Emma Wallace, a ninth-grade student at Cato-Meridian Junior-Senior High School, is looking forward to changing the perception of students with individualized education programs (IEPs). She is the only student in Cayuga County to be selected for the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of Special Education Youth Advisory Panel.

The Youth Advisory Panel consists of ten to fifteen high school students in New York State who receive special education services through an IEP. The students meet with NYSED staff virtually throughout the school year to discuss the education of students with disabilities, including conversations on proposed policies.

Teacher Eric Robinson initially learned of the group in one of the emails he received about special education initiatives in New York State. As he read on, one student came to mind as a potential candidate.

“I immediately knew that I wanted to recommend Emma because I really feel like in her classes, she is already a leader, and it talked about developing leadership skills, and being able to work on government policies,” Robinson said. “I thought that she would not only learn a lot from it, but also represent Cato-Meridian and other students like her very well.”

Wallace had Robinson as a teacher in seventh and eighth grade and still comes to him for help every once in a while. After Robinson told her about the panel, she was interested in learning more.

Robinson filled out the nomination form, and just a few days later, the selection committee reached out to Wallace and her family to schedule an interview. In her interview, Wallace said the biggest point she wanted to drive home was that students with IEPs know the information they’re taught in the classroom. They just may need to learn it in a different way.

“We know this stuff,” she said. “We might have trouble learning some of it, and we might not learn in the traditional way, but we can always reach our goals.”

Robinson described Wallace as a leader, noting that she is “someone who pushes others to work hard because of how hard she works,” both as a student and a member of the varsity field hockey team.

When she found out she was selected for the panel, Wallace said she felt very proud of herself and was thrilled to share the news with the teacher who recommended her.

“That news sent me over the moon,” Robinson said. “I know she’s going to work hard and represent our district and students like her very well.”

Now that she has been selected, Wallace can continue serving on the panel throughout high school. She is eager to have her voice heard and hopes to make a difference for all students with IEPs.

“I’m looking forward to making new friends and changing what people think about students with IEPs,” Wallace said.