Celebrating Exceptional Accomplishments (NAPSA)—Today, children and youth with disabilities actively contribute to their schools and communities. Many perform volunteer work, excel in academics and the arts, compete on area sports teams, and hold jobs. Experts attribute the trend to appropriate educational opportunities for students with special needs, the determination and drive of these students to succeed, and a growing awareness of the manyabilities of those who have disabilities. For example, the Yes I Can Foundation for Exceptional Children designs and implements programs that help children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. Each year the group partners with the Council for Exceptional Children to present the Yes I Can Awards. The program honorschildren with disabilities who have made significant achievements. Twenty-seven international win- ners are selected for their accomplishmentsin: Academics, Thearts, Athletics, Community service, Employment, Extracurricularactivities, Independentliving skills, Technology, and Self-advocacy. Each winneris recognized individually at the ceremony. His or her name is read along with a description of accomplishments. Winners are presented with a Yes Every year an awards ceremony honors the accomplishmentsof children with disabilities. I Can statue, a letter from the President of the United States, a letter from the president of the Council for Exceptional Children and a letter from the president of the Yes I Can Foundation. To be eligible for an award, candidates must be between two and 21 years of age at the time of their nomination and each candidate must be nominated by two individuals (both nominators must select the samecategory for the candidate and send their nominations in one package). Candidates can only be nominatedfor one category. All nominees receive a certificate recognizing their accomplishments. For more information, visit www.cec.sped.org.
