2020 AUCD Young Professional Award

December 16, 2020

The Young Professional Award is presented to a person in the field of disabilities under the age of 40 who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to people with developmental disabilities and their families through work as a bridge between the academic sector and the community.

 

Sheida K. Raley, PhD

Department of Special Education, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

"Dr. Raley epitomizes the dedication and commitment to people with developmental disabilities and their families through her work as a bridge between the academic sector and the community that the Young Professional Award recognizes. Dr. Raley is currently a Research Assistant Professor at the Kansas UCEDD (KUCDD); she previously served as a UCEDD trainee at KUCDD and as the AUCD Emerging Leaders Board Representative. Her teaching, research, and service contributions demonstrate her strong potential for leadership as well as her strong focus on building partnerships between community members and researchers to promote outcomes that are meaningful for the community, namely building inclusive educational systems that address the needs of all learners.

Dr. Raley completed her doctoral studies in the Department of Special Education at KU in May of 2020, and immediately transitioned to a Research Assistant Professor role to continue to advance her work. She began her career as a teacher of students with severe disabilities in California and Los Angeles but sought out additional experiences as she wanted to advance her abilities to make contributions to self-determination, inclusion, and promoting meaningful outcomes for students with disabilities, particularly  creating more inclusive opportunities for students with extensive support needs. During her time in the doctoral program at KU and in her transition to a faculty role, Dr. Raley engaged with and has taken on leadership roles across multiple research, teaching, and service projects that focus on building partnerships to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities."