Kaitlyn Millen - Deafness/Hard of Hearing - University of Northern Colorado

Kaitlyn Millen is currently a doctoral candidate in special education at the University of Northern Colorado. Her research focus is self-determination and students who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH). She has published studies in Topics in Early Childhood Special Education and American Annals of the Deaf and manuscripts in press with the Journal of Special Education, the Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals and a book chapter. She has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in special education and deaf education in face-to-face and online formats. She has also co-led 15 invited professional development workshops on self-determination, student-facilitated IEPs, and the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI). Her dissertation is an analysis of self-determination in students who are D/HH using the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI:SR).

Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Kaitlyn worked at a non-profit organization in Fort Collins, CO called, No Barriers, as the School Programs Manager. In this role, she planned a variety of programs including expeditions in the Grand Canyon for students who are blind, visually impaired, and led expeditions in Peru for students who are Deaf and hard of hearing and in Nepal for students with and without disabilities. 

Before moving to Colorado, Kaitlyn worked as a classroom teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing for three years at the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Northampton, MA. In addition to teaching middle school math, science, and physical education, she started and coordinated social programs including the Explore the Outdoors camping program for D/HH teens, Clarke Buddies (a mentoring and social program), and various other workshops that brought together D/HH students. She also worked as an itinerant teacher of the deaf with students in general education settings. Kaitlyn served on the board of the Massachusetts chapter of A.G. Bell as the Director of Teen Programs.  

Kaitlyn received her Master's degree in education of the deaf from Smith College in Northampton, MA. Prior to becoming a teacher of the deaf, Kaitlyn directed the recreation program at the Tennessee School for the Deaf and worked for various outdoor education programs including leading trips in California, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. She also coordinated the ropes course at the Aspen Camp for the Deaf in Colorado. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Deaf Studies, Outdoor Education, and Environmental Science from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Kaitlyn loves spending time outside, skiing, hiking, camping, and mountain biking.