Grants Awarded to Three CEC Members to Support Projects Focused on Equity and Justice
Arlington, Va. December 11, 2025 - The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is pleased to announce the awardees for the 2025 CEC Racial Justice Grant: Leon Prieto, Clayton State University; Tiffany Hollis, Coastal Carolina University; and Kioshana Burrell, The Ohio State University.
The Racial Justice Grant encourages and supports work focused on addressing issues related to the ongoing racial disparities in educational experiences, opportunities, and outcomes for individuals with disabilities from minoritized racial groups. Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded to these three CEC members for initiatives that engage practitioners, children/youth, families, or other stakeholders in support of students with disabilities from minoritized racial groups.
This year’s grantee projects provide valuable support for both current and future educators and benefit numerous students in school districts and communities.
ASPIRE: Autism Spectrum Program for Innovation, Readiness, and Entrepreneurship
Leon Prieto, Professor of Management, Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia
Dr. Leon Prieto is championing an innovative approach to empowering students who sit at the intersection of race and disability through his proposed program, ASPIRE: Autism Spectrum Program for Innovation, Readiness, and Entrepreneurship. Designed as a 5-day summer experience for 10 high school students with autism from racially minoritized groups, ASPIRE equips participants with foundational skills in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, teamwork, and workplace readiness. Each student will develop a business idea, create a simple business plan, and receive $100 in seed funding to launch their own microbusiness—an opportunity that blends creativity, real-world learning, and hands-on economic empowerment.
At its core, ASPIRE addresses the compounded inequities that racially minoritized students with autism often face, including limited access to enrichment programs and traditional pathways to employment. Dr. Prieto’s proposal centers these students’ identities, strengths, and cultural knowledge, intentionally shifting away from deficit-based narratives. By positioning entrepreneurship as a tool for both racial and disability justice, ASPIRE helps students build confidence, agency, and a sense of belonging as innovators and contributors within their communities.
Beyond serving students directly, the program also engages families and community partners to ensure a lasting impact that extends far beyond the week-long experience. In doing so, ASPIRE aligns closely with CEC’s Racial Justice Grant priorities: modeling a culturally responsive, equitable framework that schools and organizations can use to dismantle racialized barriers to opportunity.
Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges – Advancing Racial Justice in Special Education
Tiffany Hollis, Associate Professor, Coastal Carolina University, Charlotte, NC
Dr. Tiffany Hollis is leading a powerful effort to confront longstanding inequities experienced by students with disabilities from racially minoritized groups through her proposed initiative, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges. Rooted in the understanding that disparities in discipline, placement, and access to inclusive and advanced programs are fueled by systemic racism and ableism, her project seeks to create meaningful, community-centered change. By uplifting the experiences of students and families of color and equipping educators with equity-focused tools, this initiative aims to build stronger, more just systems of support.
Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges is structured around three transformative components. The first is an educator professional development workshop that will train at least 20 teachers in culturally responsive, anti-racist, and disability-affirming practices, offering strategies to reduce disproportionate discipline, foster inclusive classrooms, and strengthen equitable IEP processes. The second component, a Family Engagement Circle or Family Academy, creates a space for 10 families of color to share experiences, access advocacy resources, and build supportive networks, intentionally centering families who are too often excluded from decision-making. The final component, a student leadership pilot, provides 5–10 students with disabilities of color mentorship and empowerment opportunities to build self-advocacy and leadership skills.
With its focus on shifting systems, amplifying marginalized voices, and advancing meaningful collaboration, Dr. Hollis’s project aligns closely with CEC’s Racial Justice Grant priorities. By directly addressing inequities at the intersection of race and disability, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges disrupts harmful practices and replaces them with intentional, inclusive, and affirming approaches.
Know Your Rights, Raise Your Voice: Empowering Families to Advocate for Students with Disabilities
Kioshana Burrell, Doctoral Scholar, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Kioshana Burrell is leading an empowering and equity-driven effort to support families navigating special education through her proposed initiative, Know Your Rights, Raise Your Voice: Empowering Families to Advocate for Students with Disabilities. Designed specifically for Black and Brown families within Columbus City Schools, this project aims to provide culturally responsive advocacy resources that help families understand their rights, navigate complex systems, and secure appropriate services for their children. In partnership with the Columbus Education Justice Coalition and aligned with the district’s Black Student Achievement Plan, the initiative will produce accessible guides, toolkits, and workshop curricula tailored to the unique experiences of minoritized families.
The project goes beyond information-sharing by ensuring families can access support in multiple ways, including translated materials, community workshops, peer mentorship opportunities, and digital platforms. By meeting families where they are and offering practical tools for action, Kioshana’s initiative creates an environment where parents and caregivers feel confident, informed, and empowered to advocate for their children’s educational needs.
At its core, this proposal directly confronts the persistent racial disparities that shape special education systems, where Black and Brown students continue to face disproportionate identification, restrictive placements, and higher rates of exclusionary discipline. By centering the voices, strengths, and lived experiences of families who have historically been marginalized or excluded, Kioshana challenges deficit-based narratives and affirms families as knowledgeable, capable partners in their children’s success.