Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Adapting Classroom Activities To Increase Social Engagement, Ivie Hacker, Mary Jan Greer Ph.D., Otr

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone program focuses on enhancing the development of children with disabilities through adaptive play strategies. It aims to create a supportive, engaging environment that accommodates the unique needs of children on the autism spectrum. By incorporating individualized play techniques, the program promotes social, emotional, and cognitive skills, fostering greater communication, creativity, and physical coordination. The project explores the role of adaptive play in improving social interactions, reducing sensory sensitivities, and building self-confidence, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being and development of children with autism.

Parental Involvement In Early Warning System Use In A Mid To Low-Poverty School, Carrie Mccain

All Dissertations

This study examines the effectiveness of an Early Warning System (EWS) originally designed for high-poverty schools and its potential impact on improving outcomes for students living in poverty but attending a mid to low-poverty school. The focus is on reducing the graduation rate disparity between economically disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers through intentional parental involvement. The research explores how structured communication between parents, teachers, and students, combined with tailored interventions in the EWS, can enhance student engagement and academic performance. Quantitative data, including attendance, behavior, and course performance, were analyzed before and after the intervention, while qualitative data …

It’S So Liberating To Do The Work: Education In Archives Creates Space For People With Disabilities, Jen Hoyer, Julia Pelaez

Publications and Research

What are the barriers and possibilities archives education presents to the disabilities community? More specifically, how can archives education and teaching with primary sources provide opportunities for disabled students that they might not find in mainstream education settings? What matters when working with students with disabilities in archives, and what does it feel like to be a disabled educator in an archive? How can education in archives provide opportunities for vulnerability, connection, and liberation? Sharing a passion for the possibilities of education work in archives and special collections, Jen Hoyer and Julia Pelaez sat down for a conversation about these …

Effects Of Caretakers And Attachment Styles, Shayna Tran

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Daycare workers and teachers play vital roles in the emotional well-being and developmental trajectory of the children they care for. Attachment styles are rooted in early childhood interactions with primary caregivers and greatly influence a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive well-being (Fathi-Ashtiani & Sheikholeslami, 2019). Recognizing and responding appropriately to different attachment styles not only fosters secure attachment and relationships but also mitigates behavioral challenges (Bergin & Bergin, 2009). To address this need, I have created an interactive presentation for daycare workers at VillaSport, San Jose, by explaining why staff should know the different attachment styles, how it affects the …

A Qualitative Study Of Iranian Efl Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Digital Diversified Education, Seyed Mohammad Reza Marvasti Zadeh, Azizollah Dabaghi Varnosfadrani Advarnosfadrani, Mohammad Amiryousefi

The Qualitative Report

Because Iran is a country of learners of diverse languages, socio-economic classes, genders, and ages, digital diversified education seems appropriate to address needs in English language education. However, there is a notable gap in research on teachers’ perceptions about this type of education. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Iranian teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding a diverse digital education. Data were collected via an open-ended survey with 30 EFL teachers, both male and female, who were selected through convenience sampling. Analysis revealed several key themes, including the utilization of diverse …

The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Practices On Academic Outcomes Of First Nations Children: A Pilot Study Of Culturally Responsive Supports In Australia, Govind Krishnamoorthy, Ellisa Harrison, Kay Ayre, Sayedhabibollah Ahmadi Forooshani, Emily Berger, Bronwyn Rees, Keane Wheeler, Nathan Eiby, Sabrina Ong, Vicki Dallinger, Anwaar Ulhaq

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This pilot observational study examined the effectiveness of trauma-informed and culturally responsive behavior support practices on the academic outcomes of predominantly First Nations children in an Australian primary school. The research supports integrating culturally relevant ways of knowing, being and doing into prevalent pedagogical and behavior support practices. The cohort study found that the co-designed, multi-tier Trauma-informed Behaviour Support program improved students’ literacy and numeracy scores over 2 years. The findings highlight the complex relationship between behavioral difficulties and academic abilities. Changes in numeracy scores were significantly higher for students with improved teacher-reported rates of disruptive behaviors. In contrast, changes …

Historias De Vida De La Práctica Pedagógica De Maestros Afectados Por El Conflicto Armado En La Frontera Del Departamento De Norte De Santander, Colombia, José Pascual Mora García

Educación

Este libro recoge los relatos de más de treinta docentes, en su mayoría mujeres, que ejercen su labor en zonas rurales de Norte de Santander, una región afectada por el conflicto armado en Colombia. Basado en el proyecto de investigación «La universidad colombiana en la formación de educadores, modernidad, poder político en la sociedad del conocimiento (1992-2019)», este trabajo explora prácticas pedagógicas resilientes y decoloniales, y recupera las voces de los maestros para destacar los desafíos y valores pedagógicos en contextos adversos. La investigación, realizada con enfoque fenomenológico y epistemología pluriversa, documenta sus experiencias a lo largo de décadas, abordando …

Cambodian American Parents Perspectives And Knowledge Of Special Education Supports For Their Children With Disabilities, Robai N. Werunga, Minjeong Kim, Rocio Rosales

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

Knowledge of the special education process has been found to enhance parental involvement with collateral effects of positive school outcomes for students with disabilities. Although research on immigrant families with children with disabilities has increased in recent years, there is limited research specific to Southeast Asian American (SEAA) families, and that of Cambodian American families, in particular. In this study authors examined the perspectives and knowledge of Cambodian American parents regarding disabilities, special education services and supports provided to their children with disabilities, and the extent to which these perspectives and their knowledge impacted their level of engagement in their …

Stubborn Silos Between Pedagogy And Space Planning Limit Inclusive Higher Education Learning Environments, Louise Nagle, Petrina Comerford

Publications

This research explores lecturers' perceptions of fostering inclusion within higher education learning environments and the challenges they face in adapting to meet these expectations. An exploratory case study employing a qualitative approach was undertaken which utilized semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis. Twelve lecturers were interviewed from diverse disciplines across an Irish university, including STEM, Social Sciences, Health, Arts and Business. The main themes that emerged were a) Considerations of Inclusion in the context of the learning environment b) Restrictions and difficulties within learning environments in terms of inclusion c) Strategy required to adapt to inclusion needs. Additional sub-themes within …

Examining The Use Of Embedded Generative Strategies With Graphic Organizers To Improve Science Achievement Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Gamze Karaer, Macid A. Melekoglu, Brian Hand

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities have difficulty in science literacy because of the extensive amount of abstract concepts in comprehending science content. An adapted alternating treatments design with an extended baseline was used to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of graphic organizers (GOs) enhanced with predicting-observing-explaining (POE) (Module-I) and GOs without POE (Module-II) on science achievement of six middle school students with learning disabilities. Results indicated that both procedures were effective to improve performance on all dependent variables for all participants. However, the result of efficiency data showed that Module-I seemed to be more efficient across four students in terms of …

Scholar Perspectives On The Impact Of A Scientific Community Program For Neurodivergent Undergraduate Stem Scholars, Dylan Sullivan, Fernando Zavala, Derek Hidalgo, Jacob Stolle, Rebecca Matte, Christin B. Monroe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Despite the adaptive strengths and unique problem-solving skills demonstrated by neurodivergent (ND) individuals, they remain underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. High unemployment rates among individuals with disabilities emphasize the need for addressing barriers to entry and persistence in the workforce. This study introduces a program designed to enhance opportunities for neurodivergent STEM scholars with financial needs, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program involves: 1) a weekly cohort course to engage in professional development, 2) use of the Birkman Method® survey to help scholars identify and communicate strengths, fostering self-awareness and growth, and 3) …

The Art Of Inclusion: Theatre’S Contribution To Popular Culture Literacy For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Catherine R. P. King

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This essay explores the transformative role of theatre in special education, focusing on its capacity to foster social skills and life navigation abilities in students with disabilities. In light of the fundamental importance of these skills for social inclusion and quality of life, the article highlights the innovative and effective approach to integrating theatre into special education classrooms. It discusses how theatre can empower students with disabilities by enhancing their social interaction, communication, and life navigation skills. In addition, the article delves into the intersection of theatre and popular culture, showcasing how theatre can serve as a valuable tool for …

Queerly Cultivating Anti-Racist Feminist Pedagogy, Laurie Fuller

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Queerly Cultivating Anti-Racist Feminist Pedagogy raises questions and analyzes classroom practices based on adrienne maree brown’s (2017) Emergent Strategy, a radical self-help manual for our current political climate that calls for a paradigm shift in organizing work. Black, mixed, queer, pansexual, feminist writer, pleasure activist, facilitator and sci-fi scholar, brown builds on a continuous tradition of women of color feminists resisting oppression to bring together science fiction and permaculture, biomimicry and organizing, pleasure and activism. She offers fresh perspectives on how to imagine liberation and provides dynamic ways to think about teaching and learning. Emergent Strategy provides principles to …

Representation Of Women At Select Academic Ophthalmology Institutions In The United States, Hazem M Mousa, Camryn Thompson, Sri Meghana Konda, Keke Liu, Jay Rathinavelu, Terry Lee, Katherine Peters, Kevin J. Jackson, Laura Enyedi, Pratap Challa, Sharon Fekrat

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To investigate the representation of women among ophthalmology faculty members at select academic institutions in the United States (US).

Design: Cross-sectional study

Subjects: Clinical faculty members at the top 20 academic ophthalmology institutions in the U.S. according to US News and World Report ranking

Methods: Gender as reported on institutional websites either directly or via pronouns, academic rank, medical school graduation year, and subspecialty were collected about clinical faculty members with MD, MD/PhD, MBBS or DO from their respective institutional websites. The number of publications for each faculty member was collected using Scopus ® (Elsevier, …

Applied Behavior Analysis And Developmental Relationship-Based Interventions: A Coalescence Program For Young Children With Autism And Related Disabilities, Jillian Burkard Busha

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The primary objective of this research project was to investigate the efficacy of integrating Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Developmental Relationship-Based Interventions (DRBI) as a novel intervention approach for young children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disabilities. By coalescing select components of ABA and DRBI, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of combining two common evidence-based practices for young children with autism and related disabilities. Specifically, this research explored if the combination of these two evidence-based practices would increase the social, emotional, pre-academic, and communication skills of young children with autism and related disabilities and how …

Understanding The Barriers Of General Education Teachers Implementing Inclusive Practices, Sonya Garrette Woodfork

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inclusion of students with disabilities has become more prevalent in general education classrooms advocating for children to be educated in the least restrictive environment. This participatory action research aimed to investigate the effects of general education teachers’ lack of sufficient preservice training and attitudes on learning outcomes for children with special needs placed in inclusive learning environments. The participatory action research took place on one elementary and one early childhood campus. Data collection methods took place via triangulation using data from interviews, journals, and surveys. There are many barriers to successfully implementing inclusion in general education classrooms. This study …

Ai And The Future Of Library Accessibility: Making Digital Promotions Inclusive, Soraya Hariyani Putri Ms, Syifa Adiba Ms

Jurnal Ilmu Informasi, Perpustakaan, dan Kearsipan

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed various sectors, including the field of library and information science. Libraries, as custodians of knowledge and cultural heritage, are increasingly utilizing AI to enhance their services, particularly in the realm of digital promotions. However, there remains a significant challenge in making these promotions accessible to all users, especially those with disabilities. Despite advancements in AI, digital content produced by libraries often lacks inclusivity, particularly in catering to the needs of users with disabilities. This gap not only limits access to library services but also hinders the broader mission of libraries to serve …

Teachers’ Attitudes Toward The Educational Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities In Omani Kindergartens, Laila Z. Al Salmi, Ibrahim A. Al Qaryouti

International Journal for Research in Education

This study investigated the attitudes of female teachers (N = 169) toward the educational inclusion of children in kindergarten within the Sultanate of Oman. A Digital survey was conducted to gather insights into the teachers’ perspectives across two domains: the learning environment (LE) and the Impact of Early Inclusion in Kindergarten (IEIK). The results indicate that teachers demonstrate strong support for the inclusion of children with disabilities in kindergarten, underscoring the importance of establishing a conducive learning environment. This includes recommendations for increasing the number of teachers, modifying school infrastructure, and adapting curricula to accommodate the diverse abilities of …

Effectiveness Of A Three-Step Decoding Strategy With Constant Time-Delay To Teach Word Reading To Students With Mild And Moderate Intellectual Disability, Amjad F. Almawash, Norah Aldosiry

International Journal for Research in Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a three-step decoding strategy with constant time delay on teaching and acquisition of decoding and word reading skills to four students with mild and moderate intellectual disability and to measure the generalization of those skills to untaught words. A multiple probe design across participants was used to examine the percentage of sounds correctly decoded and words correctly read. The results indicate that all four participants learned to decode and read words using the two strategies. Furthermore, all participants showed an increased learning efficiency in decoding and reading when teaching …

Tear In The Wing, Aspen Balducci

Student Sequential Art and Comics

A short comic based on the author's own experiences with disability and acceptance, as a plus size person with knee problems, growing up.