CEC is proud to recognize children and youth with exceptionalities who have demonstrated determination and achievement in multiple ways. Presented annually at the CEC Convention & Expo, the Yes I Can Awards honor 12 outstanding students with exceptionalities in six categories: Academics, Arts, School & Community Activities, Self-Advocacy, Technology, and Transition.

Award Categories:

•  The Yes I Can Academic Award recognizes students and youth with exceptionalities who have demonstrated achievement far beyond expectations in areas such as math, science, reading, social studies, language arts, foreign languages, or overall academic performance, including exceptional results on standardized tests. This achievement can be demonstrated through competitions, special projects, or performances.
   
•  The Yes I Can Arts Award honors students and youth with exceptionalities who have shown exceptional achievement in the arts, such as music, theater, dance, visual arts, graphic arts, sculpture, written expression, etc. This award may also recognize how the arts have contributed to the student’s social and emotional development or well-being.
   
•  The Yes I Can Technology Award acknowledges students and youth with exceptionalities who have demonstrated exceptional achievement through the effective use of technology, including assistive technology, to advance their academic and non-academic skills. This award also recognizes the positive impact of technology on the student’s social and emotional development or well-being.
   
•  The Yes I Can Transition Award celebrates post-secondary students and youth with exceptionalities who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and abilities that have led to successful outcomes in work, vocational training, or independent living.
   
•  The Yes I Can School and Community Award honors students and youth with exceptionalities who have demonstrated outstanding achievement or leadership in organized activities at the school or community level. This includes involvement in school-based activities (such as yearbook, theater, debate, tutoring, peer mentoring, social clubs, or service) or community-based activities (such as volunteer work, Boy/Girl Scouts, church/temple participation, service projects, or environmental cleanup campaigns).
   
•  The Yes I Can Self-Advocacy Award recognizes students and youth with exceptionalities who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in taking practical responsibility for themselves. This includes effectively using their knowledge of legal rights, advancing personal goals, and advocating for their own needs—such as securing appropriate accommodations for themselves or others.
   

Additional Information

• Nominations are welcome for students displaying ALL ability levels. The committee is interested in experiencing how the student chooses to share their own abilities and successes.
• While consideration is given to achievements, attention is also given to the student’s overcoming of obstacles to reach small and mighty goals.
• Exceptional students often have exceptional support systems. Be mindful to highlight the student’s assets that facilitated their achievement to a greater degree than his/her/their support system. 
• Please be sure to review the Nomination Essay Rubric in the "How to Nominate" section for additional information on how the nominations are scored. 

Tips:

Be creative and engage the student in a way that allows them to shine. This could include a performance video, showcasing their artwork, or another form of self-expression. Try to avoid a traditional interview approach, but if helpful, here are some prompts you can use to guide the student’s reflection:
 

•  Tell us about your achievement in the nomination category.
   
•  What is your biggest takeaway from pursuing this achievement?
   
•  What do you envision for your future related to this achievement?
   
•  How have you made a difference for other children and youth with exceptionalities?
   

If there are existing videos or supporting materials that highlight the student’s achievements, feel free to use or draw from those. For example, if nominating a student in the Arts category, you could provide images of their work.

Video Submission Instructions:
All videos should be uploaded to this nomination form OR uploaded to YouTube or another video-sharing service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox) and MUST be made public or shared directly within the nomination form. This ensures CEC can distribute the video to the reviewing committee.

Resources on Sharing Videos:

•  How to share a video on YouTube
   
•  How to share a file/video on Google Drive
   
•  How to share a file/video on Dropbox

Please email Gennith Johnson, CEC's Chief Engagement Officer (gjohnson@exceptionalchildren) with any questions. Awardees will be notified in late October 2025. 

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and its Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) are devoted to promoting quality transition education services and programs for all students with disabilities. CEC and DCDT maintain the fields’ leading standards and competencies for preparing and credentialing professionals working in the transition field. CEC and DCDT have partnered together to offer the National Certification in Transition Services, currently offered to individuals who have successfully completed a DCDT approved transition specialist preparation program (scroll down to see a list of approved programs).  All certifications are valid for five (5) years. 

*CEC and DCDT are currently partnering to develop an alternate certification process for professionals who did not complete a preparation program at a DCDT Approved institution. Please sign up HERE to receive updates on this process.  

Provisional Certification (Initial)
 For applicants who have recently completed a DCDT approved transition preparation program and/or do not currently hold a certification. 

Professional Certification
   Requires a Provisional Certification and a minimum of three years of experience providing transition services. 

Application Fees:

• Provisional (Initial Application) DCDT Members: $100; Non-Members $175
• Provisional Renewal*  DCDT Members $125; Non-Members $200 
• Professional (Initial and Renewal) DCDT Members $125; Non-Members $200 

*Provisional may only be renewed twice.

 

CEC Accreditation Program Review follows these steps:

1. Submit the CEC Accreditation Eligibility Application and pay the eligibility application fee.

2. Once approved, the appropriate program review shell will be opened and your program will have three years to submit the program review report.

3. Submit the program review report and pay the program review fee.

4. For programs achieving accreditation, an annual report shell for each year will be opened to your program. This report is due. If your program achieves Provisional Accreditation, on year 2 this shell will open.

5. Submit the annual report or provisions report and pay the annual program fee through year 7 from accreditation date.

Each year, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) recognizes both an undergraduate and a graduate student who has made outstanding contributions in service to CEC and to children with exceptionalities.

Award Benefits

The 2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Member Award recipients will each:

• Receive complimentary registration and $500 travel stipend for the CEC 2026 Convention & Expo in Salt Lake City, UT.
• Be recognized and receive a commemorative plaque at the Awards Luncheon during the CEC 2026 Convention & Expo on Thursday, March 12th, 2026
• Be featured on the CEC website

Eligibility

Nominees must:

• Be a current CEC student member and have been a member for at least one full semester at the time of nomination.
• Be one of the following:
  • A full-time undergraduate or a full-time or part-time graduate student during the 2025-2026 academic year at an accredited college or university
  • A 2025 graduate of an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university

Have demonstrated outstanding contributions to children with exceptionalities and/or CEC in areas such as:

• Demonstrated leadership and inspiration as a role model for other students
• Exhibition of sincere commitment to children with exceptionalities and the field of special education
• Involvement with CEC through a student chapter, state chapter, and/or at the national level
• Service as a CEC officer or committee member/chair in a CEC chapter, Unit or Special Interest Division. 

Award Selection Considerations

• The CEC Student and Early Career Committee has the authority to give only one Outstanding CEC Undergraduate Student Award or opt not to grant the award in any given year
• The CEC Student and Early Career Committee will conduct an individual review of each application based on the criteria set forth above
• Current sitting members of the CEC Student and Early Career Committee may not be nominated for either award and may not nominate or write letters of recommendation for any Student Award nominees

How to Nominate

• The nomination requires two sections. To facilitate review, the nomination packet should be organized as follows:

The nomination should be completed and submitted using the form linked below. Nominations must be submitted by a faculty member at the student’s undergraduate institution. This may be the CEC Student Chapter faculty advisor or one of the student’s professors. Self-nominations are not accepted.

• All application materials (including letter of recommendation) must be submitted together to CEC Headquarters by December 1, 2025.
• Nominations will open on October 13, 2025

  
  

Collaborative Resubmission Presentations
 

You can save your submission and return to it later by using the "Save Draft" button at the bottom of the form. You'll need to log in to your Submittable account again to view your saved drafts.
 

Be sure to hit the "Submit" button no later than October 3, 2025! - EXTENDED to  October 13th

Submission Deadline October 16, 2025 (5:00 PM ET) 

You can review the submission guide for Poster Presentation sessions on the CEC website. 

You can save your submission and return to it later by using the "Save Draft" button at the bottom of the form. You'll need to log in to your Submittable account again to view your saved drafts. 

Be sure to hit the "Submit" button before October 16 by 5:00 PM ET! 

Submission Deadline: October 16, 2025 (5:00 PM ET)

You can review the submission guide for Teacher Slam sessions on the CEC website. Please note: Teacher Exchange presenters must be current practitioner in a PK--12 setting.

You may save your submission and return to it later by using the "Save Draft" button at the bottom of the form. To continue working, simply log back into your Submittable account to access saved drafts.
 

Be sure to click "Submit" no later than October 16 by 5:00 PM ET to complete your submission.