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

Research Grants

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.


FRaME

Using Feedback, Reflection, and Multimedia to Teach Evidence-Based Practices for Effective Classroom Management. Through this project, the research team will develop a multimedia, multicomponent instructional approach for use in teacher preparation coursework to support teacher candidates' knowledge and implementation of evidence-based classroom management practices. Please contact Dr. Sarah Nagro for more information.

Learn More

VERIFY

Project VERIFY (Value Added Through E-Coaching, Reflection, Instructional Technology, Feedback, and You) intends to deliver school leaders (e.g., principals, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders) with responsibility for providing professional development (PD) to teachers of students with disabilities a web-based suite of data-driven tools.
The goal of Project VERIFY’s technology-based PD is to help school leaders to independently support teachers’ enactment of evidence-based academic vocabulary instruction at the elementary level for students with disabilities. Please contact Dr. Sarah Nagro for more information.

Learn More

Project Explore

The purpose of this project is to explore relationships between teachers' use of evidence-based practices, teachers' experience with and attitudes about adapting instruction for students with disabilities, and students' writing outcomes.
Findings from this research will provide preliminary information about how writing is integrated within inclusive middle school science and social studies.

Learn More

SE Faculty Seed Grants

Every year CEHD supports new or emerging interdisciplinary research projects through the seed grant initiative. Here is a list of CEHD seed grants for 2017-2018 with Special Education faculties.

Learn More

Project WEGO-RIITE

WEGO-RIITE: Writing Efficiently with Graphic Organizers - Responsive Instruction while Implementing Technology Efficiently is funded by the Stepping-Up Technology Implementation program, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. It aims to improve persuasive essay writing for struggling writers with and without disabilities as well as to support data-driven decision making in writing instruction. Contact Dr. Anya Evmenova for more information.

Learn More

CSforALL

Computer Science for All (CSforALL) is a project funded by the National Science Foundation. It focuses on preparing K-5 teachers to integrate the computer science standards of learning in inclusive classrooms to support students with high incidence disabilities. Collaboration between faculty from George Mason University, Old Dominion University, non-profit group CodeVA, and Norfolk City Public Schools aims to broaden computer science curriculum based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Virginia. Contact Dr. Anya Evmenova for more information.

Learn More

Wearable Technology

Assistive Wearables to Support Self-Regulation for Neurodiverse Postsecondary Students is a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It aims to develop a wearable technology application to support young adults with intellectual disabilities in regulating their emotions across different environments (academic, employment, independent living). Contact Dr. Anya Evmenova for more information.

Learn More

DEPICT CS

The Partnership to Implement the Inclusive Computer Science Model of Professional Development is a project funded by the National Science Foundation. It is a partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools to integrate computer science and computational thinking into grades PK-6 using a researcher-developed digital tool called the Digital Effective Platform for Computational Thinking and Computer Science (DECPICT-CS). Contact Dr. Anya Evmenova for more information.

Learn More

Mobile Apps

Helen A. Kellar Institute faculty and staff embrace new technologies as they emerge and make every effort to make content accessible across a range of different formats and devices. Our app development team is in the process of launching several new apps for people with disabilities, service providers and professionals working in the field of special education.

Learn More