As a K12 teacher I taught students with severe disabilities
who had physical, medical, behavioral, cognitive, communicative
and other educational needs. I taught at the middle school
and elementary level. I have certification in New York
for Early Childhood, Primary General Education, and Special
Education both elementary and secondary levels.
I have a strong interest in the resources necessary for
the inclusion of students with severe disabilities. I
have five refereed articles in competitive journals. I
completed a book chapter regarding the assessment of inclusive
practices on student outcomes, a national qualitative
research project regarding the preparation of teachers
to teach students with severe disabilities in inclusive
settings, and presented at several national, state, and
regional conferences pertaining to inclusion and students
with severe disabilities. In relation to inclusion and
students with severe disabilities, my research interests
have become more specifically focused. My current line
of research investigates the access of students with disabilities
to literacy instruction and other academic content. This
research area has resulted in a student faculty collaboration
grant, a faculty development research grant, and three
manuscripts currently under review. Related to literacy
and students with severe disabilities, I have a collaborative
book project under contract with Merrill Prentice Hall
and recently completed a book on Family Supports for Education.