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For Immediate Release
Contact:
Anna Baker, 703-264-9468 (O), annab@cec.sped.org
Diane Shinn, 703-264-9478 (O), dianes@cec.sped.org
Hull Girl to Receive International Award
for Children with Disabilities Who Excel
ARLINGTON, Va., April 6, 2011 — Hannah Baird, 21, has overcome great obstacles to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, inspiring people across her community. Because of her achievements, Hannah will receive a 2011 Yes I Can! Award from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) later this month.
Each year, CEC honors 27 students with disabilities who have excelled. Awards are given in nine categories: academics, arts, athletics, community service, employment, extracurricular activities, independent living skills, self-advocacy, and technology. CEC is proud to honor Hannah with this award in the extracurricular activities category.
“The Yes I Can! Awards were developed to honor students with disabilities who have achieved remarkable things,” says CEC President Marilyn Friend. “Hannah exemplifies the spirit of these awards with her hard work and perseverance.”
Hannah was born with Down syndrome and functions at an intellectual level lower than that of her peers. As a young child, she was also diagnosed with type I diabetes, requiring her to learn how to check her blood sugar and give herself insulin injections several times per day. Recently, Hannah was also diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder characterized by intolerance of gluten, further limiting her food intake. But despite these challenges, she continues to be a positive and upbeat young lady.
Hannah abounds with such enthusiasm that she is a role model to her peers, teachers, and community. She participates in Girl Scouts, Special Olympics, Anchor Club, and her church youth group. But her greatest passion is cheerleading for Madison County High School, where she is a senior. Additionally, Hannah has managed her high school’s junior varsity soccer team for four years.
Hannah’s visibility in the community inspires those around her and helps break down common stereotypes of people with disabilities.
“Hannah does not stand out in a crowd because of her disabilities; instead, she stands out because of her abilities: kindness, courage, determination, empathy, and willingness to help others,” says Allen McCannon, Madison County Schools Interim Superintendent.
Hannah resides in Hull, Ga. She will be honored at the Yes I Can! Award Ceremony on April 27 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., as part of the CEC 2011 Convention & Expo.
CEC is an international community of educators who are the voice and vision of special and gifted education. CEC’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with exceptionalities and their families through professional excellence and advocacy.
For more information about CEC’s annual convention, please visit www.cec.sped.org/convention. For more information about the Yes I Can! Awards, please visit www.cec.sped.org/yesican.
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