The first organization I would like to introduce is the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). The CEC is dedicated to improving the educational accomplishments of individuals with unique disabilities and talents through advocacy, standards, and professional development. They pride themselves in providing information, resources, and professional development opportunities through their membership programs.
The CEC hosts a Special Education Convention and Expo for special educators once a year, usually in April, that lasts approximately four days. Below you will find registration rates. If you are interested in attending, please visit the CEC's Convention's website.
Registration
Type |
Early
Bird Oct. 15 – Feb. 2 |
Advance
Feb. 3 – Mar. 11 |
Onsite
After Mar. 11 |
Group Rates
(per person, groups of 5 or more) |
| Member |
$395
|
$450
|
$495
|
$405
|
| Nonmember |
$515
|
$565
|
$615
|
$508
|
| Student Member |
$270
|
$320
|
$370
|
$290
|
Not only does the CEC offer professional development opportunities at the convention, they provide ongoing education to CEC members through their website. The CEC offers three different membership types:
- Premier: The Premier Membership costs $205 and includes access to research articles in addition to the CEC's two journals,TEACHING Exceptional Children and Exceptional Children, unlimited current newsletters, an open discourse community, discounts to further your education, the CEC's Career Center, two free webinars, a free e-book, and opportunities to connect with fellow professionals.
- Full: The Full Membership costs $115 and includes online access to the CEC's two journals, TEACHING Exceptional Children and Exceptional Children, three current newsletters (Special Education Today, Policy Insider, and Practice), opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, savings to further your education, one free webinar, and the CEC's Career Center.
- Basic: The Basic Membership costs $65 and includes access to the CEC's journal, TEACHING Exceptional Children, two newsletters (Special Education Today and Policy Insider), opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, member savings to further your education, and the CEC's Career Center.
For more information about the CEC, please check out their social media pages listed below.
The second organization I would like to discuss is the Michigan Association on Higher Education and Disability (MI-AHEAD). MI-AHEAD's purpose is to provide educators with professional development opportunities so they can provide the best services to students with special needs. Additionally, MI-AHEAD strives to bring equity and more opportunities for students with disabilities in higher education. I have chosen to highlight this organization in my blog because I, a future educator, have been taught next to nothing about preparing individuals with disabilities for higher education. Overall, I hope I will be able to fill in the gaps my formal education has left in this area of teaching students with special needs.
Members of MI-AHEAD get exclusive access to many professional development opportunities offered by the organization. Every month members meet to discuss best teaching practices, participate in round-table discussions, and network with fellow professionals. There are no periodicals or magazines included with the membership.The cost to join is $30 a year. Additionally, MI-AHEAD hosts a Fall conference every year. It costs $40 for members and $55 for non-members to attend. Each conference focuses around the concept of making classrooms more accessible to all students. For example, 2015's conference centered around assistive technology in the classroom.
For more information about MI-AHEAD, please check out their social media pages listed below.
Interesting choice. I haven't heard about MI-AHEAD before.
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