Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Identification Of English Language Learners In Special Education, Sonia George

All Capstone Projects

This study investigated the knowledge and opinions of teachers with regards to the identification of English language learners (ELLs) for special education services. The participants were 22 general education and special education teachers at two schools in a school district in the Chicago suburbs. The data collected included responses to a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked teachers to consider different factors that influence the placement of ELLs in special education. The results indicated that teachers did not believe there is a disproportionate amount of ELLs being identified for special education. On average, approximately 90% of the teachers surveyed believe that teacher …

The Effectiveness Of Peer Support To Increase Positive Social Interaction For Students With Special Needs, Candace Pickens-Cantrell

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of positive peer support to increase social interaction of students with special needs. This study followed a teacher action research design with data collected on a single student in two different preschool sessions within the same school and classroom. The participants included two special education students, and two typically developing peer supporters and the student's teacher. Observations and a questionnaire were used to collect and analyze data. The results indicate that special needs students benefit from having peer support from peers to help increase social interaction. Both students progress supported …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Educational Barriers To Preschool Special Education Services, Carolyn Stone

All Capstone Projects

This study focuses on teachers' perceptions of educational barriers to special education services for preschool aged children. The purpose of this study was to determine what teachers saw as barriers to obtaining services for young learners. A review of related research was included in this study. A survey was electronically distributed to general education and special education preschool teachers in the area, and 22 were completed and returned. Overall, teachers identified many possible barriers to services in four (4) sub-groups; parents/families, administrative and support staff, process/procedure, and Early Intervention transition. There was at least one identified barrier in each of …

An Evaluation Of Suspension Days Between Students In Special Education And General Education, Richard Tarbunas

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze the number of suspension days accumulated by students in general education compared to students in special education in a south suburban Chicago public high school. Data was collected from the school to determine if there was a large disparity between suspension days between the two groups based on population size. If a large difference was discovered, then a possible plan to remediate and resolve the issue would be proposed to the school's administrators.

Planning For Transition In Special Education, Esther M. Crockett-Love

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to investigate special educators’ perceptions of transition plans for students with disabilities. The research also investigated parents’ perception of transition plans for their students’ with special needs. The researcher examined the barriers that can effect transition planning. Previous research indicates that parents of diverse learners feel unprepared for this time period after post-secondary education. Educators may feel ill-equipped to prepare students for this time. Additionally, previous research indicated that the severity of the disability has a direct correlation to the success or lack thereof of student transition after post-secondary education. Furthermore, research indicated the …

Peer Victimization In Students Who Are Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: Exploring Educational Placement, Emily M. Lund, Scott W. Ross

JADARA

Forty-five American students who are Deaf/hard of hearing (SWD/HOH) in grades 5-12 completed a survey assessing their experiences with peer victimization. Almost four-fifths reported victimizing peers over the past two months, and almost 90% reported being the victim of peer victimization during that same timeframe. The most commonly reported types of peer victimization were verbal and relational aggression. Students who attended a Deaf-only campus reported greater mean victimization than those attending magnet programs located in general education schools. The results highlight the need for evidence-based programs that address peer victimization among SWD/HOH.

Desirable Conversations: Sexuality And Women With Intellectual Disabilities, Neera Malhotra

Dissertations and Theses

The American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD, 2011) assert that individuals with intellectual disabilities, irrespective of gender, have an equal right to learn about and experience their own sexuality. A review of the extant literature indicated that the voices of women with intellectual disabilities on the topic of familial culture, as it relates to sexuality, are rarely included (McCarthy, 1993; Shakespeare, 2000; Siebers, 2012).

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the role of familial culture and lived experiences of women with intellectual disabilities, ages 21-35, in understanding their own sexuality. Eight women participated in individual …

To Teach As Jesus Would: Inclusive Education In One Catholic Elementary School, Michelle Powell Wechsler

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the history of Catholic schools in Los Angeles, the mission of Catholic schools and the Archdiocese governing its schools has been clear: Catholic schools must strive to serve children with varied learning needs. However, despite calls for inclusion from the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and efforts from trained administrators and professionals to help facilitate inclusion in schools, Catholic inclusive programs are not able to include all learners.

Using qualitative research with semi-structured interviews, focus group, and document review, this study uses the framework of ableism and disability studies to research and analyze the two questions …

Examining English Language Development Among English Language Learners With Specific Learning Disability, Karla Vanessa Estrada

LMU Theses and Dissertations

As the population of English Language Learners (ELLs) continues to grow in schools, so does the concern for their lack of academic progress and the possible inequitable representation of this culturally and linguistically diverse population in special education (Artiles, Rueda, Salazar, & Higareda, 2005; Guiberson, 2009; Mac Swan & Rolstad, 2006; Rinaldi & Samson, 2008). Of particular concern is the increase of ELLs with an eligibility of Specific Learning Disability (SLD), especially when examined at the local level (Klinger, Artiles, & Barletta, 2006). To understand this phenomenon at the local level, this mixed-method study examined ELLs with SLD in a …

Charter Schools As Leverage For Special Education Reform, Tommy Chang

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Few studies have examined the intersection of charter school and special education policies. The concerns around the serving of special education students in charter schools must be carefully studied, especially as charter schools continue to grow in numbers and continue to serve a greater percentage of public school students. New policies must not only address equity in access for special education students in charter schools but must also study how charter schools can be leveraged to generate innovative and promising practices in the area of special education.

This study examines a recent policy change in the Los Angeles Unified School …

Disability And Power: A Charter School Case Study Investigating Grade-Level Retention Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Esther Lorraine Perez

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Students attending charter schools, including those with learning disabilities, are subject to policies set by individual charter management organizations. One practice used within some charter schools is grade-level retention, or having students repeat a grade level. Literature overwhelmingly indicates that retention is associated with negative outcomes, yet the practice continues to be used. One particular charter school that uses a strict retention policy and retains students with learning disabilities was studied to understand how the process unfolds. Using the conceptual frameworks of critical disability theory and critical pedagogy, the study draws inferences regarding how this phenomenon blends with ableism and …

Educators' Perceptions Of The Importance And Intensity Of Supports In The General Education Classroom For Students With Individualized Education Plans, Stephanie N. Despain

Theses and Dissertations

Federal law provides that all students are entitled to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment (LRE). In order to educate students with disabilities in the LRE, educators need to provide supports to enhance meaningful engagement and success in the general education curriculum. Utilizing supports to increase engagement and human functioning is not a new concept, but it is one that has received increased attention due to scholarly efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2001) and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD; Luckasson et al., 1992; Schalock et al., 2002; 2010). A major …

Powerful Partnerships: A Community Program For Low Income, High School Dropouts And A University, Katherine R. Robbins-Hunt Ph.D., Beth Hatt, George Flowers

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This session provides community and university staff results of a study examining the partnership between a community development program targeting low income, high school dropouts and a teacher preparation program. Presenters will describe methods for maintaining partnerships and discuss outcomes of the program in the areas of GED preparation, job skills training, health and wellness programming, and community service opportunities.

Bridging The Gap Between School And The Street, Jim C. Taylor Mr.

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Existing within every society are various cultures and sub-cultures. This presentation examines the results when the classroom culture comes in to contact with the street culture. We will review existing practices designed to address these educational issues both in and out of the classroom and what are possible solutions that can maximize successful student education.

Using Ipads And Video-Based Instruction To Teach Algebra To High School Students With Disabilities, Elias Clinton, Tom J. Clees

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation targets a study in which four high school students with disabilities were taught to solve algebraic equations using iPads and video-based instruction. All students showed immediate increases in accurate responding following the introduction of the video-based intervention. This presentation provides practitioners with a flexible technology-based intervention for students with disabilities in need of grade-level academic instruction. The intervention could be used across a variety of subjects and academic tasks.

Systems Of Care For Addressing The Traumatic Impact Of Violence Exposure On Student Well-Being, Laurie A. Garo, Nakeshia Williams, Tiffany Hollis

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Our presentation addresses mental health needs of youth from concentrated poverty and exposure to violence. We describe the Systems of Care model and recommend a framework for implementation within school, family and community based settings. Topics include mental health, environmental trauma, poverty, and youth cultural violence. Target Audience: educators, school- and community-based counselors & support staff, social workers, and educational researchers.

An Investigation Of School-Based Specific Learning Disability Identification, Bonnie Heather Bartos

Dissertations and Theses

Researchers have described the special education identification process for students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) as "muddled and confused" (Bocian, Beebe, MacMillan, & Gresham, 1999) and "haphazard" and "capricious" (Shinn, 2007, p. 603). Bocian, Beebe, MacMillan, and Gresham (1999) proposed the theory of competing paradigms as a way to explain why researchers and school-based eligibility teams identify different groups of students as SLD. This qualitative study had two research questions: a) To what extent did interviews of secondary resource teachers reveal the concepts of relativity, acceptability, and profitability as they reflect on the SLD process? and b) What other themes …

Pre-Service Interdisciplinary Training In Autism Spectrum Disorders, Terisa P. Gabrielsen, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was designed to give mentoring experience to students across disciplines who were seeking additional knowledge and training in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participation in the project was intended to benefit students by giving them more knowledge within their field and across disciplines, helping future patients and clients with ASD and to enhance applications to specialty and graduate programs in related fields. Students produced a large (attendance=150) interdisciplinary training workshop for the community and developed a website collection of autism resources for clinicians and families.

Tiers 2 & 3 Intervention: Threat Assessment, Ana M. Cathcart, Elisabeth J. Kane, Reece L. Peterson

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Conclusion

Understanding why students behave aggressively and violently can be a challenge. Even more challenging is trying to prevent aggressive and violent student behavior. Although serious violent acts by students, such as a shooting, are rare, it is still vital to be able to assess, evaluate, and deter potential threats in schools. Researchers suggest that schools create policies and procedures to evaluate and assess threats and violent student behavior. Also, researchers recommend that schools utilize the threat assessment approach to help facilitate the process of evaluating and assessing threats (Cornell & Sheras, 2006). Even though there has not been extensive …

Parents Of College Graduates With Learning Disabilities: Practices And Factors Attributing To Their Children's Preparation For Postsecondary Education, Alexander Johnston Hale

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate and describe parenting practices that parents believe were effective in helping prepare their children with LD for college enrollment. Participants were chosen from among the parents of students interviewed by Cook (2010). Six parents (three couples) volunteered to be interviewed by phone. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. Under the category of Parent Practices, themes emerged in the areas of early identification, self-advocacy training, and home accommodations, and under the category of Family Factors, themes emerged in the areas reading, expectation, and normalization. Findings are discussed …