CEC Fun in Philly

Philadelphia: The Place That Loves You Back

Welcome to the CEC 2014 Convention & Expo blog! CEC is coming to Philadelphia April 9-12, 2014, and this is the place for attendees and exhibitors to get up-to-date information, fun facts, and recommendations on all things convention and Philly. We’ll provide you with all the pertinent details on the Convention & Expo and we’ll also have a little fun exploring Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. Be sure to join us next spring for the largest professional development event dedicated to special and gifted education.

CEC 2013 Convention & Expo Highlights

More than 4,000 special and gifted educators joined us in San Antonio to take part in more than 1,000 educational sessions and nearly 200 business and social events, a buzzing Expo Hall and invaluable networking opportunities.

Activist and actress Amy Brenneman kicked off the Convention with the Opening General Session keynote. Brenneman thanked educators for their hard work and making a difference in the lives of students with disabilities. Her first-hand experience as a parent provided educators with insight and encouragement and a little humor to continue their great work. Her final thoughts: "Sometimes the problem is just puberty!"

CEC celebrated the accomplishments of our 2013 Professional, Student and Yes I Can! Award recipients. The Yes I Can! Awards ceremony brought both laughter and tears to a packed house of attendees through the remarkable accomplishments and inspiring spirits of our award recipients.

Thank You!

Many thanks for making the CEC 2013 Convention & Expo a great success. We hope that your professional development experience exceeded your expectations!

Your feedback about the Convention & Expo is invaluable to us. We want to hear what you enjoyed about the convention as well as your suggestions for improvement. We use the information you provide to identify topics and speakers, plan the schedule, and design activities and special events for next year.

Please share your opinions with us by filling out a quick survey. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete.

Thank you for your time. We hope to see you April 9-12, 2014 in Philadelphia!

The CEC Convention & Expo Team

CEC 2013 Convention & Expo - Saturday Highlights

Become a CEC Leader
Want to get involved in CEC leadership, but not sure how to begin? Attend a special session from 8–9 a.m. in Room 213, Convention Center, to discover how you can get involved in YOUR organization! Learn about leadership opportunities, time commitments and how to get started on your leadership journey.

Public Policy in San Antonio
In 2013, CEC approved its recommendations to Congress for the reauthorization for ESRA, legislation which guides the federal education research agenda. Attend CEC’s session from 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. in Room 214A at the Convention Center to hear directly from leaders in special education research about education research, CEC’s recommendations and the impact this will have on the field!

CEC 2013 Convention & Expo – Friday Highlights

Yes I Can! Awards
Heartwarming. Uplifting. Invigorating. That’s how people describe the CEC Yes I Can! Awards ceremony. These students’ stories will remind you of why you entered special education. Show your support and help celebrate the accomplishments of 21 remarkable Yes I Can! recipients from 5:30–7 p.m., at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, Lone Star Ballroom, A/B/C.

What’s Happening in Washington?
Race to the Top, ESEA waivers, vouchers and charter schools–what isn’t happening in Washington might be a better question! A new Congress and the second term of the Obama Administration mean more dramatic policy developments coming from Washington, D.C., impacting states, schools and the education of students with exceptionalities across the country. Attend these sessions from 8–11:30 a.m., in Room 214 A in the Convention Center, to learn more about key policy issues that will impact special and gifted education. 

CEC 2013 Convention & Expo - Thursday Highlights

CEC 2013 Expo Hall Grand Opening
Don't miss the grand opening of the Expo Hall at 9 a.m. tomorrow! With nearly 200 exhibitors, you'll be sure to find the latest in special and gifted education technology for your classroom. Find all Expo Hall information, including hours, starting on page 377 of your program book.

CEC Bookstore
Inside CEC Central, just before the entrance to the Expo Hall, you will find the CEC Bookstore. As part of the CEC 2013 festivities, all attendees will get the discounted member price and free shipping on all products. Be sure to enter our daily giveaway for your chance to win a FREE CEC publication or webinar registration! Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., author Michael Wehmeyer will make an appearance for a reading and signing of his new book Good Blood, Bad Blood: Science, Nature and the Myth of the Kallikaks.

Welcome to San Antonio!

CEC 2013 Convention & Expo – Wednesday Highlights

Join us as we kick off the 2013 Convention & Expo at the Opening General Session from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, upper level Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Don’t miss CEC President Christy Chambers’ remarks and presentation of the CEC professional and student awards.

Disabilities activist and actress Amy Brenneman will present the keynote address at the Opening General Session. Best known for her award-winning work on the TV series “Judging Amy” and “Private Practice,” Brenneman is an active supporter of numerous children’s organizations, including TASH, an international organization that advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs.

She also directed and produced a documentary on the CHIME Institute, a nonprofit organization considered to be a leader in the development and implementation of the model of inclusive education that has children who develop typically, children with disabilities and children who are gifted learning side by side.

We’re ready for San Antonio, are you?

CEC staff is eagerly finishing up the final touches for the 2013 Convention & Expo. Our events are planned, signs are ordered and speakers are putting the finishing touches on their presentations. Are you ready to take in all the professional development you’re about to receive?

All our materials are packed and on their way to San Antonio as we speak. Here’s a sneak peak of staff as they loaded up for San Antonio!

It’s Almost Time!

CEC 2013 is one week away -- can you believe it?! As you pack your bags and finalize your travel plans, here are a few of our top items to remember as you head to San Antonio.

Location, Location, Location
The weather looks nice for San Antonio next week, high 70s-low 80s during the day, but bring a light jacket as the weather can dip into the 50s in the evening. Looking for places to eat? Take advantage of San Antonio’s “Show Us Your Badge” program. Get free or discounted appetizers, desserts, meals and drinks just by showing your conference badge at participating establishments! Check out the list of participating restaurants.

Spring is Here! Enjoy Outdoor Activities in San Antonio

The weather outside has been a little frightful here in Washington, D.C., but good news, we’re heading to San Antonio where the weather is warm and spring is definitely in the air. If you have a little extra time, take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy these outdoor activities in the area:

Botanical Gardens
555 Funston at North New Braunfels Ave.
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Adults: $8; Children 3–13: $5.

Join CEC’s Policy and Advocacy Team in San Antonio!

CEC’s Policy and Advocacy team will be heading to CEC 2013, ready to share policy updates and get feedback from you on issues that are important to you! With sequestration, budget cuts, a new Congress and CEC’s new Special Education Teacher Evaluation Position, CEC 2013 will be packed full of policy insights and opportunities for advocacy on behalf of children and youth with exceptionalities, their families and you!

This year’s line-up of Policy and Advocacy sessions includes: