Theme: Bridging Silos, Building Futures
“Bridging Silos, Building Futures” reflects our commitment to breaking down isolated structures—whether in practice, research, or service—and bringing together diverse perspectives to build unified, forward-looking educational pathways. By connecting knowledge, practitioners, families, and communities, we create stronger foundations for children’s growth and future success.
We invite educators, researchers, and practitioners to submit proposals for the Early Childhood Education Summit 2026, focused on applying research and theory in child development to real-world classroom practices that support every stage of a child’s growth from birth through age 8.
This call welcomes innovative, practical strategies that promote the development and success of all children—especially those who are deaf, deafblind, deafdisabled, or hard of hearing. We look forward to your insights and contributions to this important dialogue.
NASLECE Mission
To revitalize bilingual and multilingual early childhood programs by empowering families with children who are deaf, deafblind, deafdisabled, or hard of hearing—igniting a passion for language, culture, and connection.
NASLECE Vision
To build a vibrant, inclusive community that fosters collaboration, cultural richness, and meaningful communication to support the success and well-being of young children and their families. For further information, visit our website.
Summit Objectives
- Bridge the gap between theory and practice in early childhood education.
- Provide educators with strategies aligned with current research.
- Highlight innovative approaches supporting diverse learners.
- Promote collaboration among early childhood professionals.
- Equip families and educators with tools to enrich young children’s learning.
Spotlight Presentations
We are seeking up to nine 60-minute spotlight sessions that focus on classroom applications and strategies reflecting the summit theme. Selected presenters will be notified by January 2025 or earlier. Please also provide a high-quality headshot for the announcement.
Suggested Topics:
- Language support strategies in early childhood classrooms
- Inclusive play for diverse learners
- Technology and language development
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Social-emotional development of deaf and hard-of-hearing children
- Family engagement and collaboration
- STEM integration in early learning
- The role of play in cognitive growth
- Sensory-rich learning environments
- Addressing language deprivation
- Assessments, evaluations and tests
Submission Guidelines
Please complete all sections below and ensure your proposal aligns with the summit theme and objectives. Deadline: December 31, 2025
Your submission should include:
- A brief session overview
- Learning objectives
- Practical classroom applications
- Accommodations: Available upon request (SSP/DB interpreters, mirror interpreters, or spoken-English interpreters).
Presenter Agreement
Accepted presenters are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and registration costs. The following equipment will be provided: computer, LCD projector, screen, podium with microphone, internet access, and audio link. To register, click here.
By submitting a proposal, you grant permission for your presentation to be recorded and shared with registered members. If using PowerPoint, Canva, or Google Slides, please upload your file to Google Drive by March 15, 2025. Files will be converted to a protected PDF format before posting.
We look forward to your innovative ideas and contributions that will make this summit a transformative experience for all.
Schedule of Summit:
Friday evening, April 17, 2026; 6:00 pm-9:00 pm (Opening Ceremony)
Saturday, April 18, 2026: 7:45 am -5:00 pm
Sunday, April 19, 2026: 7:45 am-5:00 pm
For questions, contact: NASLECEVP@gmail.com