Fall 2006 | Vol. 1 No. 1

Report from the Chair
Earlier this year the KU Department of Special Education once again was ranked as the nation’s top public graduate special education program in U.S. News & World Report’s graduate school report. Summarized here are some of the 2005-06 highlights that illustrate the faculty’s outstanding contributions and extraordinary dedication to their work. More >>

Update on Faculty Comings & Goings
This year's faculty activities are sure to benefit the Department for years to come. More >>

New Grant Awards
Recent grants have been awarded that will help to support Special Education masters and doctoral level students. More >>

Technology Rich Classrooms: Changing Teaching & Learning Across Kansas
Advanced Learning Technologies in Education (ALTEC) supports teachers in a state-wide Technology Rich Classrooms initiative that integrates technology, standards, and best practices to improve student learning in reading, math, and science. More >>

KU-CRL Adapts Proven Model to Classroom Setting
The University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning is testing its Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) in novel ways. More >>

International Researchers Turn to Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale
The Beach Center on Disability has developed a psychometrically valid scale designed to measure a family's quality of life, and it's making an impact on family research throughout the world. More >>

Practicum Supervision Goes High Tech
The KU Department of Special Education is using Interactive Video Conferencing (IVC) for practicum supervision of masters students in the classroom, and finding it a win-win situation for both teacher and supervisor. More >>

Current Projects Affiliated with eDL
The e-Learning Design Lab provides an update of its current efforts to explore new uses of educational technology to enhance learning environments that meet the educational and professional development needs of society. More >>

New Center at KU to Test Alternative to Traditional Special Education Programs
Kansas and Illinois are teaming up to establish a Response to Intervention program at schools in both states that enables tailoring the intervention strategy to better meet individual needs. More >>

LD Online Honors Deshler with Inspiration Award
Dr. Don Deshler, Director of the Center for Research on Learning and Professor of SPED, received the first Inspiration Award from LD Online. As the world's leading website on learning disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the site serves more than 250,000 students, families, teachers, and others each month. More >>

Promising Model to Help New Orleans Public Schools Improve Test Scores
Dr. Wayne Sailor, professor of special education and associate director of the Beach Center for Disability at KU, is implementing his School-wide Applications Model in the state-operated Recovery School District in New Orleans during this academic year. More >>

Deshler Appointed to National Institute for Literacy Board
The U.S. Senate has confirmed the presidential appointment of Dr. Don Deshler, professor in the Department of Special Education and director of the Center for Research on Learning, to serve on the advisory board of the National Institute for Literacy. More >>

SOE Special Olympian Brings Home Silver
Becky Saathoff, research aide for the Department of Special Education, swam her way to silver medals in two events at the 2006 U.S. National Special Olympics in Ames, Iowa. More >>

Chaffin Named to Budig Professorship in Special Education
Dr. Jerry Chaffin receives the 2006-2007 Gene A. Budig Teaching Professorship in Special Education at the 15th Annual School of Education Convocation at the Lied Center on the KU Campus. More >>

Shogren Named Judy Tate Outstanding Doctoral Student
Karrie Shogren is the inaugural winner of the Judy Tate Outstanding Doctoral Student Medallion Award, given in memory of a beloved long-term staff member for her commitment to special education and support for doctoral students.
More >>

Disability Advocate Dr. Jane West Receives Field Leadership Award
Dr. Jane West, Vice President of Governmental Relations at the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE), was the recipient of this year's Department of Special Education Field Leadership Award for her dedicated efforts as a disability advocate. More>>

New Unified Early Childhood Program Equips for Teacher Licensure
In response to a new licensure area, the University of Kansas School of Education has developed an approved Unified Early Childhood (UEC) teacher education program (birth through grade 3) for undergraduates. The UEC program is the first of a new sequence of Kansas teaching licenses (based on age groups) and the only one blending special education and general education.
More >>

University of Kansas Special Education Plans 50th Anniversary Celebration
We are planning a year-long series of events during the 2007-2008 academic year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the KU Department of Special Education. More >>

Alumni Near and Far
As we near our 50th Anniversary celebrations, help us get the latest on where our illustrious alumni are at. More >>

Department of Special Education
University of Kansas
521 JR Pearson Hall
1122 W. Campus Rd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
785.864.4954
Dept. of Special Education Website

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