exceptional baby sitters Parents of children with disabilities get a night off Many organizations on campus served others during the school year, bur (he Students Council for Exceptional Children went one step funher and extended service opportunities to a section of the community that might have been otherwise overlooked. SCEC dedicated itself to serving rhe Searcy special needs com– munity, including parents and their ch ildren, by offering Parents' Night Out. T hese nights provided free ch ildcare for special needs children and were offered during three different months in the fall semester; the SCEC planned more opportun ities in the spring. "Parents ofchildren with special needs put so much time and energy into theif children," senior SCEC member Alana Esposico said. "It is wonderful to have the opportunity to help [the parencs] by giving them a night off, which they don't get very often." EspositO, who had been involved in the SCEC for two years, said the organization was able to serve anywhere from three to 10 families each time. "My favorite part is all of the activities that we have planned,for the children and seeing them enjoy just having a great time playing," Esposito said. Sophomore member Adrienne Barnes said she also enjoyed rhe night of baby-sitting. "I have never specifically served special kids like that before but my love for them bloomed," Barnes said. "Their joyous smiles and delighted laughter warm [edl my hea"." The Harding chapter of SCEC was affiliated with the national non-profit association, The Counci l of Exceptional Children. According to the Web site, www.cec.sped.org, CEC was the largest professional organizacion dedicated to improving educational outcomes for exceptional individuals. "Our purpose is to help, to work for quality education and oppor– tunity, to serve, and to show God's love to [exceptional] children," Barnes said. The SCEC served the community in other ways and also hosted the Special O lympics basketball tournamenc in February. -Emily Burrows Seniors Carrie Cantrell and Shane Smith and sophomore lizz Schallert help serve pizza to children during the Scholars Advanc– ing Learning and Teaching's party Oct. 9 on the front lawn. The party was a fund-raiser to benefit the Friends program. -Chelsea Roberson education 21 1
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