SPLS
2007 News
2006 News
Dr. Shaila Rao, assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies, presented a paper on "Cross Categorical Approach to Service Delivery: Promoting Successful Inclusion Through Teacher Preparation" at The International Conference on Special Education 2006, in Hong Kong June 1-3, 2006. The conference was hosted by The Center for Advancement in Special Education, University of Hong Kong. The presentation was well received and an official from Education and Manpower Bureau, Hong Kong, has requested permission to use the presentation in their professional development of teachers.
Dr. Kristal Ehrhardt, associate professor, recently completed a chapter with one of her former school psychology students, Mike Hixson. Mike now teaches at Central Michigan University.
Ehrhardt, K.E., Hixson, M., & Poling, A. (In press). Craniofacial malformations. In L. Phelps (Ed.), Health-Realated Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
MEA and WMU to aid special needs program at Milwood: (Article by Katie Conrad, Contributing Writer, Western Herald)
Milwood Middle School will be receiving a grant from the Michigan Education Association, in collaboration with Western Michigan University, to improve its special needs program.
MMS is currently under orders from the state to improve its program as students there are not responding to the current pull-out teaching method, according to a grant proposed by Elizabeth Whitten, a professor in WMU’s department of education studies special education program.
Whitten and Sarah Summy, an associate professor in the same program, will be collaborating with MMS Principal Kevin Campbell to provide training for educators who will begin new teaching methods in the fall.
The new program will also include MMS special education teachers, a general education teacher and peer educators who will all be working with the students.
The pull-out method excludes special needs students from the regular classroom, which is restrictive and less dignifying in terms of their self-esteem, said Campbell.
“We’re going to restructure the way we deliver our special education services,” he said, adding that the school is trying to see the expectations for all students set by the state.
The No Child Left Behind Act demonstrates the need to challenge the way the students are currently being taught, he said.
Campbell has great expectations for this program, and was pleased to receive the grant.
“It’s nice because grants facilitate our programs,” he said. “I wouldn’t have the resources to pull together to provide this restructuring and training.”
Bob Harris, professional development and human rights consultant for MEA, which awarded the grant, said the MEA is hoping to continue funding similar programs, adding that the grant money will be used for training courses for teachers at Milwood beginning in July.
“The purpose of this grant is to connect special education kids with other K through 12 kids,” he said.
According to Whiten, the training courses will include different instructional methods, including collaborative teaching and progress monitoring, to accommodate the learning needs of all students.
Whitten hopes the program will develop strong relationships with educators in the Kalamazoo community and provide support for students of all learning levels.
The most important goal among the educators involved is to meet the needs of every student in the classroom and provide equal opportunity, she said, adding that MMS will begin the new program in the fall.
Harris hopes the funding will continue because most teachers have little training in special education, but are working with students with special needs on a daily basis.
