James McCann

Jim McCann received his EdD from the GWU Graduate School of Education and Human Development's Special Education and Disabilities Studies Program in 2018. His dissertation research examined the relationship between visual language and early literacy development in deaf and hard-of-hearing children. He received his MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University in 2001, and his BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Spanish in 1999 from Penn State University. 

Dr. McCann's research interests are identifying language disorders separate from language delay due to lack of accessible language in deaf and hard-of-hearing children acquiring visual language; identifying evidence based practice for language instruction and intervention with D/HOH children; and the communication development of deaf and hard-of-hearing children with complex communication needs who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies due to significant additional motor, intellectual, and/or sensory needs. 

He directs the signed language developmet, disorders, and deprivation (SL3D) lab. The goal of the SL3D lab is to identify evidence-based practices for language and literacy assessment and intervention for deaf and hard of hearing children who are struggling to acquire language skills. Projects often focus on the signing modality. One project includes measuring language outcomes and language growth following intervention delivered using narrative and expository signed texts. Another project is the early language acquisition project (ELAP). This is a longitudinal study that investigates language acquisition, resilience, and parent-child interactions. Families with D/HH children between 3 months and 5 years old participate in 4 sessions over two years.