2019 Yes I Can! Awards Nomination Application

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The Michigan Council for Exceptional Children, along with the International Council for Exceptional Children, is a community of professionals who are the voice and vision of special and gifted education. Our missions are to improve, through excellence and advocacy, the education and quality of life for children and youth with exceptionalities and to enhance the engagement of their families.

The Yes I Can! Awards honor students with disabilities who excel. These awards celebrate the achievements of children and youth with disabilities; encourage these individuals to seek their highest potential; and increase public awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of those with disabilities. Each candidate must be nominated by one individual (e.g., teacher, principal, related service provider, friend, parent). The nominator does not need to be a CEC member.

The Yes I Can! Awards Review Committee will select one winner in each of the following categories:
• Academics
• Arts
• Athletics
• School and Community Activities
• Self-Advocacy
• Technology
• Transition

AWARD BENEFITS
Each Yes I Can! Award winner will:
• be invited to attend a special awards ceremony and celebration at the MCEC Conference;
• receive one-night accommodations at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, where the awards ceremony will be held;
• receive an award plaque with inscription;
• have the nomination forwarded to National CEC for the National Yes I Can! Awards (please note maximum age for national awards is 21); and
• be featured on CEC’s Website: www.michigancec.org.
Each individual nominated for a Yes I Can! Award will receive a Certificate of Accomplishment. Certificates are sent to the nominator, not the nominee. Braille and large-print certificates are available (see Section B of the nomination form).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must be 2–26 years of age when they are nominated. The nominee must have an identified disability. Each candidate may be nominated in only one category.

AWARD SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS
The Selection Committee looks at not only the student’s achievements but also the severity of the student’s disability in relation to his or her achievements. In the event of a tie, additional weight will be given to the nominee from a CEC member or unit.

RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR NOMINATION
Each candidate may be nominated in one category only. All materials submitted become the property of CEC and will not be returned. All nomination materials (including supporting documentation) must be submitted together.

HOW TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE NOMINATION PACKET
The nomination packet is divided into six sections. To facilitate review, the nomination packet should be organized as follows:
Section A. Nominee Category Sheet
Section B. Nominee Information
Section C. Nominator Information
Section D. Background Information
Section E. Supporting Documentation (including two letters of recommendation)
Section F. Additional Documentation (optional but encouraged)
Section G. Photograph(s) of Nominee

Complete the entire nomination form, providing specific information about the nominee. The more complete and detailed the information, the better. Make sure you provide information that addresses the nominee’s achievements in the category in which he or she is nominated.

Double-check that the nominee’s name is spelled correctly on all materials, as it will be printed on his or her Certificate of Accomplishment.

Information must be electronically submitted by December 21, 2018 at midnight/12:00am EST.

Section A: Nominee Category Sheet

Nominee's Name: *

Please check only ONE category of achievement (Please ensure that all information provided in the application is current as of December 2017. CEC uses information on the nomination form for all future correspondence and publicity): *

ACADEMICS: achievement in a particular subject area such as math, science, reading, social studies, language arts, or foreign language; overall academic achievement; or a high level of achievement on standardized tests.

ARTS: achievement in a particular medium such as music, art, drama, dance, or written expression.

ATHLETICS: achievement in a particular athletic activity through a setting such as intramurals, Special Olympics, physical education classes, or after-school athletic activities.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: achievement in organized activities at the school or community level through groups such as school-based clubs/activities (yearbook, theater, debate, tutoring, peer mentoring, social, service) or community-based clubs/activities (volunteer work, Boy/Girl Scouts, places of worship, service, cleanup campaigns).

SELF-ADVOCACY: achievement in assuming practical responsibility for oneself, using knowledge of legal rights, advancing one’s goals, or effectively obtaining appropriate accommodations for oneself or others.

TECHNOLOGY: significant achievement through the use of assistive and adaptive technology devices and equipment (computerized or otherwise).

TRANSITION: achievement in mastering activities that lead to successful experiences in the areas of: a) work, b) vocational training, or c) independent living.

If transition was chosen, please indicate one of the following areas:

Work

Vocational Training

Independent Living

Clear selection

Section B: Nominee Information

The Certificate of Accomplishment will be sent to the nominator, not the nominee.

Full Name of Nominee (please check spelling): *

Nominee's Address: *

Nominee's City/State/Zip: *

Nominee's Sex: *

Male

Female

Nominee's Age: *

Nominee's Birthdate: *

Nominee's Disability: *

Nominee's Parent/Guardian Name(s): *

Nominee's Parent/Guardian's Telephone: *

Nominee's Parent/Guardian's Email: *

Nominee's School and Grade Level: *

Nominee's School District: *

Nominee's School Phone Number: *

Nominee's School Fax Number: *

Principal's Name: *

Principal's Email: *

Special Education Director's Name *

Special Education Director's Email *

Please indicate whether a Braille or large-print certificate is needed: *

Yes, a Braille certificate is needed

Yes, a large-print certificate is needed

No, a Braille or large-print certificate isn't needed

Section C: Nominator Information

Nominator's Name: *

Nominator's Address: *

Nominator's City/State/Zip: *

Nominator's Telephone: *

Nominator's Fax Number:

Nominator's Email: *

How do you know the nominee? *

Are you a CEC member? *

Yes

If you are CEC member, what is your membership number?

If this nomination is being made by a CEC State/Provincial Unit or Division, please indicate the state, province, or division name:

How did you hear about the Yes I Can! Awards? *

Section D: Background Information

Name of Nominee: *

Describe in 150 words or less, the challenges this student encountered prior to his or her current accomplishments (e.g., difficulty with reading).: *

Describe in 150 words or less, the current type of special education services provided to the nominee (e.g., general education class with special education consultation, inclusion, special education classes). *

Describe in 150 words or less, the student’s accomplishments in the category in which he or she is nominated. (Consider creativity, innovation, and significance of the student’s accomplishments to the individual and others.) *

Describe the setting in which the accomplishments occurred (i.e., home, school, community, work). *

Describe in 150 words or less the impact of the student’s accomplishments on him or herself and others. *

Systems Supports: In 100 words or less, describe how your community or school system supported this student. *

For publicity purposes, please include the following information. The nominee’s local newspaper: *

Nominee’s local newspaper address: *

Nominee’s local newspaper city/state/zip: *

Nominee’s local newspaper telephone: *

Nominee’s local newspaper fax: *

Nominee’s local newspaper email: *

Section E: Supporting Documentation - Nomination packet must include two letters of recommendation which should be emailed to Wendy Minor at: wminor@vbisd.org upon submission of this form. The letters should state why the student deserves the award, particularly in the area in which the student is nominated, and any obstacles the student has overcome.

Letters of Recommendation *

One letter must come from a professional educator (e.g., teacher, principal, school administrator, counselor, consultant, educational assistant).

The second letter may come from an educator or other individual who knows the student well (e.g., teacher, principal, counselor, parent, student).

Required

Suggested Supporting Documentation for Each Category

• Academics—school transcripts, report cards, accelerated programs, academic awards, work samples, statement of change in student’s academic achievement.
• Arts—copies of artwork, event programs, CDs or DVDs of music, dance performances, drama performances, etc.
• Athletics—awards, teams participated in, statements from athletic directors or P.E. teachers.
• School and Community Activities—record of activities, statements from activity leaders, certificates, awards.
• Self-Advocacy—statement of how the student educates others (teachers, students, community) on their needs or the needs of others with disabilities; examples of the accommodations the student has requested to enhance learning and accessibility.
• Technology—record of technology used, how it has impacted the student or others, skills the student has learned through technology use.
• Transition—employment history, performance reviews, certificates, awards, statement of achievement from employers/co-workers/teachers/coaches/transition officers, record of progress made in acquiring work, vocational, or independent living skills.

Section F: Additional Documentation (Optional)

Following are suggestions for additional documentation that may be provided:
• Candidate’s personal comments on achievement (highly recommended)
• Newspaper articles
• Documentation of other awards or recognition for achievement
• Other relevant information about the nominee

Please ensure that ALL information provided in the application is current as of December 2016. CEC uses information on the nomination form for all future correspondence and publicity. Please email documentation to Wendy Minor at: wminor@vbisd.org

Section G: Photograph *

Please include one high-resolution (at least 200kb) color headshot portrait of the nominee in JPG, TIFF, or EPS format. The photo must be print-quality and at least 2” x 3” in size. The photo should be emailed to Wendy Minor at: wminor@vbisd.org

Required

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