Our programs are committed to the inclusion of persons with disabilities into all aspects of contemporary society. Effective educational practice is grounded in theory and research about human development and learning, instructional methods, curriculum, and educational policy. The knowledge base in special education is large and growing. We believe that an essential disposition of an effective special education teacher is to value this knowledge base and to critically apply this knowledge to inform decision making and practice. Effective teachers are problem solvers, who construct practical, effective approaches to professional challenges using a sound base of theory and research.
Special educators dedicate themselves to meeting the needs of very diverse students.
Thus, special educators must commit themselves to a problem solving process focused on assessing the needs of individual students and planning effective instructional programs that meet those needs. Special educators, even more than other educators, because of the complexity of their students' problems, need to develop skill in collaborating with families and with a variety of other professionals and community agencies to coordinate education services for individuals with disabilities. Special Education Faculty Al Cavalier , Ph.D., Associate Professor Dr. Cavalier teaches courses in assistive technology and in behavior management and discipline. He is director of the Assistive Technology Laboratory and co-director of the Summer Institute on Instructional and Assistive Technology. He serves on the editorial boards of the journals Technology and Disability, Assistive Technology, and Information Technology in Childhood Education.