As the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) celebrates its 100th Anniversary, we could not think of a better way to honor the history and integrity of the organization's achievements than recording our entire seventh season at the 2022 Conference. This season we will honor, celebrate, and reflect on CEC's past 100 years while pulling in some fantastic colleagues to feature as guests. This is one season you do not want to miss! Tune in to find out more about what Drs. Rebecca Hines and Lisa Dieker have in store for this season.
Don'tforget we love to hear from our listeners! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We look forward to receiving your questions on our Google Phone (407) 900- 9305, Facebook (Practical Access), Twitter (@AccessPractical), or Instagram (@Practical_Access).
As the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) celebrates its 100th Anniversary, we could not think of a better way to honor the history and integrity of the organization's achievements than recording our entire seventh season at the 2022 Conference. This season we will honor, celebrate, and reflect on CEC's past 100 years while pulling in some fantastic colleagues to feature as guests. This is one season you do not want to miss! Tune in to find out more about what Drs. Rebecca Hines and Lisa Dieker have in store for this season.
Don'tforget we love to hear from our listeners! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We look forward to receiving your questions on our Google Phone (407) 900- 9305, Facebook (Practical Access), Twitter (@AccessPractical), or Instagram (@Practical_Access).
Lisa Dieker 0:06
Welcome to practical access. I'm Lisa Dieker.
Rebecca Hines 0:08
And I'm Rebecca Heinz. And today, Lisa, we're just gonna intro this season, what do we have?
Lisa Dieker 0:14
You know, we're really lucky. I know, it's been a tough year. And things are a little bit unique in the world. But we are privileged enough to have in Orlando, which is where we live, by the way, in case you were wondering, not really in Orlando, either when it was put near the Council for Exceptional Children conference this year. And so we're hoping to get some of the legacies in our field to come to Orlando to talk so well, she says, hoping we already have some in the bag, you guys. So the exciting thing about this season is if you're a parent, if you're a student, if you're a teacher, we'll be talking to some of the names that you will have heard of or read about.
Rebecca Hines 0:56
And it's interesting, because as always, our goal is to bring in something really practical. So hearing people who normally talk on a maybe a big picture scale, it's nice to hear some of their personal anecdotes and their personal observations.
Lisa Dieker 1:12
Yeah, and you know, I, for those you don't know, 100 years doesn't seem super old when you think about the world. But it is exciting this year, it is the 100th anniversary, I happen to I don't know, in a weak moment decided to do a little more service in the field, and I'm co chairing the conference. And it's exciting because for those who don't know, and I'm gonna be honest with you, Becky, I didn't know. I knew the story of Elizabeth Pharaoh, but I don't think I knew it to the level that I'm kind of learning about as I reached into, you know, she really was that one person who said, Wait, wait, this gets away. And not only did she make a one room schoolhouse, but she really started saying why don't I make an organization and one woman 12 people later and here we are 100 years later. And you and I both know, CEC is kind of the the staple for our field. And we're a go to place for us and many of the people that we know and love.
Rebecca Hines 2:06
Yeah, and at the risk of sounding like a promo for the Council for Exceptional Children. It is true. It's the largest organization by far in our field and they have other organizations within CEC that are really helpful whether you work primarily with students with emotional behavioral disorders, but there's a there's a CDC organization for that. And some of our some of our guests this season, talk about how to really get involved. But most importantly, to me, they talk about really, how we can all work together to serve the field.
Lisa Dieker 2:42
Yeah, and I will tell you that I think the theme for me that I take away from the season is is that influence of one person, so we hope every listener, no matter how big or how wide, or how small your voice might be, you know, if you're in one neighborhood, or in one school, or in one district or in a role at the state level, we hope as you listen, you'll take some advice because these folks are really people who literally as a person of one made a big difference. And I think that's what CEC is celebrating with Elizabeth Farrell, one lady didn't really have resources, but said, You know what, this doesn't seem right. And I think it's an error, as we've always said of social justice, and change. And I think that's what this season is about what can that one person do to make it? Well, speaking of which, Lisa, since this is the question that Lisa is going to be asking people all season what's, what's something from your career? It's been a long one.
Rebecca Hines 3:37
From your career, what would you say is what's the cornerstone? What are you most proud of? Well get ready to answer that back to.
Lisa Dieker 3:45
Yeah, it goes around. I you know, I think for me, it's the personal story that I've been able to tell grounded in practice. And, you know, I love research. You know, I'm a little bit of a nerd in that realm, but I only love research that makes a difference for children and families. And I think my personal story has given me the privilege to have a louder voice than I might have had if I didn't have that personal story. And having that story combined with the privilege of a PhD and and hanging around people like you, Trey Vasquez, Matt Marino, all of my colleagues that I you know, waiting around, because I value so much taking what they know and saying, but what does that mean for my son, my siblings, my family, or more importantly, all the beautiful teachers and schools I've had the privilege to work with. So I think it's the ability to have the voice to turn research to practice with passion. And how about you I cannot wait because I can 50
Rebecca Hines 4:45
Well, you know, a good friend of mine, Eileen Wilkins, you know, who is the head of a major nonprofit? Here UCP of Central Florida. Eileen said to me once inCollaboration. She's like, Becky, we have, you know, 100 ideas, and we only, we only really get around to one or two of them. I'm like, I mean, that's that's the point, man, you have to have so many big ideas to bring something to fruition. And it's something that, Lisa, that you do really well. But I think I would have to say, I think I'm most proud of helping to build a truly inclusive school that welcomes kids of all abilities. And having had the opportunity to work here in Orlando, specifically, to build something concrete that you can see and you can walk in and you can feel kids being included in a really meaningful way. That's been probably my premise. My premise. Yeah, I can't think of a school I'd rather visit on this planet. And no offense to all the other school districts in America.
Lisa Dieker 5:47
There's so many but if you want to see as good as it gets in understanding all means all, I think, yes, Becky Heinz, you should pat yourself on the back for that. And I can think of a couple 100 others she should mention.
Rebecca Hines 6:02
Yeah, you didn't do it by yourself. But again, it takes a seat and it takes advocacy. And you do that very well. So this this season, celebrate yourselves. Yeah, take a minute right now to think about all the things you've contributed, whether you're just starting out, and it's just having a big heart for the profession, or whether you're a parent, and your contribution really is in the home in supporting your own child with special needs. Take a minute and celebrate yourselves and we hope you have a great time this season. Yeah, so thank you again, Elizabeth Farrell, for reminding us of the story of one. If you have questions. You can tweet us at practical X or xs practical, or you can send us a message on our Facebook page practical access.