A History of International Engagement in the Council for Exceptional Children Since 1980. Part 2: Functions of a Professional Organization

Using the results of an integrative literature review of primary sources of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)—news articles, reports of initiatives and workgroups, and columns in CEC publications that provided evidence of the Council’s international efforts—we describe instances of international engagement within five functions of the Council as a professional organization for exceptional education: advocacy, professional development, conferences, the translation of CEC content, and its recognition as a leading organization in the field. We believe the efforts can be categorized as serving either one or both simple though challenging goals: bringing the world to CEC and the Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES) and bringing CEC and DISES to the world. Progress has occurred on these goals, albeit sporadically and intermittently. As this history looks to the past, it points to the future. The instances of international engagement that once were provide examples of what can be again to pursue these goals.