Universal Design for Distance Education: A Guide for Online Course Development

LaRon A. Scott, Ed.D., An assistant professor with the School of Education, Dr. LaRon Scott teaches graduate courses (both online and face-to-face) in teaching methods, collaboration and universal design for learning. He brings experience of effective online teaching strategies to the school, having completed the Preparing to Teach Online course through the Center for Teaching Excellence at VCU in 2012. Dr. Scott also currently serves as the director of the M.Ed. in special education s general education track, managing the recruitment, improvement, and support of candidates. In 2014 he received the VCU School of Education s Award for Distinguished Teaching. Dr. Scott received his master s degree in education from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Doctor of Education degree from Walden University.

Dr. Colleen A. Thoma is a nationally recognized leader in the area of self-determination and transition planning, particularly focusing on the preparation of teachers and related services personnel to facilitate self-determined transition planning for students with disabilities. Thoma is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Council for Exceptional Children (including Division on Career Development and Transition, Division for Teacher Education, Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities, and Division on Research) and TASH. Thoma was a recent Ruderman Family Policy Fellow, working with the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination, and was named a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She received the Distinguished Research Award from the School of Education at VCU, and serves on the editorial boards of several special education journals.