Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbility - George Mason University
students at graduation
About Us

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) is an interdisciplinary campus-based organization focusing on improving the lives and productivity of children and adults with disabilities. KIHd combines the resources of the university with local, state, regional, national, public, and private sector agencies and organizations to develop products, services, and programs for persons with disabilities.

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Licensure, Certificates & Training Grants

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) collaborates with a consortium of Virginia universities to offer training/licensure options for teachers of students with visual impairments and severe disabilities. Distance education makes the programs more accessible and maximizes the number of individuals who can receive the training.

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students, parents, professionals attending state of the art conference
Professional Development

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) serves teachers, parents, therapists, and community service providers by providing a variety of continuing learning experiences via annual workshops, conferences, and project activities. In many cases, KIHd uses distance education to provide teacher training and professional development across the state.

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Initiatives

Since its inception, KIHd has grown not only in size, but also in its development of innovative programs for improving the lives and productivity of children and adults with disabilities. The interdisciplinary campus based institute combines the resources of George Mason University with local, state, regional, national, public, and private sector agencies and organizations.

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Research of Consequence
Research

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) continues to build and support numerous educational research projects that vary across disciplines spearheaded by the Mason faculty members. Our goal is to increase evidence based instructional and behavioral strategies to improve academic outcomes for all students with disabilities.

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Graff, Heidi

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PhD, George Mason University
Associate Professor
Academic Program Coordinator, Mason Life
Director, Mason LIFE (Learning Into Future Environments)
Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities

Contact Information

Send email to Dr. Graff

Phone: (703) 993-8036
Fax: (703) 993-5070

Heidi Graff's website

George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Krug Hall 110C
4400 University Dr.
MS 1F2
Fairfax, VA 22030

Profile

Heidi J. Graff began working on the Kellar Instructional Handheld (KIHd) System as a facilitator for the 2004/2005 George Mason University Graduate Immersion Program for Instructional Design and Development. She got involved in the project due to her professional and personal experience in working with children with Autism. Prior to her work with the KIHd System project, for almost ten years, Heidi administered and co-partnered a private practice to assist families and children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. During that time, she became very familiar with discrete trial training and the limitations of previous technology. With her teaching certificate in Elementary Education from SUNY, College at Cortland and her Master's degree from Long Island University in Library Science, it seemed natural for her to pursue a Ph.D. in Education to research intervention methodologies.

While at George Mason University, Heidi has had the opportunity to work as an adjunct professor where she taught courses related to special education, collaborative consultation and single subject design. She has the role of Project Coordinator on the KIHd System Steppingstones grant project. Furthermore, after graduation in May of 2007, she happily accepted the position of Mason LIFE Program Director. Heidi's future plans include making the LIFE program a model post secondary program for students with intellectual disabilities with parent participation, research, funding, and inclusive community practices.