The 22nd Annual Goldstick Family Lecture

Thursday, September 17, 2026 |  4:00 p.m. CT
University of Illinois Philanthropy Center | Rooms 102/103
303 St. Mary's Road | Champaign, IL 61820-6930 

“Inclusive Education: The Right to Belong”

All people have the inherent human right to be full and valued members of their school communities, including students with complex communication and support needs. However, research suggests these children are overwhelmingly excluded from school communities. As a result, they achieve lower communication, social, and academic outcomes and fewer opportunities for flourishing lives as adults. In this Goldstick Lecture, Jennifer Kurth will discuss reasons for this persistent segregation and actions families, schools, and allies can take to make inclusion a reality for all students.

Jennifer Kurth, Goldstick Lecturer

Dr. Jennifer Kurth is a professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Her academic interests include methods of implementing inclusive education. Dr. Kurth’s research also examines how teacher candidates develop their dispositions and skills in inclusive practices.