Dr. Jessica Bacon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Montclair State University, where she teaches classes on inclusive education and disability studies. Dr. Bacon received her Ph.D. in Special Education from Syracuse University in 2012. Dr. Bacon’s recent publications have investigated the impact of educational policy and standards-based reform movement on inclusive education, embedding disability studies in the K-12 curricula, and post-secondary inclusive programming for students with intellectual and developmental disability labels. She has integrated her research and service commitments by collaborating with community members who are parent-advocates, self-advocates, teachers, and students with disabilities in order to advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities within schooling and community systems.

Jessica Bacon is the faculty coordinator for the Inclusive Education Combined Bachelors to Masters, dual certification programs inK-6 and P-3 education.

Dr. Bacon, with Dr. Susan Baglieri is a co-founder and co-coordinator of the Increasing Access to College (IAC) Project at Montclair State University. The IAC adds to the hundreds of colleges and universities seeking to increase inclusivity and diversity of students with developmental and intellectual disabilities in higher education. IAC offers highly structured services and supports to people who are co-enrolled in day programs for adults with disabilities or in high school transition programs. It provides orientation to college; facilitates academic and social opportunities and course auditing; develops community; and delivers individualized academic support through peer mentorship.

The impact of educational policy and standards-based reform movement on inclusive education, embedding disability studies in the K-12 curricula, and post-secondary inclusive programming for students with intellectual and developmental disability labels.

Disability Studies in Education, Inclusive Education, Critical Special Education, Policy Studies.

Inclusive education and disability studies.

Expert on inclusive education, disability studies, educational policy and students with disabilities, and postsecondary inclusive programming for students with disabilities.