Question #4 for the Representative Assembly

4. What do you think would be the benefits of more international engagement (a) within CEC for current members in the United States and Canada, (b) current and
potential new members from outside the United States and Canada, and (c) your units?

More international engagement benefits everyone in the international community. Inclusive education prevents genocide, aids in the fight against poverty and prevents terrorism. CEC should engage with NGO's especially in developing countries. CEC should collaborate with village schools to establish programs and provide teacher training. Inclusive education programs in developing countries benefit everyone.

4. What do you think would be the benefits of more international engagement (a) within CEC for current members in the United States and Canada, (b) current and
potential new members from outside the United States and Canada, and (c) your units?
CEC is still a fairly homogeneous organization - from my experience. The benefits to global representation of ideas, practices, norms, and expectations is more successful sharing of information and skills across political, geographic and ideology barriers. More successful sharing provides more opportunities for successful advocacy and policy development on behalf of individuals with exceptional learning needs, and their families. PLUS the more culturally and globally competent the US and Canada members of CEC become the better able to teach diverse individuals, with and without exceptional learning needs, in their communities, schools, and universities.
The benefit to current and new international members is the validation of their own experiences and practices - rather than superimposing an American model on their context, which may not work for many reasons. International members have a support system in place that recognizes and values their story and provides a community to brainstorm, problem solve, gather resources, access professional service (people who volunteer to work with them within their system), that is reciprocal. If this valuing of diverse practices and contexts happens then the number of international memberships as well as networks for exceptional education has the potential to grow.
The benefit to our unit is a melding of CEC's commitment to cultural and global competence with our unit's ongoing work in this area. We would have more opportunities to develop relationships with international teacher preparation, advocacy, schools and services for exceptional individuals where our students and faculty can do intercultural practica and projects, we could develop opportunities and vehicles to bring international per- and in-service teachers to our unit and community for learning and practical opportunities. We would also have a standard to point to when we talk to faculty and administration about cultural and global competence - our SPA has established this as a value!

4. It goes without saying that the third world is the place with the most serious disabilities and the least qualified service providers. The United Nations and European Union have contributed much effort in helping these countries, especially education for girls in Africa and Asia. There are poor countries in Central and South America. CEC could spearhead the same type of effort given to Asia and Africa.

More engagement will do a lot to bring countries together who have been adversaries and will put a positive light on USA, whose image has become quite tarnished.

It will help many of us to learn more about the special education systems around the world. There are many models that work and don't work. It not only broadens our knowledge base, but also allow us to consider more research partnerships with individuals/organizations outside of the United States.