The travel scholarship for 2001 has enabled Phyllis to spend time travelling to the University of Washington, Seattle and the University of Maryland, Washington DC. She spent a greater period of time at the University of Washington (one month), a shorter visit (one week) to the University of Maryland. Whilst in the USA she was able to arrange an opportunistic one-day meeting with colleagues at the University of Central Florida. Phyllis was particularly interested in the provision, initiatives and developments that each of the Universities offer in relation to:

• training teachers to work with pupils with severe and complex learning disabilities
• training teachers to work in inclusive contexts
• competency/ standards based training
• research interests in relation to teacher education and learning