Maria Paiewonsky, Ed.D
Maria Paiewonsky, Ed.D., is a Transition Specialist at the Institute for Community
Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Dr. Paiewonsky has
supported numerous school districts to develop transition services that include
inclusive postsecondary education options for transition-age youth with intellectual
disabilities. Through this work, Dr. Paiewonsky has assisted school districts
to create partnerships through use of local and regional student support teams,
train teachers to prepare students with an individual transition support model,
and prepare families for the transition to adult supports and services. In addition
to this work, Dr. Paiewonsky has coordinated two initiatives that are focused on
preparing Massachusetts educators, administrators, and guidance counselors to
develop a transition specialty through a series of online graduate level courses.
She has also concentrated her efforts on gathering the voice and feedback of
youth about their perceptions of the transition process and their inclusive college
experiences using participatory action research methods coupled with multimedia
tools.