Professor of Special Education Receives National Award
Posted on 4/17/2009
Barbara Gartin, University of Arkansas professor of special education, recently received the Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award from the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Developmental Disabilities. The award is named for Dr. Burton Blatt (1927-1985), a pioneer in humanizing services for people with mental retardation.
Gartin was presented with the award earlier this month in Seattle, honoring her exceptional efforts in furthering the cause of people with cognitive disabilities, mental retardation, autism and related disabilities. Gartin has co-authored three books: one on special education law, one concerning differentiation of instruction, and one about developing professional and family partnerships.
Her record of service to the profession includes serving as president of the Education Division of American Association on Mental Retardation, president of the Division on Developmental Disabilities in the Council for Exceptional Children, and state president of both the Arkansas Council for Exceptional Children and the Arkansas Division on Developmental Disabilities. Her leadership in the field of disabilities includes her advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities over a period of 35 years and her work providing training and support to both in-service and pre-service teachers of children and youth with disabilities.
"My goal is to provide a better tomorrow for persons with disabilities, through education and advocacy," she said. "I believe that this is the path toward an equal and just society."
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