Ainsworth, Melissa

Send email to Dr. Ainsworth

Phone: (703) 993-5469
Fax: (703) 993-3681
Email: mainswor (@gmu.edu)

View Melissa Ainsworth's curriculum vitae in PDF format.

Dr. Ainsworth serves as an Instructional Faculty member for the Graduate School of Education. She teaches courses in the Adapted Curriculum Program both in the Severe Disabilities Consortium and in Cohort Outreach programs

Dr. Ainsworth’s research focuses on instructional practices and quality of life issues for individuals with low-incidence disabilities.  Her research involves individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism and physical disabilities across the life span. 

Dr. Ainsworth earned a B. A. in English from West Virginia University and an M.A. in English from the University of Wyoming and she began her career in education as an English teacher.  She later became interested in special education and earned both her M.Ed and Ph.D. in special education from George Mason University.  

Dr. Ainsworth’s current research endeavors involve literacy instruction for school-aged students with intellectual disabilities, autism and complex communication needs and science content instruction for adults with intellectual disabilities, autism and physical disabilities.  

·         Ainsworth, M.K., Evmenova, E., Behrmann, M. & Jerome, M. (2016). Teaching phonics to groups of middle school students with autism, intellectual disabilities and complex communication needs.  Research in Developmental Disabilities, 56, p 165-176.   doi:  10.1016/j.ridd.2016.06.001

• Special Education: Adapted Curriculum
• Division of Special Education and disAbility Research
• Special Education
• Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities
• School of Education
• College of Education and Human Development
• Special Education: Severe Disabilities
• Special Education: Non-licensure

• Foundations of Language and Literacy for Individuals with Severe Disabilities (EDSE - 557)
• Curriculum and Methods: Severe Disabilities (EDSE - 661)
• Special Topics in Education (EDSE - 597)
• Internship: Adapted Curriculum (EDSE - 784)
• Curriculum and Methods in Severe Disabilities (EDSE - 463)
• Internship: Adapted (Severe Disabilities) (EDSE - 483)

• Communication and Severe Disabilities (EDSE 434)
• Medical and Developmental Risk Factors for Children with Disabilities (EDSE 447)
• Foundations of Language and Literacy for Diverse Learners (EDSE 457)
• Clinical Practice and Seminar 1: Adapted (Severe Disabilities) (EDSE 465)
• Clinical Practice and Seminar 2: Adapted (Severe Disabilities) (EDSE 466)
• Foundations of Language and Literacy for Individuals with Severe Disabilities (EDSE 467)
• Assessment and Program Planning for Adapted Curriculum (EDSE 533)
• Communication and Severe Disabilities (EDSE 534)
• Characteristics of Students with Mental Retardation (EDSE 542)
• Characteristics of Students with Severe Disabilities (EDSE 547)
• Individualized Supports and Specialized Care of Students with Severe Disabilities (EDSE 669)
• Internship in Special Education (EDSE 790)
• Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (EDUC 897)
• Advanced Internship in Education (EDUC 994)