Bright Spots
Bright Spots: Your Go-To Resource for Safer, Stronger, Effective Practices
Bright Spots are individuals making a real difference in the lives of students with disabilities through their work in preventing and responding to maltreatment—including neglect, abuse, and bullying. They are also a valuable resource for others, offering practical strategies, insight, and real-world experience. If you’re facing challenges or looking to strengthen your approach, connect with a Bright Spot for training, guidance, and ideas you can use right away.
Take action by:
- Building professional learning opportunities for staff;
- Using Bright Spots’ Lessons Learned and resources; and
Nominating individuals to be recognized as Bright Spots.
This action can address the maladaptive behaviors of students with disabilities—especially those who have experienced bullying or abuse. Behaviors that disrupt learning, impede performance and contribute to educator stress and burnout. Bright Spots increase our understanding and provide effective, trauma-informed practices that support both students and educators.
Through interdivisional collaboration within the Council for Exceptional Children, this initiative moves policy into practice—improving student outcomes, reducing maladaptive behaviors, and strengthening educator well-being.
Bright Spots may be educators, caregivers, or advocates committed to safer, more supportive environments. If you—or someone you know—is a Bright Spot, we’d love to hear from you. Please complete the short nomination form below.
Bright Spots are individuals actively working to prevent and respond to the maltreatment of children with disabilities, in alignment with CEC policy and position statements.
Questions: Please contact Harold Johnson, Bright Spot Project Director, at [email protected] for more information.
