It is with great sorrow that we share with you news about the death of our friend, colleague, and mentor Dr. Rich Simpson. It is a profound and sudden loss to so many who were positively impacted by his kindness, intellect, and leadership.

Dr. Simpson was a founding member of MSLBD and was instrumental in the growth and success of the organization. He was a prolific author and researcher in the areas of behavior disorders and autism, and lead the field toward the evidence-based practices movement in special education. Dr. Simpson also was a remarkable teacher, having inspired and trained countless special educators to better serve individuals with disabilities and their families. Even in retirement after 42 years of service in the Department of Special Education at KU, Dr. Simpson remained active in scholarship and service. Perhaps most notable was his friendly and caring disposition. He was a wonderful friend to so many people. The ways in which we will miss him are too numerous to count, but please consider sharing a fond memory in the comments on our Facebook page.

Dr. Simpson’s obituary is at the link below. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Richard Simpson Endowed Scholarship at Baker University, his alma mater. A memorial and celebration of his life will be planned for early January. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=richard-l-simpson&pid=187346691&

Watch A Conversation with Richard Simpson
Rich Simpson shares his reflections and advice to those in the field of educating children with unique academic & behavioral challenges. https://archive.org/details/Simpson4529