CategoryEducation & Training
Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo - CEC
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About this event
CEC 2027 Convention & Expo (Council for Exceptional Children)
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention & Expo is the premier professional gathering for special education educators and leaders focused on supporting students with exceptionalities. We are bringing together a large community of special education professionals for in-depth learning, hands-on resources, and meaningful networking around inclusive practices and outcomes.
Event at a Glance
- Event: CEC 2027 Convention & Expo
- Dates: March 10, 2027 – March 13, 2027
- Venue: Greater Columbus Convention Center
- Address: 400 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
- City/Country: Columbus, Ohio, United States
- Convention focus: Special education professional development, networking, and expo-based product and service discovery
What Attendees Can Expect
At CEC 2027, attendees gain access to comprehensive professional development designed to strengthen classroom practice and drive measurable student progress. The convention features a large program schedule with over 300 sessions covering a wide range of special education topics. These sessions are structured to provide actionable strategies, research-informed insights, and practical tools educators can apply immediately.
In addition to education-focused sessions, the event includes exceptional opportunities to connect with thousands of special education professionals from around the world. Educators, administrators, and researchers come together to share experiences, collaborate, and build lasting professional relationships.
Expo Hall, Partners, and Product Discovery
CEC 2027 also includes an Expo Hall with over 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest products, technologies, and services built to support educators in the classroom and beyond. This expo component is designed to help attendees evaluate new solutions, learn about innovative tools, and discover resources that align with special education needs and implementation realities.
Engaging Community Events
The convention encourages community and recognition through special events such as an Opening Reception, an Awards and Recognition Luncheon, and the Yes I Can Awards. These gatherings create a welcoming space for attendees to celebrate achievements and strengthen connections across the special education community.
Why This Event Matters for Special Education Professionals
Whether attendees are seeking professional development, collaboration opportunities, or new resources to support learners with exceptionalities, CEC 2027 offers a focused environment where practice and research meet real-world impact. We consider the event a high-value meeting point for the special education sector—bringing together educators, administrators, researchers, and industry partners under one major convention program.
Join us from March 10–13, 2027 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center to advance your skills and connect with the special education community.
Data sheet
Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo - CEC – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: March 10, 2027 – March 13, 2027 |
Location: Columbus, Ohio, United States |
Event Status: Upcoming |
Research Date: June 30, 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo - CEC |
| Event Date | March 10, 2027 – March 13, 2027 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Greater Columbus Convention Center |
| City | Columbus |
| State / Region | Ohio |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) |
| Official Event Website | cecconvention.org |
| Event Type | Association convention, professional development conference, and expo |
| Primary Category | Education & Training |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Business Services, Medical & Pharma |
| Audience Reach | National with international professional participation potential |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. Official site states “thousands of special education professionals” and “over 200 exhibitors.” |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Medium: qualitative official claims are confirmed; exact attendee count is not publicly published on the provided source text. |
| Main Purpose of Event | Professional development, networking, special education resource discovery, and expo-based sourcing for educators and education-adjacent solution providers. |
About the Event
The Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo is a leading professional gathering for special education professionals. The official event site positions the 2027 edition as a major convention with 300+ sessions, an expo hall featuring over 200 exhibitors, and programming designed to support educators working with students with exceptionalities.
The event matters because it combines education, procurement, and vendor discovery in one place. Primary participant groups include special education teachers, school and district administrators, researchers, and education suppliers. For B2B outreach, it is especially relevant to companies serving classrooms, assistive learning, accessibility, student support services, curriculum, devices, software, and school operations.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special education administrators | School districts, state education agencies, charter networks | Program oversight, vendor selection, budget influence | High-value buyers for curriculum, services, assessments, and support tools |
| Special education teachers | K-12 public/private schools, learning centers | End-user input, product evaluation, classroom adoption influence | Important for demos, trials, and adoption of instructional tools |
| District procurement and sourcing teams | School districts, educational cooperatives, state procurement offices | Purchasing, contract management, vendor qualification | Critical for vendors selling software, devices, materials, and services |
| Assistive technology leaders | District support teams, accessibility offices, service providers | Solution evaluation and deployment | Strong fit for devices, software, and accessibility platforms |
| Speech-language and occupational therapy leaders | Schools, clinics, therapy providers, special services organizations | Tool selection, intervention planning, service delivery | Relevant for learning aids, therapy tools, and student support products |
| School psychologists and student support staff | District student services, mental health and support programs | Assessment, intervention, and referral influence | Relevant for evaluation, data, and intervention vendors |
| School and district technology leaders | K-12 IT departments, edtech teams, accessibility teams | Platform selection, integration, cybersecurity, deployment | Key for edtech, SaaS, and digital accessibility solutions |
| University faculty and teacher preparation leaders | Colleges of education, research centers | Curriculum influence, research, partnerships | Important for research-backed products and pilot programs |
| Education consultants and service providers | Independent consultants, training firms, support organizations | Referral, partnership, and implementation influence | Useful for channel sales and partner-led growth |
| Edtech buyers and curriculum leaders | Schools, districts, instructional support teams | Product evaluation, purchasing influence, standards alignment | Strong fit for digital learning and instructional technology vendors |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city: Columbus, OH | Local and regional educators, vendors, and support organizations | Medium | Convenient access to Ohio education networks and Midwest school systems |
| Host state / region: Ohio / Midwest | Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Illinois | High | Strong regional attendance base for K-12 and special services buyers |
| National reach | School districts, state agencies, universities, education vendors across the U.S. | Very High | CEC is a national association event with broad U.S. buyer relevance |
| International reach | International special education professionals and education partners | Moderate | Official site references attendees from around the world |
| Nearby business hubs | Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Louisville | High | Regional travel corridor supports strong attendance from education decision-makers |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | CEC is a U.S.-wide professional association event that attracts special education professionals, districts, universities, and vendors from across the country. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus City Schools | Public school district buyer | Large district with special education, student support, and instructional technology needs | ccsoh.us | Director of Special Education, Procurement Manager, Assistive Technology Coordinator | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Ohio Department of Education and Workforce | State education agency | Policy, program, and funding influence for special education statewide | education.ohio.gov | Director, Special Education; Program Manager; Procurement Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Cleveland Metropolitan School District | Public school district buyer | Potential buyer for special education resources, devices, and services | clevelandmetroschools.org | Special Education Director, Curriculum Director, Purchasing Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Cincinnati Public Schools | Public school district buyer | District-level education and student support purchasing | cincinnati.k12.oh.us | Director of Student Services, Buyer, Technology Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Franklin County Educational Service Center | Regional education service agency | Supports multiple districts with special education and training services | fcesc.org | Special Services Director, Program Coordinator, Purchasing Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology | Higher education buyer / research institution | Teacher preparation, research, and special education innovation | ehe.osu.edu | Dean, Program Director, Research Director, Procurement Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| National Center for Learning Disabilities | Nonprofit / advocacy organization | Potential partner and influencer in learning support and accessibility | ncld.org | Program Director, Partnerships Director, Advocacy Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Learning Ally | Education solutions provider / buyer-side partner | Assistive learning and accessible reading solutions relevance | learningally.org | Partnerships Director, Product Manager, Education Sales Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| CAST | Accessibility and learning design organization | Universal Design for Learning and accessibility are core to the audience | cast.org | Research Director, Program Director, Partnerships Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| National Association of State Directors of Special Education | Association / policy influencer | State-level special education leadership and policy influence | nasdse.org | Executive Director, Policy Director, Partnerships Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Edmentum | Edtech vendor / channel buyer | Solutions aligned to instruction, assessment, and intervention workflows | edmentum.com | VP Partnerships, Product Marketing, District Sales Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Riverside Insights | Assessment and learning solutions buyer-side partner | Assessment and intervention products are highly relevant to CEC audiences | riversideinsights.com | Director of Partnerships, Product Manager, Sales Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director of Special Education | Student Services / Special Education | Director | Primary decision-maker for student support resources and program tools |
| 2 | Special Education Teacher | Instruction | Individual Contributor / Lead | End-user for classroom tools, training, and instructional products |
| 3 | Assistive Technology Coordinator | Technology / Student Support | Manager | Evaluates accessibility and assistive learning solutions |
| 4 | Procurement Manager | Procurement / Finance | Manager / Director | Controls purchasing, RFPs, and vendor selection processes |
| 5 | Curriculum Director | Instructional Leadership | Director | Influences standards-aligned content and classroom adoption |
| 6 | Student Services Director | Student Support | Director | Owns multidisciplinary support services and vendor relationships |
| 7 | School Psychologist | Student Support / Assessment | Specialist | Uses assessment and intervention tools |
| 8 | Director of Technology / IT Director | IT / Digital Learning | Director | Evaluates edtech, integrations, device management, and security |
| 9 | University Program Director | Higher Education | Director / Professor | Influences research, training, and partnership decisions |
| 10 | Partnerships Director | Business Development / Alliances | Director | Useful for channel, referral, and sponsorship opportunities |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education Management | Core market for school and district decision-makers | District leaders, instructional leadership, procurement |
| 2 | Higher Education | Teacher preparation, research, and special education programs | Universities, colleges, research centers |
| 3 | E-Learning | Digital learning tools are highly relevant | LMS, tutoring, instructional platforms |
| 4 | Information Technology & Services | School technology buyers and integrations matter | Edtech, accessibility software, IT services |
| 5 | Computer Software | Software vendors are central to the expo audience | SaaS, student data, workflow tools |
| 6 | Government Administration | State and local education agencies influence funding and policy | Public-sector education buyers |
| 7 | Health, Wellness & Fitness | Student support and intervention overlap with wellbeing | Student wellness, counseling, support services |
| 8 | Medical Devices | Assistive and adaptive devices may map to education use cases | Accessibility hardware, support devices |
| 9 | Professional Training & Coaching | Training and certification are major event value drivers | PD, coaching, implementation services |
| 10 | Business Supplies & Equipment | General procurement categories in schools | Classroom, office, and support supplies |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official website text | Organizer does not publish an exact attendance number in the provided source text |
| Exhibitor count | Over 200 | Confirmed | Official website text | Referenced in event description for the 2027 expo hall |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Unavailable | No official number provided | Use qualitative audience profiling for outreach |
| Speaker count | Over 300 sessions | Confirmed | Official website text | Session count used as a proxy for content scale |
| Historical attendance | Not provided in the supplied source text | Unavailable | Official website text only | No prior-year attendance figure was included in the provided material |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special education instruction | Classroom-ready instructional solutions | Product demos, pilot programs, district trials | Curriculum, interventions, digital tools |
| Assistive technology | Accessibility and accommodation support | Needs-based consultations and use-case demos | AT devices, software, accessibility platforms |
| Professional development | Training for teachers and administrators | Workshop sponsorship, speaking, thought leadership | PD programs, coaching, certification |
| Student assessment | Screening and progress monitoring | Assessment-based lead capture and consultative sales | Assessment tools, analytics, reporting software |
| School operations | Procurement, compliance, implementation efficiency | Decision-maker meetings and procurement follow-up | Workflow software, services, support platforms |
| Accessibility and inclusion | Universal Design for Learning and compliant content | Accessibility-led outreach and product positioning | Accessible content, design, and software solutions |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The event attracts educators and education decision-makers who influence purchases in classrooms, districts, and student services. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Directors, coordinators, administrators, and procurement personnel are likely present or represented. |
| Data collection potential | High | Expo and session-based engagement supports lead capture, qualification, and follow-up. |
| Apollo targeting potential | High | Targeting can be built around education management, higher education, edtech, and public-sector roles. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Strong U.S. regional and national reach with a meaningful Midwest base in Columbus. |
| Best outreach approach | High-touch, consultative | Use role-specific messaging, product demos, and school-impact proof points. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Strong concentration of education buyers and influencer roles with clear vendor relevance. |
| Best use case | Lead generation, exhibitor outreach, attendee profiling | Works well for attendee list sales, sponsorship outreach, and education-sector account targeting. |
| Limitations / risks | No current-year attendee list in the provided source text | Buyer-company examples must be treated as prospecting targets unless officially confirmed elsewhere. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Education Management; Higher Education; E-Learning; Information Technology & Services; Computer Software; Government Administration; Professional Training & Coaching; Medical Devices | Focus on the most relevant buyer ecosystems for special education and edtech procurement. |
| Departments | Education, Student Services, Procurement, Operations, IT, Product, Partnerships | Align outreach to both end-user and purchasing functions. |
| Seniority | Manager, Director, VP, CXO, Head, Coordinator, Specialist | Capture both decision-makers and influential users. |
| Job titles | Director of Special Education, Special Education Coordinator, Curriculum Director, Procurement Manager, IT Director, Assistive Technology Coordinator, Student Services Director, Program Director | Prioritize titles most likely to buy, specify, or influence solutions. |
| Geography | United States; Midwest; Ohio; nearby states; national K-12 hubs | Reflects both host-city concentration and national association reach. |
| Employee size | 51-200; 201-500; 501-1,000; 1,001-5,000; 5,001+ | Covers school systems, universities, and scaled vendors in the ecosystem. |
| Keywords | special education, assistive technology, accessibility, student support, IEP, UDL, intervention, assessment, curriculum, K-12, edtech | Improves relevancy for search and account selection. |
| Company type | Public sector; education institutions; nonprofits; edtech vendors; service providers | Useful for segmenting buyer accounts from sellers and partners. |
| Revenue / funding | Not essential; prioritize public education institutions and established vendors | Education buying cycles are role-driven more than revenue-driven. |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: (special education OR assistive technology OR accessibility OR student support OR UDL OR intervention OR assessment) AND (director OR manager OR coordinator OR VP OR head) AND (education management OR higher education OR e-learning OR government administration OR computer software)
Client Fit Review Required
Please share the client website or product/service details. I will review the client offering and identify the highest-fit buyer companies, Apollo industries, seniority levels, departments, and job titles from this event.
Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo official website | Official organizer source | Event name, dates, venue, city, organizer, session scale, exhibitor scale, and audience description | High |
| CEC 2027 Convention & Expo event page | Official event listing | Confirmed schedule window, venue address, and event status as upcoming | High |
| CEC home / convention navigation text | Official organizer website content | Program scale, expo scale, networking relevance, and future convention location references | High |
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