Grace Francis
Doctoral Student and Research Assistant
University of Kansas
1200 Sunnyside Ave., 3125 Haworth Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045
Office Phone: (785) 864-0596
Fax: (785) 864-7605
Email: glucyf@ku.edu
Bio:
While obtaining my undergraduate degree, I worked with several diverse families who had children with various disabilities (primarily autism). During this time I realized my passion for working with individuals of all ages who have low-incidence disabilities and their families, as well as a real interest in remediating problematic behaviors and teaching functional skills. While teaching in an urban elementary school in St. Louis, MO I came to the conclusion that serious policy changes are necessary to ensure success for all students. I was also alarmed by the lack of school to home transfer and the frequent disregard of what interventions would work best for families. This greatly influenced my decision to continue my education at KU with the hopes to one day conduct practical research that will improve the quality of life for non-Western families who have children with low-incidence disabilities and promote positive educational policy change. I also enjoy soccer, brisk fall days, The Simpsons and riding my bike.
Why I Came to KU
As a special education instructor, I was struck by the inequities and lack of support that families who have children with low-incidence disabilities receive both in and out of the school environment. I was attracted to the emphasis that the program here at KU places on promoting positive policy change to support families. I was also impressed with research that has come out of KU, as well as the investment that KU faculty and staff make in their students.
Education:
B.A. Special Education, Webster University (2009)
M.A.T. Severe Developmental Disabilities, Webster University (2007)
Interests:
My major fields of focus are low-incidence disabilities and Families. My advisor is Ann Turnbull.
I am interested in exploring disability, communication and behavior within the family. I also intend to concentrate my research on families that are from non-western communities/cultural backgrounds and/or from low socioeconomic statuses
I am currently working with doctoral candidate Judith Gross on her dissertation concerning components and indicators of the participant direction service model. I also help manage the website.