Student Organizations
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice. (Quoted from www.cec.sped.org/ab/ )
The Department of Special Education sponsors a student CEC group which provides opportunities for any students on campus who are interested in those with special needs to learn more about those with disabilities and to engage in activities to support them. The WIU CEC group sponsors speakers on topics of interest for our students, holds bowling/pizza parties for elementary and high school level classes, takes field trips to facilities that serve those with disabilities, raises money to help local teachers take their students on field trips, participates in Special Olympics events with the Macomb Park District, and sends WIU students to Illinois CEC Conferences in the fall and spring. Our student members are always looking for new ideas and ways we can be of service to the special needs community.