Since 1989, Michigan Council for Exceptional Children has sponsored the Exceptional Children’s Poster Contest. This is the 21st consecutive year of honoring the creative efforts of our students. This year nearly 180 entries were received from across the state of Michigan. Each entry was assigned a number and displayed at a classroom at Wayne State University. The college students of Laura McClure’s graduate class viewed and judged the entries. Their choice resulted in the selection of artwork and prose that combined to make this year’s winning poster.
This poster is a both a public relations vehicle used to promote community awareness and interest in exceptional children and youth and to announce the annual conference of Michigan Council
for Exceptional Children. A framed poster with a brass plaque and a $100 savings bond is presented to the award winner and is on display at the Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education/Early Intervention Services. Dr. Jacque Thompson, Michigan’s Director of Special Education
is to accepted this years poster.
Devan Hinskey
Devan Hinskey is the 2009 MCEC Poster Contest Winner. Devan is a high School student at Burger School for students with autism. Devan attends Garden City High School for part of the day, and he enjoys all of his teacher. Devan loves art and loves spending his spare time sketching - so much so that he would like to go to art school someday.
For the creation of his artwork for the poster contest, Devan was asked to read a poem written by another student. In a collaborative effort between Lincoln Park and Garden City public Schools, Devan's teacher received a poem written by a student at Lincoln Park High School. The author, Bazhad Ballout (a 2009 Yes I Can! Award winner), wrote a poem called "Flight of the Sightless."
“Flight of the Sightless”
The sun warms me up as I walk with my cane,
The twitters of the birds relieve my pain.
I wave hello as people pass me by,
Their voices like different colors portrayed in the sky.
Scents of flowers greet my nose,
A gardenia, a daisy, and a lovely rose.
Now it rains, and I taste one drop,
Then I here a wing flap and that thought pattern stops.
The sound of a loud caw perks my ears,
It is a crow, a creature I don’t fear.
It flies all around me, going from left to right,
Then it moves up and down, bobbing like a kite.
If I could fly just like that bird,
I’d fly away from the whispers and the unkind words.
People look at my form as they talk and gawk,
While I sing a song of which they should not mock.
Another bird rose, its movements slow and soft,
The immaculate creature then sang and coughed.
My heart told me that there was something wrong,
For the bird could not fly and changed its song.
The tune became sad, but still warm and pure,
I sighed in satisfaction as it gave me a cure.
One wing was broken, I suddenly knew,
Because its flight and song rang very blue.
Even though injured, the creature can fly,
So I know I can too, and now realize why.
I might be different, with my eyes closed to sight,
But I will go on and fight with all my might.
After Devan read Bazhad's poem, he was so moved and wanted to sketch a portrayal of what he felt was the meaning of the poem. Devan and his teacher, Libby Korpal, went through the poem line by line and Devan created the wonderful piece of artwork that won him the contest. He felt that the best part of the poem was that even though the crow had a broken wing, he still continued to fly. This lead him to also create the quote seen on the poster - "Nothing in time and space is impossible."
On behalf of Michigan Council for Exceptional Children, we would like to congratulate Devan and his family on his great accomplishment. He is truly a gifted artist and we are proud to celebrate his wonderful talent.
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