Tom E.C. Smith, Ed.D.
Professor of Special Education
Curriculum and Instruction
213 Peabody Hall
Phone: (479) 575-3326
FAX: (479) 575-6676
tecsmith@uark.edu
Degrees:
B.S.E., University of Mississippi, Science Education, 1969
M.Ed., University of Mississippi, Special Education, 1970
Ed.D., Texas Tech University, Special Education, 1977
Teaching Areas:
Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
Disability Law
Mental Retardation
Autism
Transition
Research Interests:
Inclusion of students with disabilities and legal issues related to disabilities.Professional Biography:
Tom Smith retired June 30, 2007, as head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and returned to the faculty as Professor of Special Education in the College of Education and Health Professions. Prior to coming to the University of Arkansas in 2002, Dr. Smith was Professor of Special Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (1996 – 2002); Associate Dean, College of Education, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (1998 – 2000); Professor and Director of Research, University Affiliated Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (1992 – 1996); Chairperson and Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) (1988 – 1992). Prior to going to UAB, Dr. Smith was on the faculty at the University of Arkansas from 1978 – 1988. Dr. Smith earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Mississippi, and a Doctor of Education degree from Texas Tech University. He served in the United States Army for four years, rising to the rank of Captain.
Academic Interests and Accomplishments:
Dr. Smith has authored or co-authored 18 books; eight book chapters; and 35 journal articles. He has made more than 200 presentations at national, regional, and state professional meetings; and he has conducted workshops on Section 504 in over 40 states. He has also authored grants funded at more than $1 million. In 1992, President Clinton appointed him to the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation; he was re-appointed for two additional terms. Since 1994, Dr. Smith has served as the Executive Director of the Division on Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children, a national, professional organization with more than 6,000 members.
Personal Information:
Tom is married to Debi, a first grade teacher in the Fayetteville School System. He has three children, Jake, Alex, and Suni.Publications/Presentations:
Polloway, E.A., Miller, L., & Smith, T.E.C., (2003). Language instruction for students with disabilities (3rd Ed.). Denver, Love Publishing. 450 pages.
Smith, T.E.C., Polloway, E.A., Patton, J.R., & Dowdy, C.A. (2004). Teaching students with special needs in inclusive settings, (4th Ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. 548 pages.
Smith, T.E.C., Gartin, B., & Murdick, N., & Hilton, A (2005). Families of students with special needs. Columbus, OH: Merrill. (in press). Approximately 450 pages.
Patton, J.R., Polloway, E.A., & Smith, T.E.C. (2000). Educating students with mild mental retardation. In M. L. Wehmeyer & J.R. Patton (Eds.). Mental retardation in the 21st century. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
Smith, T.E.C. (2005). Legal issues. In M.C. Holbrook (Ed.). Children with visual impairments. (2nd ed.). (in press). Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
Smith, T.E.C. (2001). Section 504 and the ADA: What schools need to know. Remedial and Special Education, 21, 335-343.
Smith, T.E.C. (2002). Section 504: Basic Requirements for Schools. Intervention in School and Clinic, 37, 2-6.
Smith, T.E.C. (2002). The individuals with disabilities education act: A time for some important changes. Principal Leadership, 2, 6-9.