Robai Werunga

Robai N. Werunga,  Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Special Education

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

College of Education



Credentials 

  Ph.D          Special Education                              University of North Carolina at Charlotte

M.A.          Special Education                          Fayettevillle State University 

B.Ed          Swahili & Religious Studies          Egerton University

Grants

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Sustainability Engagement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund

Empowering Families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds to Advocate for and Support their Children with Disabilities

The goal of this project is to investigate the needs of immigrant parents and families of students with disabilities (SWD)  the greater Lowell region. Th overarching goal of the project is to empower these families be informed advocates for their students with disabilities, through training.

Werunga, Robai:  PI

SELECT Publications 

Lo, Y., Kourea, L., Werunga, R. N., Owens, T., & Collins, B. C. (Accepted). Embedding Parental Input in Instruction of SWPBS Behavioral Expectations for African American Students.  Preventing school Fail

Werunga, R.N. (2020). The state of homeless black and brown students with disabilities in the era of COVID 19. DDEL Voices (DDEL Quarterly Newsletter) Volume 10, Issue 2. Page 4-7.

Rivera, C; Haughney, K; Clark, K; Werunga, R (2020). Culturally Responsive Planning, Instruction, and Reflection for Young Students with Significant Disabilities. Young Exceptional Children. DOI: DOI: 10.1177/1096250620951767

McKenna, J. W., Garwood, J. D., & Werunga, R. (2020). Reading instruction for secondary grade students with emotional and behavioral disorders: A focus on comprehension. Beyond Behavior29, 18-30.

Werunga, R.N. (2020) Writing Instructional Strategies for Elementary Age Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities. In McKenna, J., & Adamson, R.  Pulling Back the Curtain: Inclusive Instruction for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. New York, NY: Lexington Books, Rowman and Littlefield.

Kourea, L., Gibson, L., & Werunga, R. N (2017). Culturally responsive reading instruction for students with learning disabilities. Intervention in Schools and Clinic,53. 1-10.

SELECT PRESENTATIONS

Werunga, R.N., Minjeong K, Rosales, R, McKenna, J. (March 2021). Cambodian American Parents’ Knowledge of Special Education Services Provided to their Children with Disabilities. Presentation at the 2021 Virtual Council for Exceptional Children conference via L.I.V.E!

Redmond, P., Jez, R. J., Hersey, P., Reid, T., & Werunga, R. (2020). Our profession is political: Advancing equity and democratic activism through culturally responsive teacher dispositions. Recorded paper presented at a meeting of the National Association of Multicultural Education Virtual Conference.

 Werunga, R.N, Minjeong K, Rosales, R, McKenna, J, Lo, Y. (February 2020).  Empowering Immigrant Families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds to Advocate for and Support their Children with Disabilities, Presentation at the annual Council for Exceptional Children conference, Portland Oregon

Werunga, R.N., Muharib, R., Roberson, C. (November 2019). Mastering the skills for a successful academic job search. Presentation at the Annual TED conference, New Orleans LA.

Werunga, R.N. (November 2019). Leveraging the cultural capital of CLD parents through training. Presentation at the Annual TED conference, New Orleans LA.

Haughney, K., Clark, K., & Werunga, R.N. (November 2019). CLD teaching and learning in action: Planning, implementing and reflecting. Presentation at the Annual TED conference, New Orleans LA.

Werunga, R.N. (June 2019).  Lost in translation: examining the barriers to effective involvement of parents of students with disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.  Presentation at the annual DISES conference, Montego Bay Jamaica

TEACHING 

EDUC 2100: Introduction to Moderate Disabilities

EDUC 2200: Assessment of Students with Moderate Disabilities

EDUC 3200: Methods of Teaching Students with Moderate Disabilities

EDUC 5010: Teaching Diverse Learners

EDUC 4400: Special Education Practicum

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SERVICE/COLLABORATIONS 

Affiliate, Center for Autism Research & Education (CARE). The mission of the center is to educate students and the public concerning issues of importance to the autism community. Members of the center conduct interdisciplinary research that is relevant to those with autism throughout the lifespan, with a special focus on underserved populations. The center also partners with local agencies that share similar values of improving the lives of those with autism and their families.

Member, Interdisciplinary Minor in Disability Studies. This is a committee that consists of faculty from various departments across campus whose purpose is to brainstorm ways in which we can collaborate and maximize our student enrollments in a mutually beneficial way. This collaboration is beneficial for our BAED program particularly when it comes to supporting our BAED students who are not able to complete the program requirements successively.

 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robai_Werunga