Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning: Toolkits for Inclusive Instruction

About Kathleen S. PuckettKim K. FloydTara Jeffs

Kim K. Floyd PhD is a professor in the School of Counseling and Well-Being at West Virginia University. Her educational background includes degrees in special education and early childhood from East Carolina University and Old Dominion University. Dr. Floyds interdisciplinary training in early childhood special education and assistive technology allows her to synthesize current research in these fields. Dr. Floyd has considerable experience working with assistive technology in classroom community and home environments. She has developed the Collaborative Assistive and Instructional Technology Education Lab at West Virginia University to support students in teacher preparation programs to learn about assistive technology in authentic environments. Dr. Floyd has collaborated on federal and foundation grants at East Carolina University and West Virginia University to support training of special education teachers mental health and counselor education. She has published numerous journal articles and book chapters for researchers and practitioners. Dr. Floyds current research interests are assistive and instructional technology rural special education inclusive practices and trauma-informed practices. She currently serves as the Coordinator for the Collaborative Assistive and Instructional Technology Education Lab and as Headquarters for the American Council on Rural Education.   Tara Jeffs PhD provides technical assistance in the areas of accessible educational materials assistive technology instructional technology Universal Design for Learning and virtual/online learning technologies. She earned a PhD in the areas of Assistive Technology and Instructional Design from George Mason University. Dr. Jeffs is a passionate assistive technology specialist and teacher educator who implements Universal Design for Learning principles with more than 20 years of teaching experience and professional development using diverse formats (face-to face online and blended) and innovative teaching tools. She feels privileged to work and write with teaching practitioners and educational researchers who bring a wealth of experiences focusing on the infusion of assistive and emerging technologies in the classroom. Dr. Jeffs has disseminated knowledge and expertise in assistive and emerging technologies and Universal Design for Learning through more than 25 articles and book chapters and 130 presentations at state and national conferences over the past 23 years.   Kathleen S. Puckett PhD is associate professor emerita at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Her areas of interest include inclusive practices for students with disabil-ities instructional and assistive technology and international special education services. She is the past president of the Division of Leaders and Legacy (2023) and a past president of the Council for Exceptional Children (2009) and she continues an active role with several Council for Exceptional Children divisions. She has published numerous books and articles related to the education of children with special needs and has received many state and federal grants that recruit and support teachers and leaders in special education. Dr. Puckett has also served on state and national profes-sional boards and committees related to special education services.