Department Of Special Education

In September, Peabody Global Initiatives welcomed visitors from institutions in Ukraine, Morocco, and China to deepen connections and explore opportunities for future collaborations. Peabody Global Initiatives is a new initiative of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development to support faculty to pursue international research and disseminate knowledge,… Read More

By Jenna Somers Students’ relationships with their teachers, particularly in elementary school, play an important role in supporting their learning and social-emotional development. For students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, quality relationships with their teachers are especially critical. These bonds can reduce instances of challenging behavior… Read More

By Kurt Brobeck August 12 marked a significant milestone as the new Roberts Academy at Vanderbilt University opened its doors to 21 third- and fourth-grade students. Currently in a temporary location on the Vanderbilt campus, the academy is designed to be a transitional school providing intensive reading intervention and elementary… Read More

By Jenna Somers Joseph Lambert Children with autism are more likely than their typically developing peers to engage in challenging behavior, which can lead to injury, lower rates of social inclusion, and adverse effects on learning. To support these children, special education professionals in schools need training on functional analysis… Read More

Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development welcomed six new faculty members this fall. They join the Departments of Special Education; Teaching and Learning; Human and Organizational Development; and Leadership, Policy, and Organizations. Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, assistant professor of human-centered… Read More

Jason Chow Jason Chow, associate professor of special education and of hearing and speech sciences, received two training grants for $2.49 and $3.72 million from the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education to prepare leadership personnel in special education. Rachel Schless, Photo by Joe… Read More

This fall, Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development seeks to strengthen and advance its global reach. The Peabody Research Office will expand its mission and strategy to include Peabody Global Initiatives. Peabody Global Initiatives will support faculty to pursue international research and disseminate knowledge as well… Read More

Joseph Cunningham, 82, an accomplished administrator and professor at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024, at his home in Lake City, Pennsylvania. Read More

Peabody College Special Education research assistant professor and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center member Ben Schwartzman recently received funding from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation to create a peer mentorship program between job-seeking and employed adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Read More

In May, the Nashville Partnership for Education Equity Research—a collaboration between Metro Nashville Public Schools and Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development—hosted its inaugural research symposium at the MNPS Martin Center for Professional Development. The symposium included poster presentations on research projects to improve equity outcomes… Read More

Ten faculty members from Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development were awarded global engagement funding for the current and upcoming academic year from the Office of Global Engagement. These awards reflect Peabody’s commitment to worldwide collaboration that enhances learning and development in diverse contexts and translates… Read More

Kristen McMaster Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development will bestow its 2024 Distinguished Alumna Award on special education and literacy researcher Kristen L. McMaster during Commencement ceremonies on May 10. A Triple ’Dore, McMaster earned her bachelor of science in 1995, master of education in 1998,… Read More

Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development will launch a new online certificate this fall designed to meet a growing demand for Board Certified Behavior Analysts. The new program aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality behavioral services and make use of behavioral technology, ultimately enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Read More

By Jenna Somers Jessica Logan Associate Professor of Special Education Jessica Logan has always been interested in child development, specifically the growth of academic skills in young children at risk for learning disabilities. She seeks to understand how children learn and the contexts in which they learn, exploring… Read More

Joseph J. Cunningham Joseph Cunningham, 82, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024, at his home in Lake City, Pennsylvania. Cunningham was an accomplished administrator and professor at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. Upon moving to Nashville in 1969, Cunningham joined the Peabody College faculty as an assistant… Read More

Jared Clodfelter, EdD’22, has been hired as the new academy director at the Roberts Academy and Dyslexia Center at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. He will begin his appointment on June 17. Read More

The Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development received two training grants totaling $2.48 million in funding from the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. The new grants address the need to train culturally conscientious special… Read More

Jason Chow Douglas Fuchs Lynn Fuchs Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development faculty members Jason Chow and Doug and Lynn Fuchs were recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children, the major professional organization in the field of special education, at… Read More

By Jenna Somers ChatGPT is here to stay, and educators need to adapt to their students using it—at least, that’s what news headlines have suggested for almost a year following ChatGPT’s unveiling. Much of the coverage has given voice to worries about the possibility that AI will hinder learning… Read More

By Jenna Somers Meghan Burke Public schools’ resources for students with disabilities are critical tools for empowering their educations, especially when families have the knowledge to advocate for their children and partner with their children’s schools to create support plans. However, research suggests that some schools may be falling… Read More