Her primary teaching interests include teacher education coursework related to teaching adolescents with mild to moderate disabilities and advanced courses in learning disabilities. Her research is currently focused on the ways adolescents with disabilities advocate for themselves in learning environments and the ways adults facilitate this process. She has published several articles and book chapters on citizenship, service learning and disabilities. Dr Abernathy studies the development of quality preservice teachers and works with doctoral students interested in preservice teacher education. Dr Abernathy received her doctorate from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1992 and taught at Weber State University for six years before taking a position at the University of Nevada