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Early Career Professionals

Welcome!

The AAIDD Student and Early Career Professionals page was founded with the vision of providing a great web site synthesizing and organizing the multitude of information relevant to today's young researchers and professionals working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Additionally, we hope to provide a site that connects the community of new and excited professionals together by use of the web blog, student and faculty profiles page, and future events.

This web page is managed by members of the AAIDD Student and Early Career Professional Committee.

We have some new sections ready for you now, with more on the way! So, get started…and let us know what you think!

~ Shelley Watson & Nancy Miodrag, Co-Editors

Annual Meeting Updates

The Student and Early Career Professional Committee (SECPC) presented during the Early Career Issues and Research Session at the 2010 AAIDD Annual Meeting in Providence.  Karrie Shogren moderated a panel entitled: “Students and Early Career Professionals in the Field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Research, Policy and Practice”.  Shelley Watson, Shea Obremski and Melsisa DiSipio each talked about what brought them into the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), how this links with the work that they currently do and ideas for future work.  Each commented on their participation with SECPC and working within AAIDD.  

The SECPC also presented a poster at the 2010 AAIDD Annual Meeting. The poster highlighted all of the Committee’s initiatives, including the:  Student and Early Career Professional Webpage, Newsletter, Webinar Series, Clearinghouse, Student Scholarship Program, Guide Program, and Partnerships and Networking Opportunities.  Six members of the Committee presented information from the poster to attendees at the poster session, sharing ways that student and early career members could get involved.  All attendees were impressed by the breadth and scope of the supports provided to student and early career members through the SECPC. 

Finally, this conference provided multiple opportunities for social gatherings as well. On the first night of the conference SECPC members and supporters of SECPC, including distinguished professors and leaders in the field, gathered for dinner, drinks, and lively discussion at a local restaurant. This and subsequent gatherings of SECPC members, and diverse students and professionals provided excellent opportunities to gain knowledge about current trends in the field, network with key experts and upcoming researchers, and learn more about our colleagues from across the world.

Check back soon for pictures from the conference!