Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Using Video Modeling To Teach Staff How To Implement Preference Assessments, Megan Weaver

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports

Identification of reinforcers through preference assessments for individuals with disabilities is an important task because it increases the probability of skill development, including academic tasks, self-help skills, social skills, and behavior modification. Teachers of students with disabilities often experience problems with training paraprofessionals to implement preference assessments using written instructions alone. In this study, researchers will investigate whether video modeling will be more effective than written instruction to staff to implement preference assessments. Participants will include three to five paraprofessionals in a classroom setting with no previous behavior analysis training on preference assessments and three to five students in a ...

Validation Of A Brief Prosody Rating Scale For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sarai S. Holbrook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Differences in the speech prosody, or “melody” of speech, of persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have long been noted by researchers. Yet, despite many studies, researchers have not identified a universal description of speech prosody in ASD. It may be flat or monotonous, not different from typical, or overly variable. However, atypical speech prosody can immediately set someone apart from their peers. This distinction could negatively social, academic, and vocational interactions. For those persons with ASD whose speech prosody is different from typical and interferes with daily functioning, valid, reliable, and efficient assessments of speech prosody are needed. Currently ...

Exploring The Impact Of Musical Mnemonic Strategies On Student Achievement And Engagement In Inclusive Science Classes, Zinna Eaton

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports

Students with disabilities often struggle with comprehending material and performing at grade level, and teachers often find new ways to help their students comprehend the curriculum. A common challenge for special education teachers is incorporating different learning styles and various instructional strategies to better assist their students. One teaching strategy and resource that many teachers incorporate is the use of music in their instruction. This research project examines how incorporating music teaching strategies into daily instruction impacts the level of engagement and the academic achievement level of sixth-grade students with and without mild/moderate disabilities within inclusive science classrooms. The ...

Autistic Representation In Charter Schools: A First-Hand Experience Within A Michigan Charter, Morgan Selke

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

Since the 1990s, Michigan has had an overabundance of charter schools established within the state. In hopes that it would urge public school districts to improve. Michigan has become the state with the second-highest amount of charter schools in the nation (Zernike, 2016). There have been many controversial issues that surround the inclusion of charter schools in the public education sector. One issue that I wanted to explore more was the underrepresentation of autistic students and students with special needs in these schools--focusing on the resources and support available to these students. This article showcases my experience teaching, as a ...

Developing Strategic Learners: Supporting Self-Efficacy Through Goal Setting And Reflection, Zoi A. Traga Philippakos

The Language and Literacy Spectrum

When students face academic challenges, when they receive poor grades on a subject, and when they see unchanged performance -even though they put effort on a task- they often develop the belief that they are not capable of overcoming challenges. Continuous underperformance affects students’ self-efficacy and belief that success is an achievable goal. The purpose of this paper is to explain the process of goal setting with continuous reflection to support students’ writing growth and persistence. The paper further comments on teachers’ goal setting for instructional and professional goals in order to support their instructional delivery and their growth as ...

Beliefs And Self-Efficacy Of Parents Of Young Children With Hearing Loss, Sophie E. Ambrose, Margo Appenzeller, Alexandra Mai, Jean L. Desjardin

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to learn more about the beliefs and self-efficacy of parents of young children with hearing loss. Seventy-two parents completed the Scale of Parental Involvement and Self-Efficacy - Revised (SPISE-R), which queries parents about their child’s hearing device use and their perceptions of their own beliefs, knowledge, confidence, and actions pertaining to supporting their child’s auditory access and spoken language development. Two beliefs were identified that related to parents’ action scores and one belief was identified that related to children’s hearing device use. Knowledge and confidence scores were significantly correlated with action scores ...

Using Technology To Monitor Hearing Device Use And Linguistic Environments: Early Intervention Providers’ Perspectives, Margo C. Appenzeller, Sophie E. Ambrose

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

To optimize outcomes of children with hearing loss, early intervention professionals must work with families to optimize both children’s hearing device use and the linguistic and auditory features of their environments. Two technologies with potential use in monitoring these domains are data logging and Language Environment Analysis (LENA) technology. This study had two objectives: 1) to determine whether providers’ experiences, perspectives, and current practices indicate there is a need for tools to better monitor these domains, and 2) to gain a better understanding of providers’ experiences with and perspectives on use of data logging and LENA technology using an ...

Odds Of Autism At 5 To 10 Years Of Age For Children Who Did Not Pass Their Aabr Newborn Hearing Screen, But Were Diagnosed With Normal Hearing, Shihfen Tu, Craig A. Mason, Deborah L. Rooks-Ellis, Patricia Lech

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Background: Research has found atypical Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) activity in some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study examined whether an association may also be found between ASD and pass/refer results obtained via Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) screening. As stewards of large-scale AABR data, an AABR – ASD association may be of interest to EHDI programs.

Methods: State EHDI data for 29,350 children born in Maine between 2003 and 2005 were linked with education records, including special education status, for the 2010/2011 and 2013/2014 school years.

Results: Children who did not pass their ...

Educators’ Perspectives And Instruction: Factors That Influence Students’ Self-Determination Skills, Stephanie D. Wozniak

Education Dissertations

This study was designed to understand the factors that influence educators’ perspectives and amount of instruction of student self-determination skills. A mixed methods correlational survey design was utilized to study these factors. The primary research question was “To what degree and in what manner do primary assignment, years of experience, and educators’ ratings of importance of each component of self-determination predict educators’ total mean self-reported amount of instruction of the components of self-determination?” Quantitative analyses revealed three significant results. For Research Question One, a stepwise multiple regression for predictor variables of ratings of importance found three variables that predicted the ...

The Comparison Of Video Modeling And Task Analysis To Teach Daily Living Skills To Non-Verbal Students With Developmental Disabilities In A Transition Program, Kasey Anderson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the comparison of using video modeling and task analysis to teach independent living skills to students in a transition program. Two non-verbal students with developmental cognitive disabilities participated in this study. The students were taught daily living skills that are part of a functional curriculum (e.g., loading and unloading the dishwasher, brushing their teeth, washing their face, sweeping, and cleaning a table). The first student (Student A), was shown a pre-recorded video of the task being performed and asked to perform the task. The second student (Student B) was presented with ...

The Effects Of Multiple Accommodations On Student Engagement And Work Completion In Fifth Grade Students With Reading Disabilities, Allison Ternes

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of several accommodations that may benefit fifth grade students who have been identified with a reading disability in the general education classroom in order to increase engagement and work completion during English Language Arts instruction. Data was collected through teacher surveys, teacher interviews, and on-task/off-task observations. Surveys were conducted prior to the study, mid-study, and post-study. Teacher interviews were conducted at the planning meeting biweekly and observations were completed prior to the study, mid-study, and post study. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study was not able to be ...

Math Problem Solving Discussions: Increasing Communication For Students With Autism, Anna Benson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this research study was to report the effect social scripts have on the ability to increase communication and understanding during partner work in math for students with autism. The study was made up of 9 participants, all of whom were enrolled in the same special education pull out math class. Data was collected through observations to identify the frequency of scripted and unscripted communicative questions and responses, along with understanding of the math activity. Data was also collected through a survey at the beginning and end of the study to obtain student feedback on social scripts and ...

Supporting English Language Learners With Disabilities In Special Education, Margaret Kramer

Master's Projects and Capstones

The number of English Language Learners, both appropriately and inappropriately, placed in Special Education has risen in the public education system. This requires Special Education classrooms to incorporate language acquisition opportunities into the child’s education, but the school systems are not currently prepared to provide this to the staff and students. There is a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate curricula, limited collaboration between parents and teachers, and incomplete IEPs affecting students placed in Special Education and learning English as a second language. The purpose of the project is to address the needs of staff and families working with ...

Using Teach Me To Talk Interventions To Improve Language In Children Birth- Three Years Old, Hannah Hendry

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The propose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of using Teach Me to Talk strategies from Speech Pathologist Laura Mize, with children from the birth to three-year-old early intervention program. The study looked at children who have communication needs based on qualifying scores after completing a special education evaluation and the use of specific interventions to increase their language. The researcher wanted to determine students’ improvement with their communication goals and how parent involvement supports their learning. The study was originally structured around weekly home visits that were ongoing since the child qualified for special education services. Parents ...

Parental Perceptions Of Water Safety Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Amanda Casey Ph.D., Jennifer Blok, Katherine Vaughan, William O'Dwyer

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are twice as likely to die from unintentional drowning compared to same-age children without ASD emphasizing the importance of water-safety skills and knowledge. Yet little research has been published on perceptions of water safety for this population. The objective of the study was to investigate parental perceptions of water safety amongst children with ASD. An online questionnaire focusing on parental perceptions of water safety was distributed to parents of children with ASD associated with autism support groups across Canada. Forty-nine parents completed the self-report questionnaire with items related to demographics, swimming proficiency and lessons ...

Exploring Stem Kit Diagrams For Braille Readers In Inclusive Classrooms, Sariat A. Adelakun Dr

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Diagrams appears in many school subjects but more prominent in science and mathematics taught in schools. Accessing these diagrams in an inclusive classroom has been identified to be problematic for blind students partly due to the teaching resources available and personnel type, support and sufficiency. Diagrams are mostly omitted by teachers leaving the blind person out in such classroom to access portion of education received by their peers. In many instances, questions with diagrams are treated as bonus for blind students in some countries which is not fair to them. This study explored the efficacy of STEM Kit diagrams on ...

Implementing Writers’ Workshop Into The Special Education Classroom, Taylor Denning

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Writers’ Workshop has developed prominence as a method towards providing authentic writing experiences. The purpose of this study was to determine what happens to student perceptions and quantity of writing when Writers’ Workshop is implemented into a special education setting. This study took place in a self-contained special education classroom of third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders. Data was collected through focus group interviews with the teachers, focus groups with two students from every grade, perception surveys, and writing samples.

Surveys and focus group interviews were completed before and after the implementation. Writing samples were collected at the beginning, middle, and end ...

The Partial Immersion Aquatic Approach Using Adjustable Weight Bearing To Improve Posture And Sitting Balance Adaptation For Children With Severe Cerebral Palsy, Niv Shelef

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The innovative ‟Partial Immersion” Aquatic Therapy Approach was developed to enhance balance and posture during sitting adaptation for children with severe cerebral palsy who exhibit deficiency in those skills on land. Stable balance during sitting posture is one of the preconditions for hands function in activities of daily living. Aquatic skills learned during aquatic therapy were then transferred to a land environment. Therapy included the use of a treatment chair that enabled adjustable weight bearing in a series of 30 mm steps. A mixed-methods design employing a multiple case study approach (n=5) including quantitative and qualitative methods investigated the ...

Students’ Perspectives On Their Learning Experiences Within An Inclusive Secondary Mathematics Setting, Cleopatra Sorina Iliescu

Doctor of Education in Special Education Dissertations

Students’ perspectives in learning mathematics are important considerations in education yet few studies document their insights. The current investigation used a case-study design and interviews, drawings, clarifying discussions, and focus group interview data collection methods to capture detailed perspectives of high school students with disabilities while learning mathematics. Document data was used to substantiate students’ achievement information and the impact of their disability, if any, on their experiences in learning mathematics. The sample of participants consisted of four self-selected high school students, from two inclusive Advanced Algebra classrooms. Three major tenets of Vygotsky’s (1978) framework were used to analyze ...

Experiences With And Conceptions Of School Discipline And Pbis Implementation: A Phenomenography Of Fifteen Students With Disabilities In One Title I Middle School, Osman Khan

Doctor of Education in Special Education Dissertations

In this phenomenographical study, fifteen students with disabilities from one middle-grades setting were recruited to explore the qualitative different ways they experience and conceive of exclusionary discipline (i.e., in-school suspension (ISS), out-school suspension (OSS), and detention) and Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). The participants engaged in interviews and produced two (2) visual representations to investigate the following research questions: (1) How do students with disabilities experience and conceive of school discipline?; (2) How do students with disabilities experience and conceive the implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS); and (3) In what ways can voices of students ...