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The WIU delegation sent to the 2025 conference.
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WIU Students Raising Funds for 2026 Special Education Advocacy Summit

December 17, 2025

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MACOMB, IL - - Members of the Western Illinois University student chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) are preparing for their annual trip to Washington, D.C. for the Special Education Leadership Summit (SELS). The 2026 SELS will take place July 19-22. This is the third consecutive year WIU students have attended.

The annual summit is sponsored by the international level of CEC and Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE). The event typically hosts educational professionals from across the U.S. for two days of learning and professional development. In addition to working professionals, attendees include some graduate students and even fewer undergraduate students. Six WIU students attended the 2025 SELS, including senior Special Education major Cadee Goldstein.

"Being able to participate in SELS was such a wonderful experience," Goldstein said. "It was a mixture of learning new things and being able to advocate for something that is really important to me. It gave me an experience to do something out of my comfort zone to help something that is far bigger than me. Everybody who wants to be a teacher will work with students with special needs but the difference is those who are willing to do more to help those students and SELS gives you that opportunity, as both an undergrad and someone currently in the field."

In addition to attending the SELS sessions, WIU students meet with members of Congress to discuss legislation and key issues related to special education. Additionally, they share firsthand insight into the challenges facing students with exceptionalities and the support they need to thrive. In previous years, WIU students met with the offices of Representatives Eric Sorensen, Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis, Jonathan Jackson and Mary Martin as well as Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.

"I have taken WIU students to the Special Education Legislative Summit for two summers in a row, and they continue to impress me with how much they learn, their passion for legislation, and the way they share their stories with Congress members," Hollie Mason, assistant professor of Special Education, said. "Speaking to people in Congress can be very daunting, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed or anxious about the experience, but their passion has continued to outshine their nerves, and once they start talking, they are able to share their knowledge about special education, their drive to improve the conditions for students with disabilities, and their willingness to go above and beyond for students they haven't even met yet. They are true representations of who we are at WIU, and I can't wait to see what 2026 holds!"

As the CEC members prepare for their 2026 trip, they have been fundraising and have established a crowdfunding campaign to meet their goals. Donors can choose to sponsor a specific student or provide general funding support. Full details are available at fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/WIUCEC26

Offline contributions can be mailed to the WIU Foundation, 303 Sherman Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455.

For questions or additional information, please contact Mason at h-mason@wiu.edu or College of Education and Human Services Director of Development Emily Gillett at e-gillett@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Drew Donahoo (AM-Donahoo@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing