Academic Intervention Outreach Grant for Children with Developmental Disabilities

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center received funding through the Watt Foundation to extend a number of the services being provided to children with disabilities in metropolitan Nebraska into surrounding communities where resources are limited. Specifically, this project was designed to (a) test the feasibility of evidence-based, proven practice methods of increasing the academic performance of children with handicaps in targeted communities, and (b) foster necessary collaboration among local community constituents (i.e., parents and educators) critical for successful on-going efforts to improve academic skill acquisition for children with handicaps.

The primary objective of this project was to teach parents effective instructional practices for helping their children with disabilities achieve academic competence. To accomplish this goal, children with disabilities and their parents attended an 8-week workshop designed to teach parents how to intervene academically with their children. These workshops covered a variety of topics including brief assessment of academic skills, effective reading and math interventions, study skills, and monitoring intervention effectiveness in the home. The format of these workshops consisted of describing and modeling the interventions for parents and then allowing parents to practice the strategies with their children while receiving feedback from the workshop presenters.

For additional information on this investigation, please contact:

Dr. Gina M. Kunz or Dr. Rachel Valleley

Project Key Investigators: Gina M. Kunz (PI), Rachel Valleley (PI), Tawnya Meadows

Project Co-Directors: Gina M. Kunz and Rachel Valleley

Project Consultant: Mark D. Shriver

Click here to view related publications and presentations developed from this grant.