committee are to seek qualified candidates for office, fill vacancies in offices when they occur,  communicate with candidates to assure their willingness to serve,  and obtain biographical data for the ballots.

Chair:  
Polly Parrish Pparrish15@aol.com

Professional Development and
Professional Standards
 This committee is largely involved with assisting CEC/NCATE in developing beginning teacher standards.  The committee also examines other ways that CEC-DDD can assist its members in professional development activities.

Chair:  
Scott Sparks sparks@oak.cats.ohiou.edu, 
(740) 593-4437

Publications
 This committee is responsible for oversight of the DDD journal Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities. The committee works with the DDD Board of Directors in developing a variety of print and video publications, including the Prism series of monographs and other professional resources. 

Chair:  
Jack Hourcade jhourca@boisestate.edu, 
(208) 426-3544, (208) 426-3807 (fax)

If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please contact the appropriate chairperson.