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.

PhD Students Funding

The Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbility provides support for Ph.D. students’ travel and technology as needed to meet their goals for research and professional growth. In addition, the Helen Kellar Scholarship is available for Ph.D. students within the College of Education and Human Development whose research is focused on individuals with disabilities (see scholarships).

Faculty in the Division of Special Education and disAbility Research at George Mason support doctoral students with multiple opportunities for developing leadership skills in research, teaching, and service, and have received grants that also provide support for students’ tuition, travel, and technology needs.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The following supports are available for upcoming doctoral students with primary specialization in special education:

  • 10-hour and/or 20-hour GRA grant funded position(s) on the federally funded project aiming to improve essay writing for struggling writers with and without disabilities through motivating educational games

  • Supplemental packages including a laptop, wireless keyboard and mouse, headset, tablet, travel stipend up to $2,000 per year to support conference travel, research stipend up to $1,000 per year to support research activities

CURRENT/ON-GOING OPPORTUNITIES

Project ASPIRE

Project ASPIRE: Advancing Special Education Pedagogy, Innovation, and Research toward Effective Interventions focuses on technology in teacher preparation and research for students with high-incidence disabilities. This program offers student support for tuition, fellowships, travel, and supplies with funding from a U.S. Department of Education (OSEP) grant.

Learn More

PRISE

Project PRISE: Policy and Research-Intensive Special Education focuses on linking research to policy to target the special education teacher shortage. This program offers student support for tuition, fellowships, travel, and supplies with funding from a U.S. Department of Education (OSEP) grant. Collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University.

Learn More

Virginia Is for Leaders

Virginia Is for Leaders: Development of Experts in Evidence-based Literacy Practices for Students with Disabilities focuses on the development of experts in evidence-based literacy practices for students with high-incidence disabilities. This program offers student support for tuition, fellowships, travel and supplies with funding from a U.S. Department of Education (OSEP) grant. Collaboration with the University of Virginia.

Learn More