Experience

Syracuse University School of Education

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• PHD Student-Researcher

  • Aug 2020 - Present

  Sara Jo (she/her) is a PhD student studying inclusive (special) education in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University where she works as a graduate teaching assistant, instructor of record, snd research assistant. Her research centers students with intellectual disabilities and/or those with ‘complex’ support needs in inclusive settings, inclusive higher education, education policy, de-centering whiteness within education, parental advocacy in public education, breaking down hierarchies with disability, and pre-service inclusive educator training.



National Down Syndrome Society

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Manager of Inclusive Education Programming

  • Jan 2018 - Jul 2020

  I assist parents by representing families at IEP meetings to ensure that students are educated an inclusive environment. I also work with schools on making systematic changes to create inclusive environments. I provide trainings to districts on creating inclusive environments, accommodations, modifications, pushing in of related services, positive behavior supports, and UDL. I analyzed federal education policy/ legislation and help to develop resources on these. I manage NDSS' Inclusive Education Task Force which runs two monthly webinar series, creates resources for parents, etc.

• Taishoff Inclusive Education Fellow

  • May 2017 - Jan 2018