| Session Title: Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Populations TIG Business Meeting and Presentation: Inclusion of Individuals With Disabilities in Evaluation - An Opportunity to Inform the National Discussion |
| Business Meeting Session 549 to be held in Laguna B on Friday, Nov 4, 7:00 AM to 7:50 AM |
| Sponsored by the Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Populations |
| TIG Leader(s): |
| June Gothberg, Western Michigan University, june.gothberg@wmich.edu |
| Jennifer Sullivan Sulewski, University of Massachusetts Boston, jennifer.sulewski@umb.edu |
| Patricia Mueller, Evergreen Evaluation & Consulting LLC, pat@evergreenevaluation.net |
| Presenter(s): |
| Norma Fleischman, United States Department of Education, norma.fleischman@ed.gov |
| Linda Thurston, National Science Foundation, lthursto@nsf.gov |
| Abstract: Co-presenters Linda Thurston, Project Director at the National Science Foundation and Norma Fleischman, Senior Evaluator at the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services will discuss their progress towards inclusive evaluation. They are working with Federal Government members to determine and address issues involving the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in project-level and program-level evaluations. Government sponsored projects and programs must include evaluations that provide valid and reliable information used to inform continuous program improvements and accurately present evidence of project impacts. The presenters invite members of the Disabilities and other Vulnerable Population TIG to inform this national discussion. Perspectives necessary to working with individuals with disabilities on evaluation studies are needed. Examples are: provisions for appropriate, accommodated support for effective communication with people with disabilities; and provisions for effective recruitment strategies to ensure that the full diversity of the study population is represented and feels legitimately invited to participate. |