Lee Mitchener Tolbert Center for Developmental Disabilities and Autism: $1.25 Million Training Grant

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and the Lee Mitchener Tolbert Center for Developmental Disabilities and Autism are pleased to announce the receipt of a $1.25 million training grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. PI is Beth DeGrace, PhD, OTR/L, and Co-PIs are Sandra Arnold, PT, PhD and Thubi Kolobe, PT, PhD. The project will train a total of 54 occupational therapy and physical therapy students at both the professional entry and graduate levels in translating research to best practice using a wraparound mentor-the-mentee model that also includess community practioner partners.  The focus of this innovative, interprofessional grant is to improve services for children with disabilities receiving special education and related services in the school setting, with an emphasis on individualizing interventions to maximize academic achievement, friendships and a sense of belonging, areas known to be related to health and quality of life.