The St. Joe’s student organization based on the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is reemerging after members could not host events due to covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021.
The Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) focuses on supporting youth with disabilities and exceptionalities in association with CEC, which advocates for better, more inclusive education for these youths. The club reviews information and resources the CEC releases, and their main focus is to define what skills special education teachers must develop in order to teach.
“It supports the same beliefs as CEC, and we really just want to provide a lot of professional development opportunities and volunteer opportunities for students at the school working with individuals with exceptionalities,” said Rachel Bacon ’25, president of SCEC.
SCEC is run by Bacon, Caitlin Marquard ’25, vice president, Olivia DeLorenzo ’25, treasurer, and Claire Kenny ’25, secretary.
Bacon, DeLorenzo and Kenny are early education and special education double majors, while Marquad is an early education major. Although the club is suited for education majors, SCEC is welcome to all majors and class years.
“I did something like this in high school, and I really loved it, and I’ve been looking for something like it here,” Kenny said. “I feel really lucky to become a part of it.”
DeLorenzo said she joined the club out of a desire to work with others with similar interests and because it would give her future experience working in special education.
Bacon had a similar reason and feels passionate about helping exceptional children obtain a stronger education.
“I feel like there’s so many inequalities in the world for kids with disabilities,” Bacon said. “I really want to work towards providing better opportunities for them, and getting a group of people together that has the same passion as me for working with kids with disabilities.”
On Nov. 5, SCEC members volunteered at the Villanova Special Olympics, assisting in fall festival games for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The club also hosted a movie night on Nov. 14, screening the movie “Wonder,” to promote the club.
In spring 2023, the club hopes to hold events such as a craft painting night, a carnival and walk for CEC.
