Preparing Leaders in Special Education to Meet the Intensive Needs of Students with Complex Learning Disabilities

 

 

The demand for special education faculty in higher education is much greater than the supply. Faculty may also lack expertise in scientifically or evidence-based practices for children with complex learning disabilities. Children often have disabilities in more than one academic or behavioral domain, which intensifies learning and behavioral difficulties. This grant offers full-time support for five current and incoming doctoral scholars, namely, Eleanor Hancock, Anna Miller, Melanie Chong, Daniel Espinas, and Natalie Huerta.

Its purpose is to prepare future faculty to train new generations of special educators in assessment and intensive interventions for children with CLD. These faculty are also envisioned as developing a cohort of special education scientists who will contribute to the knowledge base of evidence-based practices for children with CLD. Professor Marcia Barnes is PI. Co-PIs are Douglas Fuchs, Nicholas Hobbs Professor of Special Education and Human Development; Lynn Fuchs, Dunn Family Professor in Psychoeducational Assessment; Assistant Professor Blair Lloyd; Jeanne Wanzek, Currey-Ingram Professor in Special Education; and Associate Professor Joseph Wehby.