Bresnahan-Halstead Center
Center
The Bresnahan-Halstead Center at UNC honors Trent Halstead and supports research and advocacy for students with special needs and their families.
About the Center
The Bresnahan-Halstead Center was established in 1994 as a result of an endowment established at the University of Northern Colorado by Charles Bresnahan and his wife Mary.
Mr. Bresnahan provided the endowment to honor his grandson, Trent Halstead, who died in 1993 at the age of 33. Mr. Halstead was identified with Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited abnormality of the X chromosome, causing disabilities ranging from mild to severe intensity.
Charles Bresnahan was well known in the Colorado business and athletic worlds. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 for his achievements as a four-sport star at Colorado A & M (now Colorado State University) and for his longtime work as a referee in several sports. He also had a successful career in Denver area real estate. He died in 1995 at the age of 96.
Images of the Center
Areas of Support
The Bresnahan-Halstead Center is committed to work for the advancement of knowledge and quality of services for people with disabilities and their families.
The Bresnahan-Halstead Center works to make life better for people with disabilities. We do this by supporting research, training, teamwork, and scholarships. Our goal is to help both teachers and families of students with disabilities. We want to give them the tools and knowledge they need to better support these students.
The Center’s main purpose is to improve learning, social skills, emotions, and job opportunities for people with disabilities. To help with this, we give funding to faculty in the School of Special Education and members of our Advisory Board. We give special preference to those working toward higher certifications or licenses.
The Bresnahan-Halstead Center supports schools and agencies by offering technical assistance and partnerships to improve education for students with disabilities. We connect administrators with faculty experts who provide training on chosen topics.
Each year, the Center gives money to help teachers and researchers in the School of Special Education at UNC do studies that fit the Center’s mission.
The Bresnahan-Halstead Center works to improve knowledge and services for people with disabilities. It does this through research, training, partnerships, and scholarships. To support this mission, the Center offers funds for faculty research projects and student helpers. Money may be used to pay a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) for up to 8 hours a week or to help doctoral students with their dissertation research.
Our Partners
GOAL Program
The Bresnahan-Halstead Center at the University of Northern Colorado continues to partner with the Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education and the state of Colorado in supporting one of the state’s first higher education programs for students with intellectual disabilities, GOAL (Go On And Learn). GOAL is a residential four-year certificate program designed to enroll students with intellectual disabilities each year into college courses modified by UNC GOAL staff, students, and volunteers.
School of Special Education
Founded in 1954, UNC’s School of Special Education prepares teachers to serve students with disabilities and students with gifts and talents. The faculty believe all students can learn and excel when given strong instruction, advocacy, and high expectations. Their mission is strengthened through collaboration with families, educators, and service professionals.
Our Impact
- Special Education Summer Academy
- 100 participants
- Early Childhood Special Education Summit
- 71 participants
- Special Education Directors Leadership Academy
- 32 participants
- SEDLA follow-up +/- 20 participants
- HECSE Short Course
- 10 doctoral students
- Adams 12: Co-teaching
- 11 teachers; Middle school
- Elizabeth: IEP, Prosocial Behavior
- 76 (21 SE teachers, 38 paras, 17 related services)
- San Luis Valley: TVI support
- Students with VI & families
- Family Coalition: Vision Retreat
- 5 organizations X the families they support
- Experiences of students and faculty in an online PhD program
- 25 students & 10 faculty: Improvement of UNC PhD program and recommendations for other online special ed doctoral programs
- PTT Teacher Ed Financial Burden Survey
- 500 participants: Understanding financial burdens can inform policy solutions to address barriers to enter the profession through high-quality preparation programs.
- Dissertations:
- Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions When Supporting Students with Dyslexia
- An Investigation into What Contributes to High Rates of Preschool Inclusion in Rural Kansas School Districts
- International Division on Career Development and Transition Conference (1 board member)
- CEC Teacher Education Division (2 faculty)
- American Council on Rural Special Education Conference (1 faculty)
- GOAL Scholarships
- Financial/tuition support for 2 students (a year) to attend the GOAL program at UNC.
- Support for GOAL students to attend the SOTA Conference:
- 4 students; provided students with self-advocacy and leadership experiences.
- PEAK Conference
- Sponsorship of the 2024 Conference on Inclusive Education.
- Teacher Grants
- AI Summit
- Impact on AI policy at the national level
- Support for school principals; collaboration with CASE
- Collaborate with CDE
The Center works in partnership with various agencies in Colorado, the nation, and internationally to achieve these missions. The Bresnahan-Halstead Center operates within its established bylaws.
