The mission of the CEC-RAP Center
An expanding body of research supports the importance of early intervention/education for young children with special needs and their families. The Communication and Early Childhood Research and Practice Center (CEC-RAP) is designed to promote interdisciplinary contributions to the field of early intervention/education for young children with disabilities, communication disorders, and/or multiple risks. CEC-RAP focuses on the continued expansion of research, personnel preparation, and service delivery through collaboration with interrelated projects.
The major goals of the CEC-RAP Center
To be recognized as a major national source of research and personal development in early intervention/education for children with developmental delays and disabilities, communication disorders or multiple risks, CEC-RAP will:
- Have continuity, diversity, and growth of funding sources from governmental and private sources for research and demonstration,
- Offer funded personnel preparation programs for graduate students (master’s and doctoral) that will foster recruitment of the best scholars,
- Invest in undergraduate research, leadership and service learning opportunities that promote the future of the Center,
- Foster interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration in early childhood policy and program development within an engaged community, and
- Develop and maintain model programs for research and professional development.