The University of Arkansas is inviting parents of youth with disabilities, special educators, general educators, transition specialists, educational administrators and related service providers such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors and social workers to attend an evening, on-campus focus group during the week of Jan. 22.

An interdisciplinary team of U of A faculty received a $1 million grant last fall to create a graduate certificate program to prepare professionals to improve transition services for high school students with disabilities, helping them move into the workforce or post-secondary education. The grant will fund 36 graduate students in special education and communication disorders in completing their master's degree and the transition certificate program.

The team will collaborate with school districts and communities throughout the five-year life of the grant. Suzanne Kucharczyk, an assistant professor of special education, is the primary investigator of the grant project along with Peggy Schaefer Whitby, associate professor of special education, and Kimberly Frazier, associate professor of communication disorders. Other members of the team are Ed Bengtson, associate professor of educational leadership; Lynn Koch, professor of counselor education; Kristi Perryman, assistant professor of counselor education; and Johanna Thomas, assistant professor of social work.

The transition team is looking for insight and to learn from the experiences of parents of youth with disabilities and people who work with them at focus groups scheduled for the evenings of Monday, Jan. 22 through Friday, Jan. 26 and again on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 3. Each meeting will take place at the offices of the Inclusive Educational and Clinical Programs, 410 Arkansas Ave. in Fayetteville. Food will be provided and parking is free. Child care may also be arranged if needed.

To schedule a time to take part in a one-hour focus group, contact Kucharczyk at suzannek@uark.edu or 479-575-6210.

"Help us use your knowledge of effective strategies currently happening, barriers you experience, and ongoing challenges to prepare future educators, related service professionals, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and other school personnel to be effective partners in transition," Kucharczyk said. 

The team is also conducting 45- to 60-minute interviews with young adults with disabilities who completed high school between 2006 and 2016 and their parents and guardians. Each participant will receive a $20 gift card. Contact Kucharczyk to arrange an interview.