Art For All: An Inclusive Curriculum For A Secondary Art Room, Michelle Ann Fuller

Masters Theses

Art classrooms in a secondary public school tend to be a place where students feel inspired to be creative, improve social skills and self-esteem. But what about those who have a learning disability? If the art educator establishes a positive and safe learning environment, all students, including those requiring adaptations can create meaningful work. Do art teachers feel prepared to guide students who require extra attention? How can pre-service teachers enter the profession feeling more qualified instructing these students? This thesis explores the support of inclusion in the high school art room by defining what an ideal collaboration might look …

The Impact Of Peer-Mediated Instruction For Students With Disabilities In The Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom, Amanda Smith

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project is to determine the impact of explicit instruction of peer-mediated strategies for students who have disabilities but who are not on the autism spectrum in the inclusive preschool classroom environment. There has been a large amount of research surrounding peer-mediated strategies and how students on the autism spectrum benefit from it, but there has been very minimal research that includes students with disabilities who are not on the spectrum. Data was collected to determine what the effect that this intervention had on four students in the areas of social behavior and social communication. …

Impact Of Teacher Perceptions In The Disproportionality Of Black People In Special Education, Chenita Jarrett-Evans

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

If you walk into any special education classroom in America, you will see that Black students are overrepresented. The issue of disproportionality of Black students in special education has been a longstanding concern. Although students can be referred to special education through parent request, students are most likely referred by their general education teacher. The referral requirements for students with emotional disabilities or learning disabilities can be subjective to the beliefs of the referral teacher, as the U.S. Department of Education does not outline the definition of “teacher referral”. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore whether teacher …

A Qualitative Study Of An Interprofessional Collaborative Practicum Cohort, Mallory Tvrdy, Lisa Lenz, Sue Kemp, Kristy Weissling

UCARE: Research Products

Interprofessional education (IPE) occurs “when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes” (WHO, 2010). While IPE with a healthcare focus has been around for years, literature regarding IPE in the school setting involving speech-language pathology (SLP) and special education (SPED) is sparse. Online database searches using the key words “interprofessional education,” “interprofessional collaboration,” “special education,” and “speech-language pathology” yield only a few studies.

• In the Special Education and Communication Disorders department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, aninterprofessional practicum experience was developed to address the need …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of The Development And Implementation Of A Comprehensive School Safety Plan, Rachina Holman Heron

Dissertations

Abstract The problem addressed within this qualitative study involved exploring the limited research regarding kindergarten through fifth grade teachers’ perceptions of the implementation of the school’s Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP). The purpose of this study was to explore six kindergarten through fifth grade teachers’ perspectives of their school’s safety plan. First, the study described how elementary teachers perceived the professional development or training received in preparation for implementing their school’s safety plan. Second, the study explored six elementary teachers’ perceptions of their ability to implement their school’s safety plan using semi-structured interviews. Finally, areas where elementary teachers perceive they …

Effects Of Special Education And Feeling Of Inclusion, Jacob Hergott

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The inclusion of students with special needs in a general education classroom has been a growing topic in education. This paper reviews literature that researched the effects of special education on student's feelings of inclusion in school. The literature used in this paper examines how teachers, peers, and placement effects student's experiences of inclusion. Additionally the literature examined how other countries approach special education along with the barriers special education students face. Previous research found that the peers, teachers, and placement all have a significant impact on a student's experience both negatively and positively. Italy was found to have the …

How Do Augmentative And Alternative Communication (Aac) Systems Impact Students, Melinda Rice

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This paper will focus on communication and why it is so important during literacy routines in the classroom. The research will serve as a gateway into understanding the world of how communication and literacy tie together and what the impact of using Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices could do for a student. The research will focus on emergent literacy routines for students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex communication needs and to what degree the communication systems help the students communicate and com-prehend the questions being asked of them.

Physical Education Teachers' Attitudes Towards Teaching Zumba To Children With Disabilities, Evelina C. Brandon

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of physical education teachers toward teaching Zumba to children with disabilities during physical education classes. Sixty-two physical education (PE) teachers (Mean Age = 42.13, 15 males, 47 females) participated in this cross-sectional survey design study. The survey data was analyzed using Pearson correlation methods, independent t tests, and the Cronbach’s coefficient technique to measure correlation, variance between participants, and the reliability and validity of the survey. Findings indicated that physical education teachers believed that teaching students Zumba in PE class would be beneficial and effective for students with disabilities. This …

Autism Spectrum Disorder Students: A Survey Of Rural Community College Educators, Pamela Love Hanks

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The number of students diagnosed with autism in public schools is increasing and this special population is now enrolling in colleges and universities. At the K-12 level, numerous supports are provided consistent with federal law; equivalent supports are not required in the postsecondary classroom. Student success often depends on the relationships built in the academic setting. From an instructional perspective, faculty members may have little or no training, limiting their understanding and support of this growing population of students, complicating relationship building. There is a dearth of literature available on the effective training of community college faculty who work with …

Development And Validation Of The Students With Learning Disabilities School Counselor Self- Efficacy Scale: A Psychometric Study, Rawn Alfredo Boulden, Jr.

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

School Counselors play an important role in the success of all students. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the Council for The Accreditation of Counseling And Related Educational Programs (CACREP) emphasizing the importance of school counselors in supporting the diverse needs of all students. Despite the efforts of the aforementioned association and accrediting body, the verdict is mixed regarding school counselors’ self-efficacy to counsel and support students with learning disabilities. This quantitative study aimed to develop and validate the Students with Learning Disabilities School Counselor Self-Efficacy Scale, an instrument that assesses school counselors’ belief in their ability to counsel …

Social Development Through A Lunch Buddy Program, Amy Coon

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The intent of this literature review is to discuss the necessity of a lunch buddy program for students in special education. The review fist looks at the process of inclusive education and the effect that the educational movement has had on students in special education. Inclusion is defined as well as the impact it has on an individual's social development. Using research-based evidence, the review will also establish the importance of peer buddy programs for the social development of students in special education. A lunch buddy program will provide special education teachers with the means to assist their students during …

Impact Of Phonics Instruction For Readers At Risk, Erin Driesen

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research study investigated the impact of phonics instruction for readers who are considered to be at risk in their reading performance. For six weeks, the researcher implemented phonics instruction to two 2nd grade students. This instruction was completed in a small-group setting in the resource room. At the beginning of the week, the students were given assessments to see which phonics skills they were missing, then they received instruction based on those skills. Quantitative data was collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the six weeks. This information was collected by using a Diagnostic Decoding Survey and …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Effect On Student Behavior, Katie Herther

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this literature review is to discuss the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and the impact on a student’s emotional, cognitive, and behavioral abilities. In this paper I will explore how brain development, as well as environmental factors, can all address the behavior of a student and the consequences of that behavior. This literary review features studies on ACEs and its relationship to brain development, chronic absenteeism, retention and dropout rates, behavioral problems, and academic achievement. In addition, studies about crime, school intervention, and community intervention help to further explain how ACEs impacts the behaviors of individuals. This paper …

Peer Modeling Vs. Teacher Modeling For The Inclusive Preschool Classroom, Joshalyn Loutsch

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of peer modeling versus teacher modeling for students with special needs within the inclusive preschool setting. Data was collected for three different developmental areas for students with special needs: social emotional, language, and cognitive abilities. The data gathered determined that both peer modeling and teacher modeling are effective teaching strategies for students with special needs, but it is unclear whether one strategy is more efficient than the other is. Preschool is the foundation for a child's education and teachers need research-based strategies to implement quality instruction for students with special …

Feedback And The Effects On Progress Monitoring, Dana Peschon

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research paper was to explore the effects of timing of feedback on progress monitoring scores for students in special education. Ten students, grade nine through eleven, completed AIMSweb math application progress monitoring twice per month and received feedback on their results. The control group was provided with delayed feedback during the week in between testing periods while the treatment group received immediate feedback after completing the probe. Feedback consisted of the total number of points earned, what questions were answered correctly, and the researcher working through missed problems with the student. All students were provided …

Comparison Of Motor-Enhanced And Visual-Enhanced Interventions For Grammar In Young Children With Developmental Language Disorder, Alisha P. Springle

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Up to 7.6% of children demonstrate a developmental language disorder (DLD), which can persist through adulthood, causing difficulty with academic achievement, social relationships, and financial stability. Grammar development, as a hallmark of DLD, is an important area of need for these children. Existing grammar interventions do not clearly distinguish the sensory input techniques that meet these children’s neurobiological instructional needs. This adapted alternating treatment design study implemented intervention using systematic paired visual and verbal and systematic paired motor, i.e. standardized gestures, and verbal sensory input techniques. A moderate-strong functional relation between intervention techniques using motor supports on grammatical outcomes in …

Project View: Visual Impairments Education In Writing, Madison Thompson, Bridget Leutzinger

UCARE: Research Products

The purpose of Project VIEW is to describe the writing practices used by TVIs and GENs to teach writing to students with VI, flexible factors associated with those writing practices. The project explore writing instructional practices among K-12 teachers serving students with visual impairments in Nebraska and aims to identify important factors that may influence those writing practices and student’s academic success. These factors possible moderators of the relationship between factors and writing practices, and how the writing practices are associated with student outcomes. Aspects of “writing practices” we propose to examine include 1) Quantity of writing practices, 2) Quality …

Using The Question-Answer Relationship Strategy To Improve Listening Comprehension In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lisa A. Phalen

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

A well-established research base indicates that many children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience deficits in reading comprehension skills. There is currently limited research which examines the relation between the communication and language impairments in ASD and emergent literacy skills in early childhood. Listening comprehension has been identified as one emergent literacy skill closely linked to reading comprehension development. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of the question-answer relationship strategy (QAR) and QAR cue cards as a shared book reading intervention package on the listening comprehension skills of children with ASD. A single-subject concurrent multiple-baseline …

Transition Practices For Students With High-Incidence Disabilities In A Rural School, Kristina M. Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with disabilities often have difficulty obtaining and maintaining employment after graduation from high school. Employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities are significantly less than their typical peers. One potential cause of lower employment outcomes for people with disabilities is the result of public schools’ failure to implement appropriate individualized transition plans and services. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the effectiveness of evidence-based transition practices as perceived by school educators, parents of students with high-incidence disabilities who receive special education services, and outside agency providers in a rural school in the North Central Texas area. …

The Perceptions Of Public High School Administrators Regarding The Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities In The General Education Classroom: A Phenomenological Study By Jennifer A. Thomasian, Jennifer Thomasian

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the perceptions of high school administrators in Southern California regarding how they interpret and implement specific federal and state policies concerning the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom and to identify additional factors high school administrators perceive affect implementation. It was also the purpose of this study to describe how high school administrators perceive that their prior experiences with students with disabilities impact their interpretation and implementation of policies concerning inclusion.

Methodology: A sample of participants was selected from the target population of administrators serving at …