Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) - College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University
About KIHd
About Us

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) is an interdisciplinary campus-based organization focusing on improving the lives and productivity of children and adults with disabilities. KIHd combines the resources of the university with local, state, regional, national, public, and private sector agencies and organizations to develop products, services, and programs for persons with disabilities.

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Student using assistive technology keyboard
Licensure, Certificates & Training Grants

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) collaborates with a consortium of Virginia universities to offer training/licensure options for teachers of students with visual impairments and severe disabilities. Distance education makes the programs more accessible and maximizes the number of individuals who can receive the training.

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students, parents, professionals attending state of the art conference
VDOE Grants

With the support from Virgina Department of Education KIHd serves teachers, parents, therapists, and community service providers by providing a variety of continuing learning experiences via annual workshops, conferences, and project activities. In many cases, KIHd uses distance education to provide teacher training and professional development across the state.

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Project We Got It
Research

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) continues to build and support numerous educational research projects that vary across disciplines spearheaded by the Mason faculty members. Our goal is to increase evidence based instructional and behavioral strategies to improve academic outcomes for all students with disabilities.

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Leadership Grants
DOCTORAL AND MASTERS STUDENTS

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) doctoral and masters students conduct cutting edge research at George Mason University that is aimed to serve persons with disabilities and their families.

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ASPIRE Purpose

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ASPIRE Purpose

ASPIRE is designed to prepare special educators who are well-qualified for, and can act effectively in, leadership positions as researchers and preparers of special educators in institutions of higher education (IHEs). ASPIRE scholars will be well-prepared to acquire a position in IHEs (e.g., college or university faculty or similar higher education position) after graduation. As faculty, ASPIRE graduates will be in positions to use technology in teacher preparation and research for elementary and secondary diverse students with high-incidence disabilities (e.g., learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, high-functioning autism, mild intellectual disabilities).

ASPIRE has four competencies embedded within and across the program through eight mechanisms, as depicted in the visual.

  1. Special Education Pedagogy for Pre- and In-Service Educators
  2. Research Skills Acquisition and Implementation Toward a Productive Scholarship Trajectory
  3. Innovative and Highly-Qualified with Technology
  4. Effective Interventions for Students with High-Incidence Disabilities