Donna H. Lehr
Associate Professor Emerita
Dr. Donna H. Lehr is an associate professor emerita in special education at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Along with her work in the special education program, she served as the college’s associate dean of academic affairs for 10 years. Her expertise is in the design, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs for students with extensive support needs and their inclusion in general education schools and classes.
Dr. Lehr has extensive experience working with educational teams, schools, and school districts supporting their goal of providing inclusive education for their students with disabilities. Her scholarship has focused on instructional systems, practices, and policies that facilitate the learning and acceptance of this population of students who often challenge educators.
Recent News
Education
PhD, University of Kansas
MS, California State University, Fresno, California
BS, Southern Connecticut State College
Courses
Introduction to Young Children with Disabilities
Introduction to Severe Disabilities
Selected Publications
Books
Brown, F., & Lehr, D. (Eds.) (1989). Persons with profound disabilities: Issues and practices. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.
Lehr, D.H. & Brown, (Eds.) (1996). Persons with disabilities who challenge the system. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.
Book Chapters
Lehr, D. H. & Harayama, N. (2020). Understanding and Meeting the Health Care Needs of Students with Severe Disabilities. In F. Brown, J. McDonnell, & and M.E. Snell. Instruction of Students with Severe Disabilities (9th edition). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.
Ryndak, D., Lehr, D.H., Harayama, N., & Foster, M. (2021) Collaborative Teaming for Effective Inclusive Education for Students with Severe Disabilities. In Spooner, F., Algozzine, B., & Waldron, N.L. (Eds.) Handbook of Effective Inclusive Elementary Schools: Research and Practice (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003043874
Articles
Rossetti, Z., Lehr, D., Pelerin, D., Huang, S., & Lederer, L. (2016). Parent involvement in meaningful post-school experiences for young adults with IDD and pervasive support needs. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 54, 260-272. doi: 10.1352/1934-9556-54.4.260
Lehr, D. H. (2020). Placement of Students with Severe Disabilities Who Have Complex Health Care Needs in General Education Classes. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 45(1), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796919895971
Ghai, J. L., Lehr, D. H., Harayama, N. E., Spooner, F., & Protopopova, A. (2022). Animal-assisted interventions as an adjunct to ABA services: Clinician practices and perceptions. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15(3), 659-676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00605-4
Rossetti, Z., Lehr, D., Shaheen, T., Baulier, K., Burnette, K., & Taub, D. (2023). Parent Perceptions of Remote Instruction for Students with Extensive Support Needs. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 48(1), 41-58.
Selected Presentations
Lehr, D.H., Landeau, J. & Moldover, J. (2019). Practical Tools for Inclusionary Practice in Education: The Role of Neuropsychologists. Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society, Cambridge, MA.
Rossetti, Z., Lehr, D.H., Baulier, K., Shaheen, T., Burnette, K. & Taub, D. (December 2021, December 2 - 5 ). Successful Approaches and Needed Solutions for Remote Instruction of Students with Extensive Support Needs. TASH 2021 Conference. New Orleans (virtual).
Taub, D., Jackson, L., Lehr, D. McDaid, P. & Ryndak, D. (December 2021, December 2 - 5 ). Reflecting on Inclusive Systems of Education: Organization Tool and Resources for Transformation. TASH 2021 Conference. New Orleans (virtual).
Taub, D., Jackson, L., Lehr, D. McDaid, P. & Ryndak, D. (December 2021, December 2 - 5). Results of a Literature Review on Feature of Inclusive Education for Use in Systematic Change. TASH 2021 Conference. New Orleans (virtual).
Lehr, D. H. (2021, November 19) Evidence-based Practices: Instructional Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation for Students with Autism. Second Conference on Education for Cognitive Development of Persons with Special Needs, Huai Bei Normal University.