Sarah Monaco

Sarah Monaco is an Associate Professor and Graduate Co-Coordinator of Special Education at the Department of Special Education, Language, and Literacy within the School of Education at The College of New Jersey. Her work focuses on special education for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and severe disabilities, emphasizing assistive technology and socio-sexuality education.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Special Education from Penn State (2015)
  • MEd in Urban Education from Mercy College (2008)
  • B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Penn State (2004)

Her research explores the use of video-prompting and wearable technology to enhance daily living skills in students with ASD, the development of socio-sexuality curricula for developmental disabilities, and accessibility of abuse-related vocabulary for AAC users. Her publications include journal articles on instructional strategies and book chapters on family collaboration.

Recent grants include a $1,349,946 award from the New Jersey Department of Education (2023–2026), the TCNJ Support of Scholarly Activities (SOSA) Award (2019–2021), and smaller grants for assistive technology research. She has led the Center for Assistive Technology and Inclusive Education Studies since 2018 and has served on multiple curriculum and search committees.

• Scientific Awards:
  • TCNJ Support of Scholarly Activities (SOSA) Award

Monaco has presented at conferences such as TASH, CEC, DADD, and AERA, focusing on technology-driven interventions, disability advocacy, and inclusive educational practices.