Ann Monroe-Baillargeon, assistant professor, recently received a $21,000 grant from the New York Higher Education Support Center (HESC) for Systems Change, an initiative of the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities within the State Education Department. Monroe-Baillargeon serves as liaison for the HESC’s midwest region, a collaborative consortium of faculty in inclusive education from colleges and universities throughout the midwest region of New York State.

Members of the consortium work to support each other and to support the needs of K-12 schools in the area. Information shared during regular regional meetings help to maintain and increase ongoing partnerships with high-needs schools in the region and promote inclusive education.

Planned activities for the region in 2004-05 include a presentation by a nationally recognized authority in inclusive education to area K-12 teachers, administrators, faculty, and parents; faculty development initiatives which encourage co-teaching and guest lecturing partnerships; and a research project which will explore the understandings of the participants in this regional collaborative consortium.