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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ECED 404: Engaging Families of Diverse Learners, Birth – Grade 6

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Important: For the most up-to-date information, refer to the official George Mason Course Catalog

General Information

Credits: 3

Description:

Focuses on strategies for developing culturally appropriate family professional engagement to benefit children, birth – sixth grade, including children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and children with special needs. Explores theories and research supporting a family-centered approach, including family and professional rights and responsibilities, especially in the special education process. Offered by School of Education. Limited to three attempts.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

Current Sections

  • Spring 2025, Section: 001, CRN 12932, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Spring 2025, Section: 002, CRN 12933, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Shannon Anderson

Upcoming Sections

  • Summer 2025, Section: 001*, CRN 41664, Format: Online, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Summer 2025, Section: 002*, CRN 41523, Format: Online, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Fall 2025, Section: 001*, CRN 78893, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Fall 2025, Section: DL1*, CRN 78901, Format: Online, Instructor: Shannon Anderson

*These sections are available to non-degree seeking students as well. To take courses without applying to a degree program, you'll need to submit an application as a non-degree seeking student. If you're interested in applying a course to a degree in the future, set up a call with an admissions counselor. All courses available in Summer 2020 will be offered online.

Prior Sections (partial list)
  • Fall 2024, Section: 001, CRN 73290, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Fall 2024, Section: DL1, CRN 82294, Format: Online, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Summer 2024, Section: B01, CRN 41381, Format: Online, Instructor: Xiaolu Zhang
  • Summer 2024, Section: B02, CRN 42708, Format: Online, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Spring 2024, Section: 002, CRN 14660, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Shannon Anderson
  • Spring 2024, Section: 003, CRN 23517, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Fall 2023, Section: 001, CRN 73853, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Fall 2023, Section: 002, CRN 74564, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Summer 2023, Section: B01, CRN 42055, Format: Online, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Summer 2023, Section: B02, CRN 44455, Format: Online, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Spring 2023, Section: 001, CRN 15307, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Spring 2023, Section: 002, CRN 15966, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Fall 2022, Section: 001, CRN 74917, Format: Hybrid, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Fall 2022, Section: 002, CRN 76032, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Summer 2022, Section: B01, CRN 43402, Format: Online, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Spring 2022, Section: 001, CRN 17288, Format: Hybrid, Instructor: Amber Sansbury
  • Spring 2022, Section: 002, CRN 18728, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Fall 2021, Section: 001, CRN 77946, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Amber Sansbury
  • Fall 2021, Section: 002, CRN 80409, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Robert Gundling
  • Summer 2021, Section: B03, CRN 43783, Format: Online, Instructor: Robert Gundling
  • Summer 2021, Section: D02, CRN 43458, Format: Online, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Spring 2021, Section: DL2, CRN 20793, Format: Online, Instructor: Robert Gundling
  • Spring 2021, Section: DL3, CRN 22491, Format: Online, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Fall 2020, Section: 003, CRN 80807, Format: Online, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Fall 2020, Section: DL1, CRN 83437, Format: Online, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Fall 2020, Section: DL2, CRN 85164, Format: Online, Instructor: Robert Gundling
  • Summer 2020, Section: B03, CRN 42316, Format: Online, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Spring 2020, Section: 001, CRN 11512, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Spring 2020, Section: 002, CRN 20289, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Fall 2019, Section: 001, CRN 77177, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Dana Shin
  • Fall 2019, Section: 002, CRN 80438, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Summer 2019, Section: B01, CRN 42213, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Bweikia Steen
  • Summer 2019, Section: B02, CRN 42216, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: Swati Mehta
  • Spring 2019, Section: 001, CRN 11794, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: El'Tanya Brown
  • Fall 2018, Section: 001, CRN 81072, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: El'Tanya Brown
  • Summer 2018, Section: D01, CRN 42918, Format: Hybrid, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Summer 2018, Section: D02, CRN 42931, Format: Hybrid, Instructor: Colleen Vesely
  • Spring 2018, Section: 001, CRN 12130, Format: Face-to-Face, Instructor: El'Tanya Brown
  • Spring 2017, Section: 001, CRN 13280, Instructor: Debra Fulcher
  • Spring 2016, Section: 001, CRN 14308, Instructor: Debra Fulcher
  • Spring 2015, Section: 001, CRN 17009, Instructor: Debra Fulcher