--- title: Kathleen VanTol date: 2022-02-02T16:25:00-06:00 author: Click Rain Admin canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/people/kathleen-vantol" section: People --- [ View Directory](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/faculty-information) ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/people/68a815c48a3a216f8aa.jpg?mode=crop&pos=top-center&w=25&h=25&f=webp&c=6331921f&v=90f97180cdc56d8c0b3a2d49f41a54584c23f7036bd24d342d75a69865f12dbe) [Education](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/faculty-information?department=education) [Master of Education](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/faculty-information?department=master-of-education) # Dr. Kathleen VanTol Professor of Education & Director of Master of Special Education ![]() [712-722-6266](tel:712-722-6266) ![]() ![]() Dr. Kathleen VanTol joined the Education Department in 2009. Her specialty areas are special education and teaching English as a second language. She holds a B.S. from Calvin College in biology. She completed her M.A. at Calvin College in special education and has also completed a graduate program in TESOL at Grand Valley State University and holds a doctorate from Western Michigan University in special education with a focus on TESOL. VanTol has completed post graduate studies in Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has over 35 years of experience working in the field of education and is a Board Certified Advocate in Special Education. VanTol has developed special education programs and procedures and has worked with schools to provide training and consultation. She has served on the Iowa Special Education Advisory Panel and currently serves on the task force for Iowa’s Special Education Guidance System. [More About Dr. VanTol](https://www.drkathleenvantol.com/) --- ## Articles by Kathleen VanTol [ ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/20934.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=20958dad&v=e9b5ffbd80efcb08e2005848ebc2f831b428661d74b97e00836481826f22c56f) Essays Feb 27, 2025 ### The Church and Disability Justice: A Review of My Body Is Not a Prayer Request By Kathleen VanTol When we separate those with disabilities into special ministries or exclude them from everyday life, we miss the opportunity to learn from their experiences and grow together. How can we build a church that sees disability not as a burden, but as an integral part of the body of Christ? Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/in-all-things/the-church-and-disability-justice-a-review-of-my-body-is-not-a-prayer-request)