Abstract
In addition to an improved responsive design, the new website will offer streamlined navigation to help find professional development resources, member benefits, and all that CEC has to offer.
The websites of many of the CEC state or provincial units and special interest divisions will also be integrated to provide a seamless user experience, helping special educators find what is available through all aspects of CEC membership.
Much like a home renovation, a redesigned website requires layers of structural, internal work that may not be obvious but ultimately improves the experience. For the CEC website, the work behind the scenes to improve the taxonomy and search engine optimization will result in a user experience that is efficient, informative, and educational.
The new CEC website will feature responsive design for easy viewing and navigation on all types of devices.
Features will include topic pages, a customizable search feature, and an “explore” tab designed to access relevant content and stay on top of the latest from CEC. The goal is for users to find what they are looking for while enjoying navigational tools and searches based on their professional roles and interests within the field.
These efforts will also provide mobile-friendly, easy-to-share content across social media channels, allowing CEC members and visitors alike to widely distribute information about special education.
While this important work is underway, CEC President Jennifer Lesh and her colleagues on the Board of Directors are looking ahead to how the new site will allow CEC to better support special educators throughout the CEC community.
“We are so excited to welcome the 2020–2021 school year with a new CEC website to support special educators in their practice,” Lesh says. “I’m especially pleased it will meet 508 compliance standards of accessibility for all visitors and users.”
The website will launch near the end of Summer 2020 at exceptionalchildren.org.