Linda Mason, Professor/Endowed Director, Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities, College of Education and Human Development, received $60,000 from the U.S. Department of Education for the project: "Inclusive Practice in Early Childhood (2019-2020)."
With this funding, the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) in Region 4, part of the Helen Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities, will plan work and allocate resources to address needs identified within the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and TTAC missions, directly related to the goals of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).
TTAC staff will assist VDOE in developing and implementing activities related to promoting inclusion in early childhood in two main ways.
First, they will create a system of partnerships with leaders in early childhood special education in order to build and sustain capacity of quality early childhood programs by facilitating three Spring LEADS institutes. Funds from this grant will support one-day Spring live events to be held in Charlottesville, Williamsburg, and Wytheville.
Second, they will support Community of Learning Early Childhood Inclusion, Toolbox Series #2 activities. Specifically, GMU TTAC staff will support The Community of Learning website and technology needs for meetings and a one-day Summer Institute (hotel, presenter, and materials) event to be held in Richmond.
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Funding for this project began in November 2019 and will conclude in October 2020.