The Council for Exceptional Children commends United States Sen. Christopher Dodd (Connecticut) for his outstanding commitment to America’s 10 million children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. With Senator Dodd’s retirement comes the loss of a true champion, a passionate leader, and a vocal advocate in the halls of Congress.
Throughout his 30-year career, Sen. Dodd has worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities by consistently calling for the full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a 35-year old promise made to America’s children and youth with disabilities, their families and the professionals who work on their behalf, which has yet to be realized.
Senator Dodd’s efforts to level the playing field for high-ability students from disadvantaged backgrounds has resulted in the development of 20 years of research and discovery of best practices that now impact more than 600,000 students and thousands of educators nationwide. Sen. Dodd’s longstanding commitment to the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, the
only federal program dedicated to addressing the needs of high-ability learners, remains unparalleled.
Throughout his career, Sen. Dodd has been a guiding force in the educational advancement for individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. On behalf of CEC’s 40,000 members, it has been an honor working with Senator Dodd and his committed staff, and CEC wishes him well in his future endeavors.
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