AN AFFILIATE OF THE LIFE SPAN INSTITUTE & THE DEPT. OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Beach Center on Disability

Staff Detail

Staff Photo

Dr. Wendy Parent

Research Associate Professor

University of Kansas, Dole Building
1000 Sunnyside, Room 1052
Lawrence, KS 66045-7601

Office Phone: (785) 864-1062

Fax: (785) 864-0753

Email: wparent@ku.edu

Bio: Wendy Parent, Ph.D., C.R.C. is a Research Associate Professor and Assistant Director Lawrence site, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, a Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, at the University of Kansas. She is the Principle Investigator for two grants through the Department of Education Women’s Education Equity Act and the National Governor’s Association New Freedom Initiative focusing on improving competitive employment outcomes for transition aged youth and young adults with disabilities. She was previously with the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia where she taught graduate/undergraduate Interdisciplinary education courses and supervised student internships with an emphasis on severe disability. In addition, Dr. Parent served as the principle investigator for a five-year Workforce Action grant through the Department of Labor focusing on enhancing customized employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through direct service, product development, and systems change. Her areas of interest and research are supported/customized employment and transition from school to work for individuals with severe disabilities with an emphasis on creative funding and support strategies, individual and family control, job coach training and leadership, interagency collaboration and service delivery issues, and systems change.

Education: Ph.D., Urban Services Leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1994 M.S., Rehabilitation Counceling, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1985 B.S. Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1982

Interests: Her areas of interest are supported/customized employment and transition from school to work for individuals with severe disabilities with an emphasis on creative funding and support strategies, individual and family involvement, job coach training and advocacy, and systems change.