KU Giving Magazine
KU Faculty Portrait — Michael Wehmeyer
Pamela Urlacher
What’s in Your Briefcase, Michael Wehmeyer?
“My world-class collection of books and documents representing people with disabilities throughout history,” said Michael Wehmeyer, Ph.D., KU Department of Special Education chair and Ross and Marianna Beach Distinguished Professor in Special Education. Dating back to 1802, the collection shows the changing views about disability. It’s impossible to keep up with all the current publications — Wehmeyer himself has authored or co-authored more than 460 peer-reviewed journals and edited or co-authored 45 books — but he finds space for significant ones.
These include Exceptional Lives: Practice, Progress and Dignity in Today’s Schools, a textbook he co-authored, and KU’s 2022-23 Common Book, Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong. “To have a Common Book feature disability is a sign we have made progress. When I began this work 30 years ago, this kind of representation for people with disabilities wasn’t available.”
Wehmeyer found his passion for special education while he was a public school teacher. He now researches interventions and instructional methods that teach students with disabilities to set learning goals, create action plans and attain their own goals. “The focus on this work has provided an opportunity to highlight the stories of people with disability who have been successful. They can not only function in society, they can be leaders.”
![briefcase_L3A2759-350px](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/briefcase_L3A2759-350px.jpeg)
Photo by Ann Dean
With his leadership roles as chair and director of the Beach Center on Disability, Wehmeyer is supporting the next generation of scholars and researchers. “I think I’m most proud that the department has remained among the top public university graduate programs in special education and that the research conducted by our faculty continues to lead the field.”
Wehmeyer also wants to help others experience the opportunities he has had in his research journey. “I feel called to give back financially because I know the impact private funds have on the lives of students and faculty, in recognizing them and their research. KU Endowment funds really contribute to the work we do.”
![WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION: KU Distinguished Professor Michael Wehmeyer has assembled books and documents representing people with disabilities throughout history. Wehmeyer directs the Beach Center on Disability, where the collection is displayed.
Photo by Ann Dean](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/briefcase-c-1_L3A2876.jpeg)
Photo by Ann Dean
![WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION: KU Distinguished Professor Michael Wehmeyer has assembled books and documents representing people with disabilities throughout history. Wehmeyer directs the Beach Center on Disability, where the collection is displayed.
Photo by Ann Dean](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/briefcase-c-2_L3A2887.jpeg)
Photo by Ann Dean
![FIRST ACCOUNT: An Historical Account of the Discovery and Education of a Savage Man is the first English printing (1802) of Jean Marc Gaspard Itard’s book about his educational interventions with “The Wild Boy of Aveyron.” The boy, known as Victor, had lived in the wild and was cared for by Itard after being found.
Photo by Ann Dean](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/briefcase-c-3_L3A2904.jpeg)
Photo by Ann Dean
![EARLY EDUCATION: In the early 1900s, there was some progress for education of children with disabilities, although it wasn’t all positive. Psychologist Henry Goddard is pictured next to his book, School Training of Defective Children, which he wrote based on the time he spent working with children in the New York City Public Schools. Photo by Ann Dean](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/briefcase-c-4_L3A2915.png)
Photo by Ann Dean
![A NATIONAL MOVEMENT: In 1950, representatives from 23 parent groups formed the National Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Retarded Children. The association was given a boost by stars Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, who donated the proceeds from their book, Angel Unaware, about their child who was born with Down syndrome and died at age 2.
Photo by Ann Dean](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/briefcase-c-5_L3A2922.jpeg)
Photo by Ann Dean
![DISABILITY RIGHTS: In the 1980s and 90s, self-advocacy became part of the disability rights landscape and the U.S. Department of Education sponsored a conference on self-determination. On display are the conference flyer, the book New Voices, and a photograph of Jay Turnbull, who was the inspiration for the Beach Center. It was founded by his parents, Ann and Rud Turnbull, who were KU faculty members.
Photo by Ann Dean](https://kuendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/briefcase-c-6_L3A2942.jpeg)
Photo by Ann Dean
Current Issue
Issue 38
Spring 2024
In this Spring 2024 issue, we meet faculty and student researchers who are uncovering clues about how organisms change, learn about exciting brain health developments at the KU ADRC, experience a unique study abroad program and get to know inspiring KU students, faculty and alumni.