(June 19, 2007) James Thompson and Hedda Meadan, faculty members in the Department of Special Education, were awarded a $40,000 grant from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) to expand their work on Family Assessment Portfolios (FAPs). FAPs refer to scrapbooks, Web-based profiles, and movies that families create to introduce their children to educators, establish good communication between home and school, and influence planning for special education services and the provision of individualized supports. Although there is widespread consensus on the importance of mutual respect and collaborative problem solving among educators and family members, effective family/school partnerships are oftentimes difficult to establish and maintain. FAPs address longstanding challenges associated with home and school collaboration by using multimedia technology to enhance communication and assure family participation in educational assessment and planning processes.
ICDD's funding will enable Thompson and Meadan to work with staff from the Ray Graham Association's Early Intervention Program in Downers Grove (serving children birth to age 3) and the Eisenhower Special Cooperative Developmental Learning Program at Spaulding School in Midlothian (serving children ages 3 to 5) on creating FAPs. FAPs will be created with multiple families in the coming school year and the effectiveness of the approach will be evaluated from the perspectives of educators as well as family members.
Thompson reports that he is "very excited to be working with the Ray Graham Association and Eisenhower Cooperative on this project" and notes, "both organizations are true leaders in providing services and supports to children with disabilities in Illinois." The project is funded for one year through ICDD's Emerging Issues to Improve Systems Investment Initiative, which provides funding for innovative and promising practices. Thompson and Meadan’s proposal was one of eight projects funded.
© 2008 Illinois State University • An equal opportunity/affirmative action university encouraging diversity • Privacy Statement • Contact Us • Check COE faculty and staff e-mail
