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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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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Project ASCEND

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The Special Education Program at George Mason University was recently ranked 17th in the nation by US News and World Report and is pleased to offer fellowship funding for qualified applicants to a new, more intensive and comprehensive cohort doctoral program in high incidence disabilities to prepare individuals for special education positions in higher education.

Project ASCEND (Applying Scholarship to Create and Evaluate Next Developments in Special Education) is funded by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Project ASCEND will include critically important offerings to substantially update and enhance its current doctoral program. New, research-focused courses in personnel preparation, assessment, and contemporary initiatives including culturally responsive leadership and evidence-based content that integrates the latest technological advances for problem solving contemporary special education issues will be offered. Advanced internships in high-needs schools, and ongoing cohort special education seminars and fellowship/cohort support sessions will facilitate professional development. Students will be mentored by faculty who are actively engaged in state-of-the-art teacher education, research, and culturally responsive leadership activities. The program emphasizes the balance among teaching, research, and leadership competencies to provide intensive, high quality training in all areas required to prepare individuals for faculty positions in higher education.

Project Benefits

  • Up to $21,000 in fellowship funding
  • Tuition coverage
  • Research supplies
  • Travel support to state/national professional conferences
  • Opportunities to work with faculty on research and teaching projects
  • Opportunities for additional research assistantship funding

Contact:

Project Directors: Margo Mastropieri mmastrop@gmu.edu and Thomas Scruggs tscruggs@gmu.edu

Faculty Associates: Sheri Berkeley sberkele@gmu.edu, Anna Evmenova aevmenov@gmu.edu, and Kelley Regan kregan@gmu.edu