Since its inception, the WHAS Crusade for Children has provided nearly $20 million in grant support to UofL and , fueling groundbreaking research, innovative education and expanded access to high-quality care for children with special needs.

This year, that legacy of generosity continues with more than $325,000 in new awards supporting programs and equipment that directly improve the lives of children and their families:

• $200,000 for new equipment in听 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• $50,000 for equipment at
• $22,500 for equipment in the听
• $30,000 to support the UofL听
• $22,000 for special education scholarships in UofL鈥檚

This support has touched nearly every corner of the university 鈥� from classrooms to clinics, and from local outreach programs to statewide initiatives 鈥� making a lasting impact on Kentucky鈥檚 most vulnerable children and their families.

鈥淥n behalf of the University of Louisville, I extend heartfelt thanks to the WHAS Crusade for Children for their extraordinary generosity and decades of unwavering support,鈥� said听Jeffrey Bumpous, UofL executive vice president of health affairs and medical school dean. 鈥淭ogether, we are transforming lives, strengthening families and building a brighter future for children throughout the commonwealth.鈥�

The latest investment from the Crusade will further elevate UofL and UofL Health’s ability to educate the next generation of health professionals and expand innovative care to more children and families in need.

鈥淭he partnership between the WHAS Crusade for Children and the University of Louisville is proof that this community鈥檚 generosity truly changes lives,鈥� said Dawn Lee, president and CEO of WHAS Crusade for Children. 鈥淯ofL continues to transform grants into care, research and education that make life better for children with identified needs. This legacy has opened doors for generations of children, and the best is yet to come.鈥�

For more than 30 years, the partnership has not only brought critical resources to special needs children, but has also helped advance UofL鈥檚 and UofL Health鈥檚 missions of improving the quality of life for the communities they serve.

“This enduring partnership demonstrates the power of philanthropy and collaboration,鈥� said UofL Health Interim CEO Jason Smith. 鈥淔rom education and research to compassionate, hands-on care, the WHAS Crusade for Children鈥檚 generosity has improved lives across the Commonwealth.鈥�

Ginevra Courtade, chair of the Department of Special 成人直播, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science in the College of 成人直播 and Human Development, received the grant, along with colleagues from the University of North Florida and the University of Oklahoma. While the entire grant totals $3.5 million, UofL will support six scholars with $1.25 million.

鈥淭he part-time program is meant to allow administrators to stay within their respective districts, while building their skills to advance the field,鈥� Courtade explained. 鈥淭his could be individuals who are already working in administration, or those who are currently special education teachers who show potential to move into leadership roles.鈥� 听听

Doctoral students will be supported through three existing degree programs at the University of Louisville, University of North Florida and University of Oklahoma that prepare special education personnel for rural school systems. These schools will work together to accomplish the project objectives of recruitment of diverse students, implementation of high-quality programming, preparation of scholars and support for communities through an enhanced network of special education leadership. 听

The project will leverage the combined strengths of the faculties at all three schools to prepare and increase the number of personnel needed to address shortages of leadership personnel in high-need, rural areas.

鈥淓ach school presents unique strengths,鈥� Courtade explained. 鈥淭he University of North Florida is strong in special education policy, the University of Oklahoma is strong in research, and we here at UofL bring strength with our community partnerships.鈥�

The curriculum of Project SPIDERS scholars will be enhanced through shared access and mentorship across faculty; joint seminars and coursework; and collaborative applied and disseminated scholar projects.

The need for increased leadership and support for special educators in rural districts is high.

鈥淭he SPIDERS grant affords the opportunity to address the personnel deficit in rural districts,鈥� sad Larry Taylor, executive director of the Kentucky Autism Training Center.听鈥淗aving worked in the rural areas of the Commonwealth, I know firsthand of the challenges for the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel, and it is critical that efforts are made to increase the availability of qualified personnel.听SPIDERS is a great step toward addressing this personnel challenge.鈥�

鈥淟eadership skills afforded by an earned doctorate make a difference for those working in rural areas,鈥� Taylor said.听

To learn more about the College of 成人直播 and Human Development and the Department of Special 成人直播, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science,

Rowlett is pursuing her doctoral degree in special education through the College of 成人直播 and Human Development and says it is the only path she could have imagined pursuing.

鈥淎fter I graduated with my bachelor鈥檚 degree, I went right into teaching and taught in a self-contained classroom for eight years,鈥� Rowlett said. 鈥淚 switched to special education because I have a son who was diagnosed with autism, so it became my life. I wanted to help other moms like me.鈥�

Initially inspired to improve the curriculum and instruction for students in her own classroom, Rowlett returned to UofL to receive her master鈥檚 degree in special education with a focus in autism studies.

鈥淚 pursued that degree just to make myself a better classroom teacher because I felt like there was more I could be doing for my students,鈥� she said.

Rowlett鈥檚 focus narrowed as her own child progressed through the traditional school system.

鈥淢y son attempted college but was not successful on his first try. He is working now, and it took time to find a job that was supportive of him,鈥� Rowlett said. 鈥淎nd it was hard watching him feel like he was failing. A lot of times, I had to remind him, 鈥楾he world is not ready for people like you.鈥� So, I’m back in school to help prepare the world to be ready for people like him.鈥�

In her seventh year of teaching, Rowlett began to consider the opportunity of returning to pursue her doctoral degree.

鈥淚 ran into one of my son’s teachers, and she said, 鈥榃ell, now that your son has graduated, what are you going to do for yourself?鈥� Moms don’t really think like that,” she said. “Like, what? For myself?鈥�

But the seed had been planted. So, when she learned of a grant through the College of 成人直播 and Human Development鈥檚 Department of Special 成人直播, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science called Project P.U.R.P.L.E, she knew she had found an opportunity she couldn鈥檛 pass up.

Project P.U.R.P.L.E. (Preparing Urban and Rural Personnel as Leaders in 成人直播) is a cooperative partnership between the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky that provides full tuition and other benefits for students pursuing doctoral degrees in education.

Rowlett has also been recognized as an a program housed within the . This program provides mentorship, peer support and professional development to education doctoral students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Through her studies, Rowlett has narrowed her focus to transition planning and the creation of engaging and supportive environments for students with autism. The impact of her education has begun to extend through both her personal and professional lives.

鈥淢y son鈥檚 employers often draw off my experiences and ask for my professional advice. I just had a phone call from my cousin, who is also a special educator and wanted me to come talk to his neighbor who has a son on the autism spectrum who needs help with transition services,” she said.

Rowlett鈥檚 eyes are on the future and the many ways she sees herself making an impact in education.

鈥淢y dream is to help create policies and procedures that streamline the transition process for students and their families,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s never going to be perfect because the world is ever changing, but I really want to streamline these processes so that parents aren’t frustrated and left in the dark, and so that these individuals with unique needs can be successful.鈥�

Project PURPLE (Preparing Urban and Rural Personnel as Leaders in 成人直播), a joint effort between the UofL College of 成人直播 and Human Development and the UK College of 成人直播, will fund five doctoral-level scholars from each institution beginning in the fall 2020 semester.

It is funded by the U.S. Department of 成人直播 Office of Special 成人直播 Programs.

Ginevra Courtade, UofL associate professor and chair of the Department of Special 成人直播, is co-director of the project.

鈥淲e look forward to using our partnership to recruit and support a diverse group of scholars and to implement a comprehensive program focused on evidence-based practices for students with disabilities in urban and rural high-need schools,鈥� she said.

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Participants will work with nationally recognized faculty from both institutions.

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鈥淭he current special education faculty is aging, and projections indicate that retirements will continue to increase by as much as 50%. Without special education faculty, institutions of higher education cannot prepare adequate numbers of special education teachers, an area that has a critical shortage in Kentucky and nationwide,鈥� said Melinda Ault, the project鈥檚 director and an associate professor of special education in the UK College of 成人直播 Department of Early Childhood, Special 成人直播, and Rehabilitation Counseling.

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鈥淭he project takes advantage of the strengths of the faculties at both UK and UofL,鈥� said Kera Ackerman, the project鈥檚 co-director at UK and an assistant professor in the UK College of 成人直播 Department of Early Childhood, Special 成人直播, and Rehabilitation Counseling.