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Dr. Elizabeth Finnegan

Professor of Education | School of Education

Elizabeth Finnegan
Phone: 845-398-4169
Email: efinnega@stac.edu
Office Location: Borelli 110
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BIO

Elizabeth Finnegan Ed.D. is a Professor of Education specializing in Special Education. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in special education and literacy. She earned a BA (Hons) in American Literature and American History from the University of Sheffield, England, a Masters degree in Special Education from William Paterson University, NJ and a doctoral degree in Research in Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, NY.

Prior to coming to St. Thomas Aquinas College in 2009, Dr. Finnegan was a public school teacher, working with a wide range of students including students with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, and learning disabilities. She also has experience working with families in Early Intervention.

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

EDUCATION
B.A. in American Studies from University of Sheffield
M.Ed. in Special Education from William Paterson University
Ed.D. in Research in Special Education from Columbia University

CURRENT INTERESTS
Autism, Cultural Perspectives on Disability, Teacher Preparation in Educating Students with Disabilities

PUBLICATIONS
Kalos, M., Finnegan, E.G., Nielsen-Gatti, S.L., Callicutt, S., & Rank., E. (In Press) Intersectional Belonging in Special Education. An intersectional approach to working with students with disabilities. Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group

Finnegan, E. G., & Accardo, A. L. (2022). Written expression in individuals with autism: A meta-analysis. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 9(4), 178-186.

Collucci, M., Finnegan, E.G., & Albin, E. (2022). 20/20 Vision: Clearly seeing what works in an online learning environment. Educate to liberate. The forty-third yearbook of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers. (43) 323-341.

Finnegan, E.G., Asaro-Saddler, K., & Zajic, M.C. (2020). Production and comprehension of pronouns in individuals with autism: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Autism, 24. Online first. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320949103

Finnegan, E. G. (2019). Literacy instruction for students with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive settings. DADD Online, 8, 72-88. http://www.daddcec.com/doj.html

Finnegan, E.G. & Accardo, A.L. (2018). Understanding character perspective: Strategies to support students with autism spectrum disorder. The Reading Teacher, 72, 71-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1682

Finnegan E.G. & Accardo A.L. (2017) Written expression in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48, 868–882. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3385-9

Accardo, A. L., & Finnegan, E. G. (2018; online first Nov. 2017). Teaching reading comprehension to learners with autism spectrum disorder: Discrepancies between teacher and research recommended practices. Autism, 23, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317730744

Accardo A.L., Finnegan, E.G., Gulkus, S.P. & Papay, C.K. (February, 2017). Teaching Reading Comprehension to Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Predictors of Teacher Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy. Psychology in the Schools.

Finnegan, E.G., & Mazin, A.L. (May, 2016) Strategies for Increasing Reading comprehension skills in students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A review of the literature. Education and Treatment of Children.

Finnegan, E.G., & Mazin, A.L. (December, 2015). Teaching reading comprehension strategies to students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Initial analysis of a survey on current classroom practices. Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities Online Journal.

Finnegan, E.G. (2012). Two approaches to phonics instruction: Comparison of effects with children significant cognitive disabilities. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

Finnegan, E.G. (2004). What does it mean to participate in a community of inquiry and for the community of inquiry to grow? Critical and Creative Thinking 12 (1).
Walker, E.G. (1993). Two minutes difference. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 18(5) 309.

REPRESENTATIVE PRESENTATIONS
Finnegan, E.G. (January, 2022). Lessons learned: Teachers’ TPACK development during an on-line summer reading program. Council for Exceptional Children 2022 Convention and Expo.

Finnegan, E.G., Asaro-Saddler, K., & Zajic, M.C. (April, 2021). Those pesky pronouns: Production and comprehension of pronouns in individuals with autism. 2021 Virtual AERA Annual Meeting.

Finnegan, E.G. (2019, January). Literacy instruction for students with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive settings. 20th International Conference in Autism, Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disabilities, Lahaina, HI.

COURSES TAUGHT

ED 303 School, Family, and Community

EDSP 241 Exceptional Children
EDSP 344 Strategies for Behavior Management
EDSP 345 Autism, Identity, and Disability
EDSP 347 Mild/Moderate Disability
EDSP 412 Teaching Methods: High Incidence Disabilities

GLOB 300 A Civic Education

GESP 5004 Mild/Moderate Disabilities

GESP 5005 Autism and Low Incidence Disabilities

GESP 5304/14 Literacy: Reading and Writing Instruction
GESP 5307/17 Instructional Strategies
GESP 5309 Collaboration Skills for the Special Educator

GESP 5401 Introduction to Autism
GESP 6105 Special Education Practicum (Childhood 1-6)

GED 2102 Reading and Language Development

GESP 2601 Exceptional Individuals
GESP 2605 Autism and Low-Incidence Disabilities
GESP 2606 Mild/Moderate Disabilities: Teaching Methods
GESP 2703 Instructional Strategies: Secondary

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