Kira Austin, Ph. D. Candidate

Kira Austin, Ph. D. Candidate, joins T/TAC from Chesterfield County schools where she was a special educator for students with autism. Austin assisted in developing a data driven specialty program for students with autism. She also assisted in the inclusion of students with autism. She is also interested in secondary transition and paraprofessional training. Austin began her career at the Faison School for Autism. She is currently pursuing her Ph. D. in special education leadership and disability policy from VCU. She has also taught courses at VCU in the School of Education. She is a program specialist for autism and positive behavior supports at T/TAC at VCU.

Education

•  M.Ed. Special Education, Virginia Commonwealth University (2009)

•  Post Graduate Professional License- Mental Retardation K-12

• B.S. Psychology , Liberty University (2006)

Professional Experiences

• Program Specialist, Training and Technical Assistance Center, VCU, 4/11 - present

• Special Education Teacher, Swift Creek Middle School, Chesterfield County Public Schools 2007 - 2011

• Team Lead Instructional Assistant, The Faison School for Autism, Richmond, VA 2006-2007

Current Professional and Academic Association Memberships

• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

  • Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD)

  • Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT)

• Autism Society of America

  • Central Virginia Chapter

Publications

• Austin, K. M. (2011). Individualized transition planning: Putting self-determination into action. In P. Wehman (Ed.), Life beyond the classroom: Transition strategies for young people with disabilities (5^th ed.) (pp. 71-96). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

• Thoma, C. A., Boyd, K., & Austin, K. M. (2011). Teaching for transition: Not what to teach, but how to teach. In P. Wehman (Ed.), Life beyond the classroom: Transition strategies for young people with disabilities (5^th ed.) (pp. 201-236). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Presentations

• Thoma, C.A., Batalo, C., Achola, E., Wolfe, D., Boyd, K., & Austin, K. (2010, October). Follow-up to the 2009 State of the Science Conference: A qualitative review of meeting transcripts.  Presentation at the 2010 State of the Art Conference on post-secondary education and individuals with intellectual disability. Fairfax, VA.