Kathleen M. Whitbread, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Contact
Phone: 860.231.5362
E-mail: kwhitbread@sjc.edu
When Dr. Kathleen Whitbread was young, she was struck by the separate worlds of children with and without disabilities. While in high school, she worked as a counselor in a camp for children with disabilities. "I remember thinking that the camp was just like the camps I went to as a kid - there was swimming, archery, arts and crafts, sports - and I wondered why we had separate camps when we were all doing the same activities." This experience led to what has been a nearly 30-year career focused on inclusive schools and communities.
"I am most proud of the advocacy work that I do on behalf of children with disabilities and their families," said Dr. Whitbread, who came to the College in 2007. "Whether that takes the form of advocating for a reading program for a kindergartner with Down syndrome or protesting a movie that belittles people with disabilities or testifying at a hearing to ensure the rights of a child with disabilities to be educated in her local public school, I am committed to using whatever tools I have to educate people about the importance of valuing everyone in our society."
Degrees
Ph.D., Educational Leadership, 1999, Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, OH.
M.S., Special Education, 1996, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT.
B.S., Special Education and Psychology, 1980, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT.
Recent Research/Publications/Presentations
Teffs. E. & Whitbread, K. (2009). Level of preparation of general education teachers to include students with autism spectrum disorders. Current Issues in Education, 11
(10).
Whitbread, K. & Nicoll-Senft, J. (2007). The STAR protocol process: Facilitating collaboration between families and school district personnel. The Electronic Journal of Inclusive Education, 2 (2).
Whitbread, K., Bruder, M., Fleming, G., and Park, H. (2007). Collaboration in special education: Parent professional training. Teaching Exceptional Children, 39 (4), 6-14.
Whitbread, K., Feinstein, A., & Kechijian, L. (2007). The relationship between the juvenile justice system and public schools in serving children with disabilities. Data Report. Farmington: University of Connecticut Center on Developmental Disabilities.
Kardos, M. & Whitbread, K. (2007). Educating children with autism in inclusive classrooms. The Inclusion Notebook, 6 (1), 2-17.
Whitbread, K., Nicoll-Senft, J. & Pace, L. (2006). Literacy instruction and students with intellectual disabilities in Connecticut. Connecticut Association for Reading Research, 3, 15-22.
Eason, A. & Whitbread, K. (2006). IEP and Inclusion Tips for Parents and Teachers. WI: Attainment Company.
Whitbread, K. (2004). The physician's role in educational planning for students with developmental disabilities. Connecticut Medicine, 68 (7), 515-519.
Whitbread, K. & Eason, A. (2009, January). Inclusive education: From law to implementation. Opening seminar in series on educating children with Down syndrome. Sponsored by the Dallas Down Syndrome Guild, Dallas, TX.
Whitbread, K. & Sparago, D. (2008, October). Facilitators: Aging in place for people with disabilities: Including our elders. Statewide symposium hosted by the Connecticut Developmental Disabilities Network, Cromwell, CT.
Eason, A. & Whitbread, K. (2008, July). Individual education program plan: The dream and the nightmare. Annual Convention of the National Down Syndrome Congress. Boston, MA.
Whitbread, K. (2008, April). Social skill and friendship development in elementary school-aged children with disabilities. Annual Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children, Boston, MA.
Whitbread, K. & Eason, A. (2008, March). Reading for students with significant disabilities: Let's raise the bar. Annual conference of the Council on Parent Advocates and Attorneys, Orange County, CA.
Fleming, G., Veneziano, J., Eason, A., & Whitbread, K. (2008, January). Families as Partners: A Train-the-Trainers model. Funded by the Connecticut Children's Trust Fund, Norwalk, CT.
Whitbread, K. & Eason, A. (2007, December). Reading instruction for students with significant disabilities: Let's raise the bar. Annual Conference and Convention of TASH, Seattle, WA.
Whitbread, K. & Golder, S. (2007, November). Curriculum design and instruction in inclusive classrooms. Presentation at the Connecticut Down Syndrome Annual Convention, Cromwell, CT.
