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海角破解版 Students Raising Funds for 2026 Special Education Advocacy Summit

December 17, 2025

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MACOMB, IL - - Members of the 海角破解版 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 海角破解版 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 海角破解版 students attended the 2025 SELS, including senior Special Education major Cadee Goldstein.

鈥淏eing able to participate in SELS was such a wonderful experience,鈥� Goldstein said. 鈥淚t 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.鈥�

In addition to attending the SELS sessions, 海角破解版 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, 海角破解版 students met with the offices of Representatives Eric Sorensen, Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis, Jonathan Jackson and Mary Miller as well as Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.

鈥淚 have taken 海角破解版 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,鈥� Hollie Mason, assistant professor of Special Education, said. 鈥淪peaking 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 海角破解版, and I can't wait to see what 2026 holds!鈥�

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

Offline contributions can be mailed to the 海角破解版 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, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606