Madison County’s Hannah Baird will be honored with a 2011 Yes I Can! Award from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) later this month.
The 21-year-old Madison County resident was born with Down Syndrome and has “overcome great obstacles to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, inspiring people across her community,” CEC officials said.
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. Baird earned distinction in the “extracurricular activities” category.
“The Yes I Can! Awards were developed to honor students with disabilities who have achieved remarkable things,” said CEC president Marilyn Friend. “Hannah exemplifies the spirit of these awards with her hard work and perseverance.”
Baird 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, Baird 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,” officials said. “Hannah abounds with such enthusiasm that she is a role model to her peers, teachers and community.”
Baird 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, Baird has managed her high school’s junior varsity soccer team for four years.
Officials said Baird’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,” said Allen McCannon, Madison County Schools interim superintendent.
Baird resides in Hull. She will be honored at the Yes I Can! Award Ceremony April 27 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., as part of the CEC 2011 Convention & Expo.
Joan Baird, the student services director for Madison County Schools, and Hannah’s mother, said her daughter’s accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the community.
“Her award is certainly a celebration of Hannah’s accomplishments but it is also a celebration of the Madison County community,” said Baird. “If it wasn’t for the rec dept, Girl Scout leaders, rec and school coaches, Challenger League, Special Olympics, her church (Covenant Presbyterian), The Journal, the teachers, students and staff in the school system, she would have never been so successful. I just want to make sure that the people of Madison County are recognized for all their contributions. It really does take a village.”
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, visit www.cec.sped.org/convention. For more information about the Yes I Can! Awards, please visit www.cec.sped.org/yesican.
If "It doesn't take a village", what does her mother mean by "community" above? Please explain.