22 August
By Dr. Monica Simonsen and Dr. Cynthia Mruczek
University of Kansas Department of Special Education
Positioning Ourselves in the Dialogue
We enter the conversation around person-first language vs. identity-first language as simultaneous “insiders” and “outsiders” in the dialogue.1 First, we...
05 August
By Leslie Ann Bross, Special Education PhD Candidate at the University of Kansas
Approximately 50,000 transition-age youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) turn 18 each year and exit the K-12 school system. These individuals will seek to participate in a variety of adult outcomes, such as...
Are you considering becoming a teacher? Teaching is a noble profession and one that can have a positive lasting effect on individuals, families and communities. Think about your own educational journey: Who was your favorite teacher? Why did they make an impression on you? How did they help you th...
Did you know that April 2, 2019 is the 12th annual World Autism Awareness Day?
In fact, April is World Autism Month! This international effort is designed to promote autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination for all, and assure that each person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is p...
When it comes to preparing special education professionals for the unique circumstances they'll face in the classroom, the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences has distinguished itself as the gold standard.
As U.S. News & World Report's No. 1 Department of Special Education...
26 November
In 2000, only one in 150 children was diagnosed with autism. By 2010, that number had nearly doubled. Today, according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, about 1 in 59 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and many exp...
Each November, the National Education Association (NEA) hosts American Education Week to celebrate public education and the individuals whose passion for teaching transforms the lives of students.
In honor of American Education Week, Dr. Rick Ginsberg, dean of the University of Kansas School of E...
01 November
Parents and teachers of children with autism know that the keys to success in their education are patience, collaboration and mutual support between home and school. They also know that finding the time to review the latest research, as well as developing the skills to understand how to apply it, ca...
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that among individuals with disabilities between 20 and 24 years of age, the employment-population ratio was 36.9 percent in 2017. In contrast, the employment-population ratio for individuals without a disability in this age cohort was 67.3 percent
In order...
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a system of supports that schools put in place to provide high-quality education to students with disabilities. It was originally developed as an overall framework for prediction, remediation and prevention of negative outcomes common for students with disabilities....
School principals are crucial to student outcomes. They’re the ones holding the organizations together, ensuring students are prepared for their academic challenges and that teachers have the support and tools they need to run classrooms effectively. Yet, as our infographic below expresses, our scho...
Even if you’ve known for years that you want to be a reading specialist, knowing what academic credentials you need to have to achieve that goal can be challenging. It can be even more confusing if this is a new field you’ve only recently decided to transition into.
Regardless of where you stand i...
26 September
Course Spotlight: SPED 756 Special Education Leadership
Whether you’re a teacher, school administrator or educational policy advisor, leadership plays an integral role in the classroom—particularly the special education classroom. Standing up, advocating for and empowering disabled or disadvantage...
26 September
As an online student at the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences, you’ll experience a number of innovative tools and resources that are designed to enrich your overall learning experience. One of the most unique aspects of our online programs is our Reading Room, a customiza...
26 September
The classroom of today looks much different than even twenty years before. Blackboards have been replaced by digital whiteboards, and interactive technology is often used as a tool to make the classroom more collaborative and to enhance students’ ability to learn critical-thinking, communication an...
Uncover the fascinating history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with our insightful infographic! From its inception to its evolution, learn about the milestones and impact of this landmark legislation.
This is another installation in our Teacher Blogger feature, here is a profile of A Principal’s Reflections.
You could say that Eric Sheninger has a special knack for thought leadership. For seven years, he served as principal of New Milford High School in New Milford, Connecticut with one g...
In November of 2015, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of landmark legislation that removed barriers for children with learning disabilities to attend the same public schools as those who didn’t require unique educational accommodations.
This is another installation in our Teacher Blogger feature, here is a profile of The 21st Century Principal.
During his time as an educator, John Robinson was always looking for ways to not only help his students learn and retain information better, but also keep them engaged during classroom...
This is another installation in our Teacher Blogger feature, here is a profile of E-Learning Queen.
Although Susan Smith Nash may be a petroleum geologist by trade, her stamp on the educational sector is unmistakable. Since 1994, she has been an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahom...
This is another installation in our Teacher Blogger feature, here is a profile of Ms. Jordan Reads.
To Jordan Riley, literacy and technology go hand-in-hand. The educator from Grand Island in Upstate New York runs the social media network, and serves as the co-chair for The Niagara Frontier R...
04 February
That fact that being a teacher is often a thankless job doesn’t mitigate the fact that it is still one of the most important and vitally needed professions in America. The job of educating the next generation of future leaders who have the ability to move our world forward is certainly no easy task....
01 January
Technology extends far beyond the administrative offices in today’s educational environment. Surveys of K-12 schools show that more than 75 percent of classrooms have access to the Internet, and more than 95 percent of schools are connected. However, that has not translated into classrooms to succ...
22 September
Creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment is crucial to prevent bullying in schools. Explore practical ways to build a non-bully zone in your classroom. Learn effective strategies from KU experts to ensure that all students feel respected and valued.
There is a new brand of teacher that is bridging the gap between the traditional classroom teacher, the administrator and the educational policy maker: the teacherpreneur. In the past, most schools have relied on a hierarchy that separates the people who create schools’ educational policies (adminis...
School administrators provide the structure, framework and support for all teaching activities. As an administrator, you can plan, develop and implement strategies designed to improve student literacy and resulting test scores. Given that early literacy is critical for academic success, starting l...
An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a written plan for students with identified disabilities which sets the conditions for the specific accommodations, materials, and instructional approaches needed in order for the students to learn effectively. A federal law called IDEA (the Individuals...
14 July
Co-teaching occurs when two instructional professionals work with the same group of students, in the same classroom, at the same time. Co-teaching may occur for a number of reasons. Sometimes, teachers in different disciplines work together to integrate their discipline knowledge in one seamless cou...
Parental involvement plays a critical role in students’ academic success. When you work with parents, you get the extra support needed to help struggling children turn around their performance. You also encourage a lifelong love of learning in every student, creating more engaged and excited learner...