The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities. The Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) is a student-based extension of this organization seen on many college campuses including Texas A&M University-Commerce.
According to http://disabilityhistoryinamerica.wetpaint.com/ there are 51.2 million people in America with a disability, which is about 18 percent of the total population. Of the general population, four million children have a disability. The Student Council for Exceptional Children hopes to bring awareness to this fact on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus.
The SCEC first registered and established itself Jan. 10, 1974, on the A&M-Commerce campus, but after being inactive for three years, the organization was reactivated this fall. Dr. Harvetta Robertson, professor of psychology and special education is the faculty adviser for the SCEC.
“I joined CEC when I first arrived to A&M-Commerce,” Robertson said. “I just thought it was good for the students to become a part of such a well known and respected international organization that focuses on individuals with exceptions.”
Robertson has been an instructor here for 14 years, and the faculty adviser for the SCEC for 12 years. The organization became defunct from 2006 to 2009 when its leaders graduated from A&M-Commerce. During one of her special education classes, Robertson inspired a student to pick up the responsibility of reactivating the organization.
Shaunise Pelts, a sophomore special education major, is now the president of the SCEC.
“I became involved and interested with this organization last fall when Dr. Robertson mentioned it in her course,” Pelts said. “She explained that Student Council for Exceptional Children was an organization whose purpose was to expand awareness of children with exceptions; that is one of the reasons why I am a Special Education major.”
Since its reactivation, the SCEC has instated a new executive board, consisting of Vice President Nikkial Mathis, Treasurer Sarah St. John and Secretary Sarah Rodriguez.
St. John is a junior special education major at A&M-Commerce.
“As a newly active chapter, we do not have a set calendar of events yet, but we are working hard to organize events for recruitment, awareness and volunteering,” St. John said. “We do have some confirmed events that are upcoming, however.”
Because it started as a national organization, the SCEC will host some national events as well as events on the A&M-Commerce campus. Some of these events are also in connection with the Children’s Museum.
Rodriguez is also a sophomore special education major.
“We are planning on helping with Celebrate the Children Fall Day Camp, a day long horse riding camp for children with disabilities,” Rodriguez said. “We will also be involved in Special Olympics and state and national conferences for the national CEC.” The organization is also planning on involvement with Student Disability Week. Leigh Ann Powell is the coordinator for student disability services and resources.
“At this point, SCEC is scheduled to assist with the various events planned for the 2nd annual Disability Awareness Week which will be held Oct. 12 -16,” Powell said. “We hope to continue a partnership with them.”
Powell has worked with this organization before.
“I was involved in this organization during my undergraduate degree and I am eager to be involved again in a different capacity,” Powell said. “I look forward to sharing some of my previous as well as current experiences in working with students with disabilities in a variety of settings.”
Anyone can be involved in SCEC; the organization has a table in the Sam Rayburn Memorial Student Center Monday through Fridays. Fliers and posters will be on bulletin boards all around campus as well to notify students who want to get involved.
If students have any additional questions, concerns, or comments they can contact Shaunise Pelts via email at spelts@leo.tamu-commerce.edu.