Dr. Michelle Bonati

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Michelle L. Bonati, Ph.D., is an associate professor of teacher education and co-chair of the education department at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Her research interests include service-learning pedagogy and inclusive teaching practices that support students and young adults with disabilities in K-12 and higher education. She has conducted research on inclusive education in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United States. She enjoys mentoring undergraduate and graduate students to learn about the research process and has worked with several students to complete research projects.

• Education
  • Special Education Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Special Education and Rehabilitation M.A., University of Arizona
  • Speech and Hearing Sciences B.S., University of Arizona
• Teaching Areas
  • Special education
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism spectrum disorder positive behavior supports
  • Emotional disability
  • Instructional practices
• Research Areas
  • Inclusive education
  • Collaborative education practices
  • Service-learning pedagogy
• Recent Publications
  • Chatlos, C., Mussaw, S.-M., Weissman, J. V., Woods, M. R., Hoeh, E., Bonati, M. L., Squires, M. (2025). The effectiveness of video model training of multidisciplinary team meetings for school psychology graduate students. School Psychology Training and Pedagogy.
  • Hosshan, H., Aziz, N.A., Tan, L.W., Nor, N.D.M., Bonati, M.L., Evans, D., Habidin, N.F. Othman, M.S., Zalli, M.M.M., & Rakami, N.M.H.N. (2025). A literature review of theoretical perspectives toward parent-mediated behavioural intervention for autistic children. Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, 40(1), 5–31. https://doi.org/10.21315/apjee2025.40.1.1
  • Rigney, J., Hoeh, E., Puliatte, A., & Bonati, M. L. (2025). Students, candidates, and scholars: Organizing a student research group to facilitate teacher candidate and teacher educator scholarship. In Clinically based teacher education in action: Cases that illustrate the complex work of teacher educators (pp. 81-90). Information Age.
  • Dymond, S. K., Bonati, M. L., Plotner, A., Neeper, L., Kim, R. (2024). Trends in secondary curriculum for transition-age students with severe disabilities. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 59(1) 85-96.
  • Hoeh, E., Bonati, M. L., Chatlos, S., Squires, M., & Countermine, B. (2023). Stop, collaborate, and listen: A faculty learning community developed to meet the needs of pre-service professionals. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 17(1), Article 25, pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2023.17125
  • Grigal, M., Papay, C., & Bonati, M. L. (2023). Higher education for students with intellectual disability: Expanding research, policy, and practice. In Lyman, D. & Madaus, J. (Eds.). Handbook of higher education and disability: International perspectives (pp. 201-2014). Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802204056.00025
  • Chatlos, S., Hoeh, E., Bonati, M. L., & Squires, M. E. (2023). Interdisciplinary pre-service professional preparation through video modeling. In D. D. Slanda & L. Pike (Eds.), Handbook of research on interdisciplinary preparation for equitable special education (pp.21-41). IGI Global.
  • Hoeh, E., Bonati, M. L., & Puliatte, A. (2022). Women’s journeys in academia: Plan B as childless and childfree women in higher education. In H. Schnackenberg (Ed.), Women in higher education and the journey to mid-career: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 239-258). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4451-1.ch012
  • Hosshan, H., Stancliffe, R., Bonati, M. L. & Villeneuve, M. (2021). Peer-seating groups and social participation by students with learning disabilities in full-inclusion in Malaysian secondary schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2021.1973125
  • Bonati, M. L., & Andriana, E. (2021). Amplifying children’s voices within photovoice: Emerging inclusive education practices in Indonesia. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 49(4), 409-423. http://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12405
  • Hosshan, H., Stancliffe, R., Villeneuve, M., & Bonati, M. L. (2020). Inclusive schooling in Southeast Asian countries: A scoping review of the literature. Asia Pacific Education Review, 21(1), 99-119. doi: 10.1007/s12564-019-09613-0
  • Spandagou, I., Little, C., Evans, D., & Bonati, M. L. (2020). Inclusive education in schools and early childhood settings. Springer.
  • Hoeh, E. & Bonati, M. L. (2020). Higher education faculty addressing the diverse learning needs of students with disabilities within the Universal Design for Learning framework. In M. E. Squires, Y. Yong, & H. L. Schnackenberg (Eds.), Ethics in Higher Education (pp. 97-126). Nova Science.
  • O’Brien, P., Bonati, M. L., Gadow, F., & Slee, R. (Eds.). (2019). People with intellectual disability experiencing university life: Theoretical underpinnings, evidence and lived experience. Brill.
• Recent Presentations
  • Breen, S. C., & Bonati, M. L. (January 2026). Modified Schema-Based Instruction (MSBI) and generalization: A review of the literature. Poster accepted for presentation at 27th International Council for Exceptional Children – DADD: Conference on Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Developmental Disabilities. Long Beach, CA, USA
  • Koktowski, K., Benton, J., Bonati, M. L., Chatlos, S., & Hoeh, E. (2026). Roundtable presentation Council for Exceptional Children strand, Presented a roundtable presentation at New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) Fall 2025 Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Breen, S. C., & Bonati, M. L. (January 2025). Modified Schema-Based Instruction (MSBI): A mathematics intervention for postsecondary students with extensive support needs. Paper accepted for presentation at 26th International Council for Exceptional Children –DADD: Conference on Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Developmental Disabilities. Clearwater, FL, USA
  • Breen, S. C., & Bonati, M. L. (November 2024). Addressing the research to practice gap: Preservice teacher-led intervention research. Presented a roundtable presentation at New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) Fall 2024 Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Breen, S. C., & Bonati, M. L. (March 2024). Modified-Schema Based Instruction (MSBI) as a mathematics intervention for students with disabilities. Paper presented at Association of Teacher Educators Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA, USA.
  • Duprey, D. A., Bonati, M. L., & Haina, B. (March 2024). Benefits of implementing a student-centered Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation team. Presentation at AAC&U Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Student Success. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  • Bonati, M. L., Haina, B., & Heard, A. (November 2023). Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation: Practices to build capacity for difficult conversations in the classroom. Presentation for the SUNY Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Conference. Albany, NY, USA.
  • Chatlos, S. B., Bonati, M. L., Hoeh, E., Squires, M. E., Weissman, J., B.A., Mussaw, S. M., & Woods, M. (November 2023). Video modeling of ethical interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. Poster presented at the New York Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Hoeh, E., Bonati, M. L., & Squires, M. E., & Chatlos, S. B. (October 2023). Interdisciplinary video model training: Preparing pre-service professionals in education. Paper presented at the New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) Fall 2022 Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Breen, S., & Bonati, M. L. (October 2023). Modified Schema-Based Instruction (MSBI) as a mathematics intervention for students with extensive support needs: A review of the literature. Paper presented at New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) Fall 2022 Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Breen, S., & Bonati, M. L. (April 2023). Implications for the use of Modified-Schema Based Instruction (MSBI) as a mathematics intervention for students with disabilities. Paper presented at the SUNY Undergraduate Student Research Conference. SUNY Maritime, Throgs Neck, NY, USA.
  • Breen, S., & Bonati, M. L. (April 2023). Implications for the use of Modified-Schema Based Instruction (MSBI) as a mathematics intervention for students with disabilities. Paper presented at the NYS Council for Exceptional Children Student Conference. Virtual.
  • Breen, S., & Bonati, M. L. (February 2023). Implications for the use of Modified-Schema Based Instruction (MSBI) With a focus on its use as a mathematics intervention for students with disabilities. Paper presented at the Education, Health, and Human Services Student Research Conference. Plattsburgh, NY, USA.
  • Hoeh, E., Bonati, M. L., Squires, M., Countermine, B., & Chatlos, S. B. (October 2022). A multidisciplinary faculty learning community developed to address gaps in pre-service education about interdisciplinary collaboration. Paper presented at the New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) Fall 2022 Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Puliatte, A., Bonati, M. L., Hoeh, E., Rigney, J., & Squires, M. (October 2022). Students, candidates, and scholars: Organizing a student research group to facilitate teacher candidate and teacher educator scholarship. Paper presented at the New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) Fall 2022 Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Hoeh, E., Puliatte, A., & Bonati, M. L. (October 2022). Future north country educators: Building the pipeline in a region of declining population and growing special education shortages. Paper presented at the New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) Fall 2022 Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
  • Emerging inclusive education in Indonesia. Paper presented (virtual) at the 17th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Special Education: Building an Inclusive Culture Worldwide. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
  • Kavanagh, K., & Bonati, M. L. (April 2022). Perceptions, facilitators, and barriers to promoting self-determination for elementary school students with disabilities. NYS Council for Exceptional Children Student Conference. Albany, NY, USA.
  • Kavanagh, K., & Bonati, M. L. (February 2022). Perceptions, facilitators, and barriers to promoting self-determination for elementary school students with disabilities. Education, Health, and Human Services Student Research Conference. Plattsburgh, NY, USA.
  • Hoeh, E., Bonati, M., Chatlos, S., Squires, M. (October and November 2021). Multidisciplinary faculty learning community project-based professional development: A committee on special education video series. Asynchronous recorded on-demand presentation. New York State Association for Teacher Educators and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Educators Annual Conference. (Virtual).
  • Kavanagh, K., & Bonati, M. L. (April 2021). Perceptions, facilitators, and barriers to promoting self-determination for elementary school students with disabilities. SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference. Old Westburgh, NY, USA (Virtual).
• Awards & Honors
  • 2024 Teaching with Brightspace Award, Center for Teaching Excellence, SUNY Plattsburgh
  • 2024 Published Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2024 Award, Center for Teaching Excellence, SUNY Plattsburgh
  • 2022 SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador, SUNY Online
  • 2017 Excellence in Teaching Award, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
• Professional Affiliations & Memberships
  • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) member
  • CEC Division for Research member
  • CEC Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities member
  • CEC Division on Teacher Education member
  • CEC Division on Career Development and Transition member
  • New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Educators member
  • Open SUNY Fellow, SUNY Online Teaching Community