Claire Stelter, PhD

Dr. Claire Stelter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Disability Studies at West Virginia University. Dr. Stelter also serves as the Training Coordinator for the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities and an instructor for West Virginia University's Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Program, Country Roads. Dr. Stelter earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in transition for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

Dr. Stelter completed her first Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Kansas University Center on Disabilities (KUCD) for one year. She completed her second Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Illinois Institute for Rehabilitation and Employment Research (IIRER) for two years.

Her research investigates and centers the voices of individuals with disabilities, their families, and their communities. She studies issues surrounding young adults and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Autism, and the factors influencing their quality of life, with a focus on transition planning, family involvement, and self-determination. 

Dr. Stelter holds expertise in research, policy, and practices related to individuals with disabilities. She has published scientific research in various high-impact journals, including the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, the Journal of Autism, the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, the Journal of School Mental Health, and the Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She has presented her research at a variety of national and international conferences, including the Society for Research on Child Development, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the American Psychological Association (APA) Conference, and TASH.

Dr. Stelter was named a 2024 Emerging Leader from the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) for her work and dedication to improving disability systems.

Prior to joining West Virginia University, Dr. Stelter taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Michigan at Flint and graduate courses at Central Michigan University, where she prepared future educators to educate youth with cognitive impairment, autism, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.