ROCKLAND — Davene Fahy, director of Child Development Services-Mid-Coast, recently attended the sixth annual conference on children with special needs sponsored by the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division for Early Childhood in Albuquerque, N.M.

The conference theme, “Crossing Boundaries, Ensuring Quality,” brought together more than 1,500 experts from around the world Oct. 20-24 to learn from each other about ways to diminish the boundaries that separate agencies and individuals who work with young children and their families.

Those who spoke at the DEC conference included Dr. Ruth T. Gross, professor of pediatrics and research at Stanford University; Diane Bricker, professor and director of an early intervention program at the University of Oregon; and Jane DeWeerd, , Head Start Disabilities coordinator, Washington, D.C.

The Division of Early Childhood was founded in 1973 as a professional organization for those who work with young children who are at risk, handicapped or gifted, and their families. Currently there are more than 6,000 DEC members.