A little recognition goes a long way
YES I CAN! AWARD
NOMINATIONS DUE OCTOBER 22
The Yes I Can! Awards were established to honor children and youth with disabilities who have excelled. Thousands of children and youth have been recognized since the program’s inception in 1982. Each year, Council for Exeptional Children selects approximately 27 winners for their outstanding achievements in one of nine categories:
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- Academics
- Arts
- Athletics
- Community Service
- Employment
- Extracurricular Activities
- Independent Living Skills
- Self-Advocacy
- Technology
Each 2011 Yes I Can! Award winner will:
- Be invited to attend a special awards ceremony and celebration at the CEC 2011 Convention & Expo and to participate in a special field trip in the convention’s host city, National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C.
- Receive two nights’ accommodations at the hotel in which the awards ceremony will be held
- Receive a statue designed by nationally renowned sculptor Michael Naranjo
- Receive a letter of congratulations from the CEC President
- Be featured in CEC Today, CEC’s member e-newsletter
- Be featured on CEC’s Web site
- More on how we honor our Yes I Can! winners.
Spread the word! Download the Yes I Can! flyer and share it with your friends and colleagues.
But everyone is a winner. Each individual nominated for the Yes I Can! Awards will receive a certificate of accomplishment.
Nominations packet, eligibility guidelines, and more information.
Nominate your child or student today!
Nominations must be postmarked by Oct. 22, 2010.
For more information about the CEC and the previous award winners visit their site.
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Jan La Belle Scholarship - Apply NOW!
The application for the Jan La Belle Scholarship is now available. Please visit www.fndfl.org/scholarship.htm for the application. Applications are being accepted until November 22, 2010. Winner(s) will be notified by March 30, 2011.
Awards will be made annually, up to $15,000. They will be targeted at individuals between the ages of 16-24 who have a disability and who are pursuing higher education as a first-time student. Their school of choice may be academic or vocational.
The Jan La Belle Scholarship Program was created to honor Jan La Belle, Executive Director of Family Network on Disabilities from 1995 to 2005, for her passion and dedication to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Family Network on Disabilities is grateful for her service and wish to recognize her dedication by helping ensure that each person, regardless of ability or disability, is able to pursue their own hopes and dreams and to do so as independently as possible. This program is created to allow any qualified individual with a disability to better themselves and give back to the community.
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2010 Dan Piper Award Recipient: Tracy Boden
NDSS is proud to announce that Tracy Boden, Self-Advocate and Board Member of Wisconsin Upside Down, is the winner of the 2010 Dan Piper Award. At the New York City Buddy Walk® on September 25, 2010, Tracy received her award and shared her inspirational story with the crowd. Tracy is a recent graduate of Arrowhead High School in Southeastern Wisconsin. She is an intern at two businesses, a public speaker, and a choreographer.
When the special education program at her school was not challenging enough, Tracy and her mother fought for Tracy to be included in regular studies. Last May, Tracy graduated from Arrowhead High School. Tracy is an excellent example of how a self-advocate can change negative perceptions of people with Down syndrome to positive ones.
Tracy works as an intern at Lake Country Fine Arts, where she cleans, answers calls and also makes calls for the owner. She also works at This Great Coffee Place, where she takes orders, cleans and prepares smoothies. Tracy has also spent the past two years working tirelessly as a self-advocate in Southeastern Wisconsin. She often addresses large groups and is always on hand to help.
Tracy has also had to overcome a life threatening illness. She is hospitalized due to a buildup of spinal fluid often, but it doesn't change her beautiful outlook on life. She just gets out and faces the world full throttle as soon as she is able. Last year, she put on a significant amount of weight while hospitalized. When she was well, she started dancing every day to lose weight. She succeeded and is now 40 pounds smaller. Tracy decided she wanted to share her weight lose success with others and is now working with a choreographer to produce a dance video for teens and adults with Down syndrome.
Tracy is an inspiration and proof of the abilities of people with Down syndrome.
2011 applications will be available in the Spring of 2011.
2011 applications will be available in the Spring of 2011.
2010 Joshua O'Neill and Zeshan Tabani Enrichment Fund Application (CLOSED)
The Joshua O'Neill and Zeshan Tabani Enrichment Fund offers financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who wish to continue to enrich their lives by enrolling in postsecondary programs or taking enrichment classes that will help them to enrich life through employment, independent living skills, life skills or another way. To date, over thirty students have received grants from NDSS to help cover the costs of pursuing their postsecondary education and enrichment goals. 2011 information will be posted as soon as it is available.
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