Debra Kamps

The goal of this partnership was for JGCP and KCKPS to work together to evaluate the level of knowledge, range of responsibility, time use, implementation of effective instructional practices, and training needs of KCKPS paraprofessionals and the teachers who work with them. The data that come from this evaluation are of interest to both partners. KCKPS had used the data to inform decisions about role assignments, training, and level of supervision for paraprofessionals. Ultimately, the goal...

This postdoctoral program provided six postdoctoral fellows with field experience and methodological training in the design and evaluation of interventions for children and adolescents with serious behavior disorders and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program was housed at the Juniper Gardens Children's Project and the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training.

Literacy skills, social communication skills, and the ability to participate in groups are important for success in educational settings. However, many children with autism are not equipped with these skills, which may potentially limit these children's success in education settings. Moreover, interventions that are effective in peer inclusive education settings have yet to be determined for the estimated three to six children out of every 1,000 who will be diagnosed with autism.

The primary objective of this project is to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a package of intervention strategies designed to reduce the significant behavioral and academic challenges experienced by high school students with behavior disorders. In addition, the research team will conduct supplementary studies to address key issues in special education and are responsive to the needs of policymakers and secondary-level special education practitioners; broadly disseminate their findings; a...

General estimates of the number of school-aged children with documented emotional and behavioral disorders range from 14 percent to 26 percent of the general population. Although advances have been made in developing interventions for reducing problem behavior, there is still a need to determine the efficacy of behavioral interventions in schools. Behavioral interventions based on an understanding of "why" a student displays problem behavior (i.e., the function or cause) have shown promisin...