2020 President’s Message

As colleagues in the realm of special education – whether at the beginning of our careers, mid-life, approaching retirement, or well in to it…. we all have similar passions and fires burning inside of us to continue advocating for progressive change and growth in our realm. This is a career choice that often takes super powers; such as the ability to make strong connections, strength to focus on the positives, keen insight of the larger picture at hand, to name a very few. These next two years will challenge us – let’s work together to make a difference!

Let the Council for Exceptional Children help guide you and inform you with their current research-based, evidence-based, practice-informed materials at your fingertips. As members of CEC you have webcasts, podcasts, journal articles, resource links, and communication tools that are Canadian-wide and world wide, to explore and use to enhance your practice. As a member of one of the many Divisions CEC has to offer, you can dig deeper into issues that are more specific to your professional experience.

We’ve had a busy year so far!! Ontario CEC works diligently to provide a Provincial Special Education Conference each year. We listen to the feedback received, and to our partners in special education, to bring you the most current topics to help enrich and inform your practice. This year, the conference will again be held in Toronto, November 27 – 28; the theme is Well-being, Equity, and Success for All - Enhancing Learning and Life Outcomes for Students with Special Education Needs. Visit our website for more information as it is released. As well, we have a yearly awards program, celebrating adult and youth recipients from our schools, businesses, and our Special Education Partnerships throughout Ontario. Awards are presented at a luncheon closing the conference; Take a look at our Awards page on this website for more information regarding the type of awards we offer, and some past recipients. Our Ontario CEC Board of Directors is also busy responding to the various changes occurring in our provincial education system, as they relate to our special education staff and students. We are involved in dialogue with our other Canadian Units several times throughout the year. A Canadian newsletter is produced quarterly and placed for your review in the Canadian Community at www.cec.sped.org which you have access to with your membership.

We are here to support you.   Feel free to contact any of us on the Ontario CEC Board of Directors.

Enjoy the benefits of the summer ahead,

Amy Shannon, B.Sc., OCT

President, Ontario CEC