Every year, Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) publishes the Federal Outlook for Exceptional Children, providing an overview of federally-funded programs – IDEA and Javits grants – that impact the lives of children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. The Outlook is distributed to members of Congress, federal agencies, and other leaders in the education community with the hope that a better understanding of such programs will lead to increased federal funding for special/gifted education programs.

Make your voice heard. Throughout the Outlook are personal stories and photos of children and youth participating in special education, early intervention, and gifted education programs across the country. These success stories help put a human touch on the graphs and charts that typically illustrate the need for increased funding for programs such as IDEA and the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act.

Success stories may be submitted by anyone in contact with a student with disabilities and/or gifts and talents – including, parents, teachers, related service providers, and school administrators (with parent’s permission).

Click here to read more and share your story