THE DIVISION FOR COMMUNICATIVE DISABILITIES AND DEAFNESS

Constitution & Bylaws
(Revised, February 2002)

ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be THE DIVISION FOR COMMUNICATIVE DISABILITIES AND DEAFNESS (hereafter referred to as the "Division" or "DCDD") of the Council for Exceptional Children (hereafter referred to as the "Council" or "CEC").

ARTICLE II
Purpose
Section 1. The primary purpose of this organization shall be to promote the welfare, development, and education of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with communicative disabilities or who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Section 2. A secondary purpose shall be to promote growth in professionals and families as a means to better understand the development of communicative abilities and the prevention of communicative disorders.

ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1. The Division must attain a membership of 700 paid members who shall meet the membership qualifications established by CEC by the end of the second year of operation to receive a charter, and maintain a membership of at least 700 to continue charter status unless exempted by the Board of Directors of CEC.
Section 2. All members of the Division must hold concurrent membership in the Council for Exceptional Children.
Section 3. Membership in the Division shall consist of regular and student members.
A. Regular membership shall be open to professional personnel engaged in the education or provision of services for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with developmental communication needs or communication disorders and to other individuals interested in the purpose of the Division.
B. Student membership shall be available for preservice students and students continuing their education who are in full-time attendance during the academic year at a regionally accredited college or university.
Section 4. All members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of this Division.
Section 5. The Division membership year shall be consistent with the membership year of the Council for Exceptional Children.

ARTICLE IV
Organization
Section 1. The Division shall be affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children.
Section 2. The fiscal year and administrative term of office shall be January 1 through December 31.
Section 3. The Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purpose, the making of distributions to organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future federal tax code). No part of the net earnings of the Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness corporation/organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and make payments and distributions in furtherance of Section 501(c)(3) purposes. No substantial part of the Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness shall be carrying of propaganda, or otherwise trying to influence legislation, and the Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
Not withstanding any other provision of these articles, the Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation/organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future federal tax code) or (b) by corporation/organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(Z) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future federal tax code).