Bringing a Special Education Student’s Perspective to CEC 2023

Being the youngest person in any room is intimidating, especially if you’re a young presenter at a Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) conference. But, I did it and I’m so glad I leapt into the deep end.

My name is Derek Schmitz and I am a Youth Advisory Member for US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth who presented on youth engagement in transition planning at CEC’s 2023 Convention & Expo in Louisville, KY. Before I proceed, I must disclose that the thoughts and reflections in this piece are my own and have not been reviewed by anyone in government, nor do my words reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor or imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Now that the boring disclaimer is out of the way, let’s talk CEC.

I’d honestly never heard of CEC until my colleague asked “do you want me to throw your name down on a proposal?” I spent the next two months meeting with my colleagues, working on our presentation, researching CEC, and doing other preparatory work to get ready. This was the biggest presentation I’ve ever delivered, by far, so I wanted to make sure I was prepared. My bosses asked if I wanted to stay for the whole conference, and I said “sure,” having no idea what to expect for the duration of the conference.

I walked into the conference with fresh eyes. As a youth, I could definitely tell I was not the intended audience of most presenters and exhibitors. But, they still found a way to make me included. I walked into a space and was greeted with “Wow, you’re young, but we’re so glad you’re here.” I joked with the exhibitors who were marketing to educators that I would be “the youngest person they ever market to.” I attended presentations and made connections with the presenters, talked about my work, and offered my perspective, which they all seemed to appreciate. 

The thing is, in these special education spaces, students aren’t expected to engage in their transition planning, nor are their voices elevated properly. I believe that needs to change, and that’s why I attended the whole conference. I wanted to be the “young one” in the room, to show seasoned and first-year educators alike that students care about their outcomes and that the services they receive are important to them. Regardless of what the districts pay special education teachers (which we all know is not enough), I wanted to create a sense of appreciation and gratitude for all educators I encountered. I hope I was successful in that.

I am proud to have been one of the youngest presenters in CEC history. I am proud to be a new CEC Division on Career Development and Transition member. I am proud of how fervently I have fought to have my voice heard and elevated. I am proud of the hour I spent in a big, overflowing room educating educators on how youth should be engaged in transition planning to drastically improve their outcomes in the world after K-12 ends and postsecondary or workforce training begins. I am proud to be an advocate for change, for the betterment of all disabled youth. Because I know I can make a difference, and I plan to do just that as I continue on my journey.