Biography
Laura N. Sarchet, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Niagara University in Lewiston, NY. She is an autistic self-advocate and former special education teacher who uses her experiences to raise awareness about autism and disability through research and practice.
Focus of Teaching
- Autism: Theory and Practice
- Consultation and Collaboration in Special Education
- Seminar in Special Education
- Curriculum & Instruction in Inclusive Early Childhood Classrooms
- Early Childhood Development
- Health, Nutrition, and Safety in Early Childhood
- Creative Activities and Movement in Inclusive Early Childhood
Current Research
Dr. Sarchet’s research interests include teacher education and teacher preparation programs, Universal Design for Learning, self-advocacy, autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and postsecondary education.
Selected recent publications:
- Sarchet, L. N. (2026). Disabled and neurodivergent teacher education faculty experiences: Connecting to inclusion perspectives through Disability-Reflective Pedagogy. Teacher Education and Special Education.
- Sarchet, L. N., Love, K., Carson, C., & Rashid, M. M. (2025). Incorporating universal design for learning in Hybrid-HyFlex college courses to enhance student belonging, engagement, equity, and learning outcomes. College Teaching, 1-5.
- Sarchet, L. N., Love, K., & Mock, M. (2025). Tips for inclusive postsecondary education programs on college campuses: Peer mentors’ perspectives on access and inclusion. Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning, 17(2), 27-46.
- Sarchet, L. N. (2024). Experiences of disabled and neurodivergent faculty in higher education: Asystematic literature review. Journal of Disability Studies in Education, 4(2), 156-177.
Educational Background
- Ph.D., Teaching and Curriculum
University of Rochester, Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development - M.S.Ed., Inclusive Adolescent Education (Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12)
Nazareth College - B.S., Early Childhood Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities (Birth-2)
Roberts Wesleyan College