Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Why Are We Still Talking About This? Making Inclusion Work In The General Education Classroom Setting From The Perspective Of One Minnesota Charter School, Alison Tanner

Theses and Graduate Projects

Those familiar with inclusion understand that legislation including Public Law 94-142,the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (IDEA), and No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), was put into place to ensure students with disabilities received free and appropriate education. Decades after these laws have been put into place, student access to equitable education is still hotly debated. This qualitative study investigates how inclusion is working in an inclusive, urban public elementary school. The research illustrates current successes and challenges associated with implementing inclusive practices. Using textual analysis of interview transcripts …

Inclusion: A Transformation In A Charter School, Katherine Petty

Theses and Graduate Projects

Schools and governments across the United States are trying to figure out how best to educate students with special needs. Several schools have turned away from mainstreaming students and are now implementing an inclusive education program. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the history of the full inclusion model; summarize the literature on the advantages and disadvantages of the full inclusion model; identify the components of inclusion; describe an informal sunrey (given to teachers from two different schools) used to determine what teachers need to know about the full inclusion model; and present the results of the teacher …

Factors That Contribute To Successful General Education And Special Education Teacher Partnerships, Karen L. Lampi

Theses and Graduate Projects

Regardless of ability level, all students are entitled to an education in their least restrictive environment. This has come to mean greater inclusion in our general education classrooms. To meet the needs of students, schools have implemented collaborative models to deliver instruction. The roles of general and special education teachers in collaborative classrooms have required a cornbination of skill, expertise, and hard work. Through qualitative methods using narrative and descriptive approaches, this study investigated teacher's views of inclusion, student and educator needs that must be met, barriers to overcome for successful implementation, and understanding what elements have worked within the …

Soaring Above The Stigma Of Special Education, Kayla M. Krebs

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to identiff an educational issue and provide a

solution. The educational concern covered in this paper is parents who reject special education services. The methods of producing a solution involved a literature review and survey of parents. Conclusions from the literature review demonstrated that good communication, nefworking, and technology fosters more success befween parents and educators. Recommendation of a solution is in the form of a video clip feafuring parents who share their struggles and positive experiences with receiving special education services.

The Effectiveness Of Video Modeling In Teaching Positive Social Behavior To Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kellie Cleary

Theses and Graduate Projects

This srudy investigated the cffectiveness of using a video modeling teaching strategy coupled with guided practice lesson to teach students on the autism spectrum (ASD) functional social skills. Four students and their parents or guardians elected to participate in this study. Interviews with parents or guardians were conducted to determine student's level of performance in l3 social areas. Sfudents then participated in social instruction using video modeling, particularly using to video "Fitting in and Having Fun", as a key strategy. Video modeling is a teaching strategy that involves watching a video that models a desired behavior then practicing the desired …

Determining Effective Leadership Competencies Of School-Based Administrators Overseeing Special Education Programs Within Virginia Public Schools, Patrice A. Thompson

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

The effective leadership of special education programs is an essential component in providing students with disabilities access to a free and appropriate public education. Special education administrators are responsible for ensuring that special education programs are provided and that special education law is followed in order for students with disabilities to access a free and appropriate public education. Perceptions of competencies needed for the effective leadership of special education programs were similar between the participant groups in a state-wide survey. In addition, training experiences had an impact on the self-reported proficiency levels of competencies rated by school-based special education administrators.

Program Evaluation Of A Writing Strategies Curriculum For High School Students With Disabilities, Lisa J. Dejarnette

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a writing strategies curriculum designed for use with high school students with disabilities. Specifically, this curriculum incorporates both the cognitive/motivational theory of writing and the social/contextual theory of writing, and was presented in a two-year program. Expected outcomes were improved written expression skills and improved student perceptions of their writing abilities and of themselves as writers. Results of this evaluation indicated that participation in a program using a writing strategies curriculum improved the written expression skills of the students in this study while self-efficacy beliefs remained stable.

Perspectives Of Parents Of Students With Disabilities Toward Public And Homeschool Learning Environments, Angie Marie Delaney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homeschool delivery to students is on the rise, particularly in regards to the education of students with disabilities. At this time, there is a lack of research on homeschooled students with disabilities. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how parents choose a model of education for their children with disabilities. A purposeful sample of 3 distinct groups comprising 13 parents of children with disabilities was assembled: (a) parents who are homeschooling their child with a disability, (b) parents who have decided to enroll their child in the public school system after previously homeschooling, and (c) parents who …

Aac Camp As An Alternative School-Based Service Delivery Model: A Retrospective Survey, Janet L. Dodd, Darla K. Hagge

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

School-based speech-language pathologists are obligated to apply evidence-based practice and document progress of their students’ response to intervention in compliance with federal law. The purpose of this preliminary study was to explore the effects of an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)–based intervention provided in a camp format and begin the exploration of examining strategies to monitor and document progress. Through the use of a survey, data were also collected regarding the demographics of camp attendees and their response to the camp-based intervention model. Results indicated children with autism and intellectual disability comprised a significant portion of the children referred for …

Ipads For Students With Asd: Comparing Delivery Modes For Visual Activity Schedules, Jillian Gourwitz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Visual Activity Schedules (VAS) are tools that present an abstract concept, such as time, in a more concrete and manageable form. VAS allow students to anticipate upcoming events and activities, develop an understanding of time, and facilitate the ability to predict change. Prior investigations have used VAS to increase on-task behavior while enhancing the student's ability to independently make transitions from one activity to another and are particularly appropriate as they capitalize on the visual strengths exhibited by many students with autism. Mobile devices such as the iPad are becoming a tool for teaching students with disabilities, and research is …

Self-Evaluation With And Without External Feedback To Increase Room Cleaning Skills In Students With Mild Intellectual Disabilities Or Behavior Disorders, Allison Smith Varisco

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

As students with disabilities age out of school-age resources, the need for self-evaluative skills in work tasks becomes more important. This study compared self-evaluation with reinforcement and self-evaluation with reinforcement plus external evaluation when completing room cleaning skills. The younger students did not demonstrate the ability to self-evaluate without external evaluation. Both conditions were effective when evaluating the older group of students. The author proposes additional research in looking at self-evaluative skills for specific age groups and conditions.

The Cumulative Effect Of Hyperactivity And Peer Relationships On Reading Comprehension, Kaprea F. Johnson

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The impact of hyperactivity and peer relationships on academic achievement has long been highlighted in the professional literature. This study highlights how much variation in reading comprehension scores, an indicator of academic achievement, are accounted for by hyperactivity, conduct problems, and peer problems. The participants included 129 students in first through sixth grade in an urban school district in the Northeast. A multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the unique contributions of hyperactivity, peer relationships, and conduct problems on reading comprehension. Results indicated that increasing levels of peer problems were associated with decreasing reading comprehension scores.

"People Are People": Benefits Of Inclusive Service, Sarah Mueller

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

College institutions often emphasize the importance of service learning for their students. After research revealed a lack of volunteer opportunities for college aged individuals with disabilities, a pilot program was developed to examine the benefits of service for this population, as well as their peers without disabilities. The project involved college undergraduates and young adults with an intellectual or developmental disability. After a weeklong service trip together, benefits were discussed and evaluated. Benefits to the participants with disabilities included pride, skill development and generalization, empowerment, and increases in social interaction. Benefits to the participants without disabilities included positive attitude change, …

Speech-Language Services For Bilingual Students: Relevant Issues And Concerns, Mary Scott

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are ethically responsible for providing the best possible therapy to their clients. As the number of non-English-speaking homes is increasing in the United States, so is the need for SLPs with a thorough understanding of how to appropriately service multilingual clients,. This project is intended as a primer for speech-language pathologists facing the complexity of servicing linguistically--and culturally-diverse populations. It includes an in-depth analysis of language development in bilingual children compared to monolingual children, types of assessments used to differentiate between a language difference and a language disorder, and cultural factors that should be considered when providing …

Virtual Coaching In Guatemala: Can It Be Effective For Changing Targeted Teacher Behaviors?, Ruby Owiny

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The education system in Guatemala struggles to meet the needs of students with disabilities. There are often not enough trained special educators to meet the demand. In addition, general educators are often not trained to adequately meet diverse needs in their classrooms. Thus, schools are often unable to fully meet the needs of students with disabilities. This study sought to identify a method by which teachers could be virtually trained on a teacher behavior (i.e., specific praise) that could help meet diverse student needs. A multiple probe design across participants was used to determine if virtual training could be effective …

Teaching Core Content Vocabulary With And Without Pictures To Students With Moderate And Severe Disabilities, Barbara A. Roland

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This study provided an examination of a comparison of the acquisition of skills between two different instructional conditions in teaching reading of vocabulary to high school students with moderate and severe disabilities. A comparison of the acquisition between the use of words with pictures and words alone was completed. An adapted alternating treatment design replicated across 4 participants was used to evaluate the differences in efficiency and effectiveness between the two instructional strategies (words with pictures and words alone). Results indicate both strategies were effective.

Creating Meaningful, Community-Based Social Networks, Cynthia R. Chambers

ETSU Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Training Package On The Use Of Inclusive Teacher Behaviors In A Sunday School Class, Melanie A. Baggerman

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of the study was to provide training and follow-up sessions for Sunday school teachers to increase the use of inclusive teacher behaviors (opportunities to respond, behavior specific praise, and opportunities to participate) for educating a child with moderate to severe disability. A multiple baseline across behaviors design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of training and follow-up sessions for a Sunday school teacher that had a child with moderate to severe disability in her class. The results showed training and follow-up were effective in teaching inclusive teacher behaviors within a church setting.

General And Special Education Teachers' Perspectives Of Full Membership For Students With Disabilities, Pamela S. Morgan

Doctoral Dissertations

The idea of full membership (FM) for students with disabilities (SWD) originated with the 1975 Education for all Handicapped Children Act which required equal educational access for these students. Full membership has evolved from mainstreaming to focusing on acceptance and belonging in a school community where all stakeholders have a voice and the culture is reflective of these values and beliefs. Despite American public education policy, there appears to be minimal progress for SWD in gaining FM. This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to gain insight into the perceptions and lived experiences of teachers. Comparing two high schools in the …

A Starfish For Teaching: A Model Of Hope For Students And Pedagogy, Virginia Heslinga

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Millenniums have offered ideas about how people think, cope, adjust, and survive. Nurturing and maintaining a heart and mind to help others, to be inclusive against incredible odds and societies that act more quickly to exclude needs symbols to aid progress. Cognition, observation, hope, imagination, perception, responsibility, and self-efficacy connect well to the starfish. Students of any age need images, symbols, role models, and practice in finding ways to triumph over life experiences that cause pain and discouragement. Starfish in actual examples, metaphors, and stories aid educators in building thinking, learning, and coping skills for healthy inclusive environments.