Amanda Lambert, senior at Irving High School, has overcome obstacles posed by her disability to shine as a student athletic trainer at Irving High School, and will be recognized with a 2011 Yes I Can! Award from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
CEC honors 27 students each year with disabilities who have excelled in school activities. Awards are given in nine categories and Lambert will be recognized in the athletics category.
As a young child, Lambert was fundamentally nonverbal, eventually learning sign language in order to communicate with others. As a young child, she began occupational therapy to assist with her verbal communication, visual perception, and motor integration skills. Today, Amanda is in twelfth grade and receives all of her academic instruction in a self-contained classroom with other students with disabilities, with the exception of her athletic training course. As an athletic trainer, Lambert assists in the treatment, prevention and care of students’ athletic injuries under the supervision of a professional. She is also responsible for sideline setup at games and practices. According to Stephen Bunt, head athletic trainer at Irving High School, Lambert has thrived in this environment.
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 the Yes I Can! Awards, please visit www.cec.sped.org/yesican.
