Department of Special Education

James R. Patton is currently an independent consultant and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. He has taught students with special needs at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels in both public and private settings. He was formerly on the faculty at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His primary areas of professional activity are transition assessment and planning, differentiating instruction for students with special needs in inclusive settings, study skills instruction, needs of college students with learning-related challenges, and issues associated with individual with disabilities who encounter the criminal justice system.  He currently works with other professionals internationally and serves as an intellectual disabilities forensics specialist in death penalty cases throughout the country.  He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he attended St. Louis University High School. He earned his BS from the University of Notre Dame and his MEd and EdD from the University of Virginia.

Ed.D.

Patton, J. R., & Clark, G. M. (2013). Transition Planning Inventory (Second Edition) (TPI-2). Austin: PRO-ED.

Clark, G. M., Synatschk, K. O., Patton, J. R., & Steel, L. E. (2012). Career Interests, Preferences, and Strengths Inventory (CIPSI). Austin: PRO-ED.

Polloway, E. A. Patton, J. R., Serna, L., & Bailey, J. W. (2013). Strategies for teaching learners with special needs (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Smith, T. E. C., Polloway, E. A., Patton, J. R., & Dowdy, C. A. (2012). Teaching students with special needs in inclusive settings (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Beirne-Smith, M., Patton, J. R., & Kim, S. (2006). Mental Retardation (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall/Merrill.

• Outstanding Advisor, Best Buddies, Swint Out Award (University of Texas at Austin)
• Eyes of Texas, Service Award (University of Texas at Austin)
• Texas Exes Teaching Award (University of Texas at Austin)
• Burton Blatt Award (Division on Developmental Disabilties, CEC)
• Oliver Kolstoe Aware (Division on Career Development and Transition, CEC)

Analysis of the the adpative behavior profiles of adults with intellectual disabilities

Misconceptions of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities

Media portrayal of individuals with disabilities

Assessment of adaptive functioning

Study skills of students in higher education

Transition assessment & planning

Students with disabilities in higher education

Study skills assessment and instruction

Individuals with disabilities and the criminal justice system

Differentiating instruction for student with special needs in inclusive settings

• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
• American College of Forensic Examiners International (ACFEI)
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
• Council on Learning Disabilities (CLD)
• International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID)