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A Division of the Council for Exceptional Children Purpose and Goals

Purpose and Goals
The Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL) is the official division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) that promotes the advancement and improvement of educational opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse learners with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, their families, and the professionals who serve them. It is the only professional organization dedicated exclusively to the concerns of culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional learners. The DDEL's goals include:

• Advocating for favorable policies and funding on behalf of culturally diverse learners, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
• Collaborating across disciplines to promote services for this population.
• Disseminating relevant and timely ideas and information through professional meetings, training programs, and publications.
• Promoting personnel recruitment, training, and leadership development among culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
• Providing technical assistance, training programs, and inservice and preservice education.
• Supporting the activities, policies, and procedures of CEC and the other CEC divisions.

Valuable Professional Publications
As a member of DDEL, you will stay abreast of recent advances and trends in your field through your subscriptions to: Multiple Voices for Ethnically Diverse Exceptional Learners, which is of significant interest to special educators serving culturally and linguistically diverse learners with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. It Includes articles on effective classroom/postsecondary practices, assessment, family/community empowerment techniques, research, material and test reviews, recruitment, and other issues pertaining to culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional populations. Published two times a year. The DDEL Newsletter. Provides information about current developments in the field, political action updates, conference and meeting dates, DDEL activities, and information about CEC activities in the ethnic and multicultural areas. Also used as a forum for members to share references, techniques, and materials that positively influence delivery of service to individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Published three times a year.

Other Important Benefits
As a member of DDEL, you will enjoy unique opportunities to network and become acquainted with other professionals in your field through professional development activities such as the sessions sponsored by DDEL at the CEC Annual Convention & Expo and special conferences addressing multicultural and linguistic concerns. You will also gain access to valuable educational programs and resources and enjoy first-hand knowledge of the activities of CEC and other organizations and agencies in the field.

Membership Requirements
DDEL membership is open to any CEC member interested in the education of culturally and linguistically diverse learners with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. DDEL membership consists of teachers, administrators, parents, paraprofessionals, teacher educators, policy makers, researchers, and related service providers. Students currently enrolled in a college or university program and not employed full time as a certified professional in the education profession are eligible for special student rates.

Join Today!
DDEL membership is the most cost-effective way to boost your professional skills and become a better, more informed professional prepared to provide the best services to the fastest growing group of exceptional learners--those who are culturally and linguistically diverse. Remember, you must be a CEC member to join DDEL. Call CEC at (888) 232-7733 (toll free) or (703) 620-3660. Membership applications are also on CEC's Web site http://www.cec.sped.org.