ISEF 2007 is co-sponsored by Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú (CASP) and The Council for Exceptional Children's Division of International Special Education Services (DISES).  CASP is a nonprofit organization recognized worldwide for its contributions as a model educational, research and demonstration center for people with different abilities (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disabilities, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy) and their families. They serve 450 students/work trainees and have what is believed to be the most extensive program for educating families in the world.  CASP also has been recognized with numerous international and Peruvian awards and is an affiliate of the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas.  DISES is a professional organization that promotes international communication, cooperation and progress in education and services for children and youth with disabilities and/or who are gifted and talented.  DISES is actively engaged in a number of international projects designed to foster international cooperation and research for bettering the lives of children with disabilities world wide.

The Forum will bring together researchers, practitioners, and families from Latin America and throughout the world to discuss, examine, and analyze critical issues within a stimulating and interactive context.  The Forum will promote learning, sharing, discovering and exploring ideas as well as encouraging collaborative relationships that are central to the future of global special education .  ISEF will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss:

• A Better Life at Home and in the Community
• A Better Life at School and through Education
• A Better Life through Universities and Organizations

Proceeds from the ISEF will be shared by CASP and DISES, with funds for the former organization going to tuition support for students and funds for the latter providing seed money for similar events in other countries on a regular basis in the years ahead.  The Forum organizers have nicknamed the event, "El Forum con Corazon - The Forum with a Heart" for the good it will do on so many levels.

Keynote Speakers

• Lynn Fuchs (Vanderbilt University)
• Doug Fuchs (Vanderbilt University)
• Temple Grandin (Colorado State University)
• Liliano Mayo (Directora, Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú & University of Kansas)
• Maria Amelia Almeida (Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Brazil)
• Judith LeBlanc (University of Kansas & Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú)
• Mary Ruth Coleman (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Program Format and Activities

More than 255 presentation and poster session proposals have been accepted from researchers and practitioners in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Korea, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Spain, Turkey, and the United States.  Truly, this will be a world class event!

The Forum will open on Sunday evening, July 8, 2007, with a reception and Forum overview.  Welcoming and introductory remarks by the Peruvian Ministry of Education and representatives of The Council for Exceptional Children, followed by a Keynote address, will highlight the evening's events.  Special cultural performances are also planned and will help set the tone for the ISEF!

Each day, the ISEF will open and conclude with keynote speakers addressing the theme of the day.  Addresses will be made by a Latin American special educator and a special educator from outside of Latin America and will be translated simultaneously.  The official languages of the forum are Spanish and English.  Each day's program will include three one and one-half hour sessions comprised of formal presentations, roundtable discussions, and poster presentations.  Particular emphasis has been made to assure ample opportunity for discussions during each session and throughout the Forum.

During the Forum, there will be optional field visits to CASP.  Before and after the Forum, cultural and ecological tours to extraordinary Peruvian sites such as Machu Picchu and the Amazon will be available.

View schedule

Forum Site

Lima is the capital and the largest city in Peru, as well as the capital of Lima Province.  It is the cultural, industrial, financial, and transport hub of the country.  It lies on a desertic coast adjacent to the bay in the Pacific Ocean where its port was built and named Callao.  Lima is well served by a newly reconstructed and expanded international airport.  The city is a major tourist destination and offers numerous cultural attractions including museums, colonial Spanish architecture, shopping, and outstanding restaurants.  The exquisite Hotel and Casino Los Delfines located in the beautiful San Isidro District of Lima will serve as the official Forum venue.