The Nebraska Council for Exceptional Children will hold its annual conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Nebraska East Union.

The conference is open to anyone supporting students with special needs, including special education and general education teachers, para-educators, administrators, researchers, students and parents.

“This conference is important for connecting special educators to research, effective practices and special education issues in Nebraska,” said Michael Hebert, Nebraska CEC president and associate professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders.

“We hope participants will leave with a sense of community and new ideas that can impact students in their schools.”

The conference will open with a keynote panel featuring Helane Folske-Starlin, assistant professor at Peru State College; Jenny Fundus, director of special education for Lincoln Public Schools; and Matt McNiff, director of special education and Educational Service Unit 5.

Following the opening keynote, participants will be able to attend three of 10 presentations offered during three hour-long timeslots. The conference will conclude with an hour-long networking event and poster session.

Overall, 14 faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students from SECD are scheduled to lead a presentation or poster session during the conference.

Cost of attending the conference is $50 for CEC members, $85 for non-members and $5 for students. Registration is available online and will also be accepted the day of the conference.

To learn more about the Nebraska Council for Exceptional Children, including a complete schedule and registration links for the NE-CEC conference, click here.