Special education is a team effort. Professionals working beyond the traditional classroom setting collaborate closely with teachers and families to remove barriers to learning and promote meaningful inclusion.  https://exceptionalchildren.org/blog/careers-support-learning-classroom-and-beyond

CEC's Professional Awards honor special education professionals whose work elevates practice, strengthens research and policy, and meaningfully improves instruction and supports for individuals with disabilities. Nominate a colleague now: https://ow.ly/X0ub50ZiETr

“Throughout my life, I have been taught that having integrity and being inclusive is very important, so I choose to be a kindhearted leader that stands out, instead of just trying to fit in.” Nominations are open: https://exceptionalchildren.org/awards/yes-i-can-awards-cec-national

Have you checked out CEC's Partner of the Month: the University of North Texas' Special Education Program? With online and in-person options in a range of fields, get your graduate degree, certificate, or PhD at UNT. Learn more: https://coe.unt.edu/special-education.html

Join us on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 5 PM ET for the last webinar in the CEC and DEAL PD Series on Progress Monitoring for Writing. Find out more and register now: https://learn.exceptionalchildren.org/products/cecdeal-pd-series-progress-monitoring-for-math-reading-writing

Former federal officials, including CEC's Laurie VanderPloeg, penned a letter to Congress opposing plans to transfer special education oversight to HHS. Read more: https://www.k12dive.com/news/former-federal-officials-oppose-special-education-interagency-agreement/825228/

Learn more about Teacher's College, where CEC was first organized during a summer session in 1922: https://ow.ly/xxW850ZntMh Read more about CEC's history: https://ow.ly/F4jB50ZntMk

Join us tomorrow for a webinar on Behavior Intervention Plans that will explore what's actually required by law, where districts commonly fall short, and more. Find out more and register now: https://learn.exceptionalchildren.org/p/BIPsInPractice

"Teachers are being asked to manage increasingly complex student needs while balancing academic expectations, limited resources and growing classroom demands." Read more of the President of the Tennessee Unit of CEC's opinion piece: https://ow.ly/4Qab50ZjNVp

For much of U.S. history, children with disabilities were denied access to public education. Many were institutionalized, segregated, or excluded from school entirely. IDEA changed that. Read our blog: https://exceptionalchildren.org/blog/idea-50-life-individuals-disabilities-education-act

"The number of students with disabilities spending some of their school day in general education classrooms steadily increased over the past decade..." Read more: https://www.k12dive.com/news/more-students-with-disabilities-learning-in-general-education-classrooms-GAO/824369/

"Future educators will be paid and receive hands-on classroom experience working under an experienced teacher while completing the necessary classroom coursework..." Read to find out more about the program: https://www.wpr.org/news/national-teacher-apprenticeship-program-coming-wisconsin

In a recent episode of Rewriting the Narrative, host Ben Tillotson spoke with Rebecca Saunders, CEC’s Teacher of the Year, about her 23-year career as an intervention specialist. https://exceptionalchildren.org/blog/driven-innovate-through-community-teacher-years-reflections

CEC is seeking two Program Co-Chairs for the 2028 & 2029 CEC Convention & Expo to lead the Convention Program Advisory Committee. This is your chance to play a pivotal role in shaping CEC’s annual convention. Apply today: https://cecconvention.org/2028-2029-convention-program-co-chairs-application

"...why it is so hard for people with disabilities to access it[?]" Read more about how music can help those with disabilities and the barriers to access: https://www.the74million.org/article/harnessing-the-power-of-music-for-students-with-disabilities/

Looking for professional development that's focused, practical, and built for today's educators? At UnifiED, you'll choose one of four dedicated learning strands and spend the conference diving deep into the topics that matter most to your work. https://exceptionalchildren.org/events/unified-2026

"For many people, braille is something they encounter only on elevator buttons or public signs. Others assume advances in audiobooks and screen readers have largely replaced the need for braille." Find out more: https://ow.ly/xoNu50Zijob

Join CEC and Let's Go Learn to learn all about CEC's Teacher Empowerment Toolkit. TET is a powerful new member benefit designed to help educators save time, reduce stress, strengthen compliance, and focus on what matters most: supporting students. https://info.letsgolearn.com/discover-cec-tet

How well do you know AI? CEC and CIDDL's Quick Takes series on Artificial Intelligence will equip you with the information and tools you need to support every learner’s success. Register today: https://learn.exceptionalchildren.org/quick-takes-artificial-intelligence

On the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, we take a moment to reflect on the ideals that founded the United States: liberty, freedom, and justice for all. We hope you stay safe, hydrated, and cool as you celebrate this year!

Know an outstanding special education professional who deserves the spotlight? Submit your nomination for one of CEC's Professional Awards by September 30 and help us honor excellence in the field at CEC's 2027 Convention! Learn more and submit your nominations now: https://ow.ly/OLYG50Ziewu

In a recent episode of Rewriting the Narrative, Dr. Idakwo-Ada, member support officer for CEC’s DISES, shared insights drawn from nearly two decades of work across the world. https://exceptionalchildren.org/blog/access-equity-advancing-inclusive-education-across-global-contexts

In the latest episode of CEC's podcast, Ben Tillotson is joined by Megan-Brette Hamilton, PhD, CCC-SLP, to explore the distinction between language differences and communication disorders. https://exceptionalchildren.podbean.com/e/beyond-deficits-why-dialect-awareness-matters-in-special-education/

"Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH) is expanding its efforts to improve access to assistive technology across the state..." Read more to find out all that the program encompasses: https://www.unh.edu/news/building-accessibility-through-collaboration

Check out our blog post on the history of Disability Pride Month and ways to observe: https://ow.ly/91Q550ZhJtF Learn more about the Disability Rights Movement with PBS: https://ow.ly/Hk0u50ZhJtG

Meet CEC's Partner of the Month: the University of North Texas's Special Education program! UNT's program, led by nationally recognized faculty, emphasizes evidence-based instructional practices, behavioral management, and collaborative strategies. https://coe.unt.edu/special-education.html

Don't miss out on your chance to join hundreds of passionate advocates for the Special Education Legislative Summit! Learn about the issues impacting the field, connect with your elected representatives, and champion the future of special education. https://specialeducationlegislativesummit.org/

Find out more about DeafBlind Awareness Week from the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC): https://www.helenkeller.org/dbaw2026/ Explore CEC's resources: https://exceptionalchildren.org/taxonomy/term/74

Funding is expiring soon—don't miss the opportunity to set up your staff for success! CEC can create a custom package to help your school, district, or state meet its goals and promote student success. https://exceptionalchildren.org/about-us/partner-opportunities/make-every-dollar-count-june-30

"The study makes recommendations for other districts wanting to go this route..." Read more to find out what the recommendations are: https://www.k12dive.com/news/is-sustained-bilingual-education-best-for-english-learner-achievement/823659/