Background

Background

An Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at UNI, I teach a course about methods and assessment for individuals with disabilities, an introductory course about diverse learners, and a course about assistive technology. My areas of interest and experience include assistive and instructional technology, literacy, and inclusion.

Outside of teaching and other departmental duties, my current work includes a personnel preparation grant focused on increasing the quality of our Instructional Strategist I certification program, a literacy software development project geared towards young children with disabilities, and a statewide project aimed at increasing the literacy learning opportunities for children in Iowa with disabilities.

Prior to coming to Cedar Falls, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In North Carolina, I served as Director of Research at a nonprofit agency focused on improving the working and learning environments for early childhood teachers and their students. In my work as a researcher at the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies (CLDS) at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, I served as project coordinator for two federally-funded grants addressing the literacy learning of and impact of technology on children with disabilities in inclusive and self-contained settings.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. 1997 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

M.Ed. 1988 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

B.A. 1985 Augustana College

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

International Reading Association

International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Literacy Research Association

United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

TASH

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Staples, A., & Edmister, E. (2012). Evidence of two theoretical models of writing in young children: Instructional implications for students with developmental disabilities. Topics in Language Disorders, 32(4), 319-334.

Edmister, E., Staples, A., Huber, B., & Garrett, J. (in press). Creating writing opportunities. Teaching Young Exceptional Children.

Foley, B. E., & Staples, A. (2007). Supporting literacy development with assistive technology. In L. Keefe and S. Copeland (Eds.), Literacy for all students. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.

Foley, B. E., & Staples, A. (June 2006). Assistive Technology Supports for Literacy Instruction. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 15(2), 15-21.

Foley, B. E., & Staples, A. (July, 2006). Assistive Technology Supports for Literacy Instruction. Perspectives on Language and Learning.

Sturm, J. M., Spadorcia, S., Cunningham, J. W., Cali, K., Staples, A. H., Erickson, K. E., & Yoder, D. E., Koppenhaver, D.A. (2006). What happens to reading between first and third grade? Implications for students who use AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 22(1), 21-36.

Staples, A. H. (2006). INTASC Connections. Online supplement to M. Pugach's Because Teaching Matters. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. Available online at http://he-cda. wiley.com/WileyCDA/HigherEdTitle/productCd-04 71068187 ,pageTypetechsol,page-6.html.

Staples, A. H. (2006). Policy into Practice. Online supplement to M. Pugach's Because Teaching Matters. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. Available online at http://hecda.wiley.com/WileyCDA/HigherEdTitle/productCd-0471 068187,pageTypetechsol,page-6.html.

Staples, A. H. (2006). Video Case Studies. Online supplement to M. Pugach's Because Teaching Matters. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. Available online at http://hecda.wiley.com/WileyCDA/HigherEdTitle/productCd0471068187,pageType-techsol,page-6.html.

Staples, A. H., Himes, D., & Pugach, M. C. (2005). Integrating technology in the context of teacher education reform. In M Bailey and S. Rhine (Eds.), Transforming Learning through Technology: Insights and Achievements of the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to use Technology Program (Vol. 2). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Staples, A. H., Pugach, M. C., & Himes, D. (2005). Cases of technology integration in three urban elementary schools. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 37(3), 281-307.

Foley, B. E., & Staples, A. H. (2003). Developing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and literacy interventions in a supported employment setting. Topics in Language Disorders, 23(4), 325-343.

Staples, A. H., & Pittman, J. (2002). Using technology to build inclusive learning communities. In G. Solomon, N. Allen, & P. Resta (Eds.), Toward Digital Equity: Bridging the Divide in Education. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

Staples, A. H. (November, 2001). Helping children with severe disabilities meet state and national literacy standards: Writing. The Literacy Experience, 7, 1-2. Available at: http://www.ablenetinc.com/products/newsletter/news.html

Staples, A. H. (September, 2001). Helping children with severe disabilities meet state and national literacy standards (Part 2 of a 5 part series). The Literacy Experience, 6.

Staples, A. H. (May, 2001). Helping children with severe disabilities meet state and national literacy standards (Part 1 of a 5 part series). The Literacy Experience, 5, 1-6.

Staples, A. H., & Huber, E. (1999). Early Impressions. Collaborations: Journal of Education, 2(1), 15-22.

Neulicht, A. T., Staples, A., & Thomas, S. W. (1996) A functional approach to the assessment of literacy in adults with developmental disabilities. Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Bulletin, 29(2), 28-33.

Staples, A. (1995). Literacy Assessment and Instruction. In A. Neulicht, S. Primlani, and L. Chewning (Eds.), Computer utilization training for employment: A program guide. Raleigh, NC: Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Erickson, K., & Staples, A. (1994). A sound decision. Team Rehab Report, 5(8), 20-23.

Koppenhaver, D. A., Steelman, J. D., Pierce, P. L., Yoder, D. E., & Staples, A. (1993). Developing augmentative and alternative communication technology in order to develop literacy. Technology and Disability, 2(3), 32-41.

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Amy Staples' Web Page. URL: http://www.uni.edu/staples. Last update: 1/30/13.
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University of Northern Iowa. URL: http://www.uni.edu. Department of
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