David Cihak is a Professor of Special Education in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, where he also serves as Interim Associate Dean and Director of the Bailey Graduate School of Education. His research interests include the use of effective instructional and behavioral strategies; specifically, video, augmented, virtual, mobile, and context-aware technologies for improving educational, vocational, functional, and social/communicative outcomes for students with intellectual disability and autism in classroom and community settings. He has published over 70 data-based research studies, textbook, chapters, monographs and manuals focused on academic and social/behavioral interventions for individuals with severe disabilities and autism resulting in greater competency, community access, and acceptance.
Dr. Cihak has served in national leadership roles, including President of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities. He currently Chairs the Council of Exceptional Children’s Interdivisional Caucus (2016 Vice-Chair; 2017 and 2018 Chair). The Interdivisional Caucus is composed of all 18 CEC divisions. As Chair, he has been a leader in the Interdivisional Caucus initiative on the maltreatment of children with disabilities, increasing awareness and understanding through recognition, prevention intervention and responding.
