About the Presenters

Dr. Irma Brasseur-Hock is a Program Director for the University of Kansas Department of Special Education Online Programs and an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. Dr. Brasseur-Hock earned her Ph.D. in special education at the University of Kansas. Together with her colleagues, she developed and validated the Fusion Reading curriculum, a reading program for struggling adolescent readers. She has also designed an online asynchronous professional development model in which extensive digital supports for teachers and students are available to support the implementation of the Fusion Reading curriculum. Dr. Brasseur-Hock has been a Teaching Professor for the University of Kansas Special Education Department for 14 years. She has extensive experience as a special education teacher and is highly regarded for her skills as a professional development specialist, particularly in the area of blended learning and adolescent literacy.

James D. Basham, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. He is the founder of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Implementation and Research Network. His research is focused on the implementation of UDL, STEM education, learner-centered design, innovation, and technology in human learning. He has received and managed over $27 million in successful research and development funding. He is well-published, has given hundreds of talks, serves on various boards for journals, companies, and organizations, and is the principal investigator on various projects, including the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL).

Sean J. Smith, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. He is also the Past President of the technology division for the Council for Exceptional Children, Innovations in Special Education Technology (ISET), and member of the Board for the National Down Syndrome Congress. Dr. Smith’s research interests focus on innovations and technology solutions to support struggling learners and those with disabilities, particularly interventions aligned with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. At present, Dr. Smith is the principal investigator on a federally funded project exploring the impact of virtual reality on struggling learners in the area of social-emotional development. He has authored over 100 books and articles, given hundreds of scholarly presentations both nationally and internationally, and serves on various boards for journals, organizations, and parent groups focused on enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Dr. Smith, with a variety of collaborators, has received and managed over $25 million of external research and development funds. Most importantly, he is the father of four children, one having Down syndrome. It is through this work as a father that he has sought to apply his knowledge of effective practices with parents, family members, and similar stakeholders as we look to enhance the lives of our children, ALL of our children!