Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

The Study Of Instructional Sequencing On Students’ Learning Of Science Concepts, Mallory Hughes

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Journey Of Becoming: Risk And Self-Determination In The Story Of Self For Adults With Intellectual, Developmental, And Learning Disabilities A Phenomenological Case Study Employing Narrative Inquiry And Thematic Analysis, Christopher R. J. Worth

Dissertations

This phenomenological case study, employing narrative inquiry and thematic analysis, captured the first-person voice of emerging adults (ages 20–28) with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities to explore how experiences of risk and self-determination shaped their personal narratives, or story of self. Guided by Critical Disability Theory, Foucault’s concept of relational power, and Shogren’s Causal Agency Theory, the study challenged the systemic bubble-wrapping that denies this population the "dignity of risk" (Perske, 1972). Data were collected from six participants through semi-structured interviews, adapted photovoice submissions, and participant selfreflections. The findings revealed that the phenomenon of becoming, catalyzed by intellectual adaptive risk-taking, …

Understanding And Alleviating Teacher Burnout: A Focus On Supports For Teacher Candidates, Meghan Glahn

Honors Projects

This Honors Project begins by analyzing the overall patterns of burnout, and then narrowing to the experienced pressures by special educators. This research topic highlights how stress arrives early during teacher preparation and increases for individuals entering special education. Research from various sources emphasize the prevalence of burnout and the contributing factors that often lead to mental and physical consequences. This study also has results from a survey involving Intervention Specialist majors that captures their college experiences with academic demands, emotional labor, and field placement expectations. The outcomes supported by literature and the survey demonstrate that teacher burnout is severe, …

On Speaking Up: Fluency Isn’T Intelligence — Living With A Stutter In A World That Expects Perfection, Dalton D. Conden

The Penguin Review

I-I-I-I’ve lived most of my life in the space between words—the pause, the breath, the moment of uncertainty where my voice decides whether it wants to cooperate. People often assume stuttering is a tiny inconvenience, like forgetting your keys or having bad Wifi. A stutter doesn’t fade just because you enter adulthood, college, or leadership roles. It grows with you. It travels into classrooms, meetings, speeches, and any moment where your voice becomes your first introduction to the world.

The Effects Of Visual Supports On The Acquisition Of Guitar Chords, Cole S. Jahna

Thesis Projects

There is a current literature gap in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and music-based leisure activities. This study utilized a multiple-probe design to evaluate the effects of visual supports on the guitar fretboard combined with behavioral skills training (BST) to teach correct strumming and finger placement of three guitar chords (i.e., E, C, and G) to a neurodivergent adult. By using a task analysis, the strum and each individual finger placement were scored as correct or incorrect during each chord trial. Three chords that were under 50% accuracy in baseline were selected for the intervention. The intervention was introduced sequentially to …

Development Of A Local Wisdom-Based Educational E-Book To Enhance Social Participation Of Students With Special Needs At Sd Negeri 31 Banda Aceh, Fidawati Fidawati, Siti Mayang Sari, Zahraini Zahraini

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

Education for Children with Special Needs (ABK) continues to face persistent challenges, particularly regarding the availability of accessible and contextually appropriate teaching materials, as well as low levels of student social participation. The integration of local wisdom from Acehnese culture through digital media is regarded as an innovative approach to supporting inclusive learning. This study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a local wisdom-based educational e-book designed to enhance the social participation of ABK students at SD Negeri 31 Banda Aceh. A quantitative approach was employed using the Research and Development (R&D) method, following the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, …

Parental Conceptions On The Causes Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders In The United Arab Emirates, Mariam Mohammed Ali Aljaberi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

When no verified causes are pinned to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), individuals construct their own beliefs based on their own context. Some studies aimed at unfolding these beliefs globally, yet a gap remained in examining this in the United Arab Emirates context. This study investigated Emirati parents' causal conceptions of NDDs across health, genetic, environmental, and religious domains between parents of children with disabilities and parents of typically developing children. This study implemented an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design, as the data was collected in two subsequent phases where the qualitative phase's exploratory findings informed the creation of the quantitative …

Building On Common Ground: Autistic Adults' And Parents Of Young Autistic Children's Perspectives Of Early Behavioral Intervention Practices, Sophia R. D'Agostino, Naima Bhana-Lopez, Trenton J. Landon, Alyssa Roylance, Avery Briggs

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of autistic adults and parents of autistic children regarding applied behavior analysis (ABA)-based early intervention, their beliefs about best practices in early intervention, and their recommendations for improving service delivery. A mixed-methods design was used to compare quantitative survey data from 70 participants (33 autistic adults, 37 parents) with qualitative interview responses (12 autistic adults, 12 parents), exploring perceptions of ABA and early intervention implementation. Quantitative analyses revealed significant group differences in perceptions of ABA’s benefits and side effects: parents rated ABA-based interventions more positively overall, whereas autistic adults expressed …

The Effectiveness Of Equine-Based Therapy In Developing The Social Skills Of Children With Developmental Disabilities In The Uae: Parents’ Perspectives, Fatima Mohammed Alkatheeri

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis explores parents’ perspectives on the effectiveness of equine-based therapy (EBT) in improving social skills among children with developmental disabilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Equine-based therapy has gained increasing international attention; however, research in the Gulf region remains limited, especially qualitative studies exploring parents’ lived experiences. The main objective of this thesis is to explore parents’ perceptions of changes in their children’s social development following participation in equine-based therapy and to examine the cultural relevance, benefits, and challenges of EBT implementation within the UAE context. A qualitative descriptive design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 …

The Effect Of Living And Non-Living Sensory Inputs (Lnsi) On Cortical Activation And Functional Outcomes In Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Experimental Mixed Method Study, Hawraa Mohammad Habeeb

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a common manifestation observed in persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), wherein the brain inaccurately interprets sensory information. Teachers often face many sensory issues in the classroom. However, it is commonly known that addressing SPD falls within an occupational therapist's (OT) responsibility. Recent research has found that promoting sensory strategies in educational training is necessary. Hence, the current experimental mixed-methods research aimed to accurately evaluate the efficacy of the sensory intervention and sensory inputs utilized in the Living and Non-Living Sensory Input (LNSI) intervention program on sensory behavior, executive function, nonverbal cognitive abilities, and cortical …

The Impact Of The Space Science Steam Enrichment Program On Grade 11 And 12 Gifted Students' Content Knowledge, Design Thinking, And Problem-Solving Skills In The United Arab Emirates, Nada Ali Mubarak Obaid

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study examines the impact of a Space Science Enrichment Program grounded in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education and designed for gifted secondary students in the Elite and Advanced Science Streams of UAE government schools. Informed by problem-based learning, project-based learning, and design thinking frameworks, the program aimed to enhance students' content knowledge, academic achievement, and design thinking and problem-solving skills. Over a two-month period, students participated in blended online and face-to-face theoretical and practical sessions introducing space science topics such as satellite missions and applications, CubeSats, rocket motion, thermal and vibration simulations, 3D modelling, and additive …

From Experience To Impact: Engaging With The Idd Community, Annabelle Malsam, Braydon Peterson, Whitney Randall, Andrew Gannon

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Tigers for IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) is an event created and led by college students to provide an opportunity for collaboration between the campus and the IDD community. Volunteers were asked to complete a survey after the event to provide feedback on their experience. Survey results show that volunteering with the IDD community is an overall very positive experience for volunteers and creates opportunities for personal growth. Individuals who volunteer at similar events, such as Special Olympics events, are motivated to participate for reasons such as giving back to the community and doing something worthwhile. Hosting community events that …

Cripping The Border – Acompañamiento As Access: An Ethnographic Case Study Of Transborder Youth With Disabilities, Marco O. Amaral

Dissertations

The U.S.-Mexico border is a historical, geopolitical site of intense militarization where colonial logics of "othering" converge to marginalize disabled transborder youth. While transborder studies have expanded, students with disabilities remain relegated to the "void" and contained by educational systems that prioritize surveillance over access. Grounded in Sepúlveda’s (2011) acompañamiento and Transborder DisCrit, this ethnographic case study examines the lived experiences of both students and their families who cross the border daily to attend school in the U.S. It frames these journeys not as mere commutes, but as acts of defiance within the broader disability rights movement.

As a teacher-activist, …

The Effectiveness Of Animal-Assisted Interventions On Social And Communication Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In The Uae, Shamsa Ali Almarzooqi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) on the social and communication skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study is organized into four connected phases, each building on the findings of the previous stage. Phase 1 explored parents’ perceptions of how companion pet ownership contributes to their child’s social interaction, communication, emotional well-being, and daily activity routines, using focus groups with mothers of children with ASD. Phase 2 employed a mixed-methods design to observe how students with ASD engage with different animal species (cat, rabbit, and fish/birds) …

Examining The Impact Of Professional Development On Paraprofessional Self-Efficacy In Rural Settings, Elise Murray, Moriah Smothers, Tori L. Colson, Stacey Keown-Murray

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Due to an increasing reliance on special education paraprofessionals in rural schools, this study examines their self-efficacy beliefs before and after professional development. Using a mixed-methods approach, findings suggest no significant change in self-efficacy post-training. Paraprofessionals’ confidence was more influenced by on-the-job experiences than by a single professional development session.

Exploring “Isms” In Teacher Preparation: What Are The Views Of Teacher Candidates?, Michelle A. Gremp

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Teacher preparation programs are charged with preparing educators who understand biases and work toward fostering inclusivity in their classrooms. This study explores the knowledge and perceptions of teacher candidates in an education of the deaf and hard of hearing program related to ableism, audism, and inclusivity. and suggest next steps for developing competencies in these areas. Teacher candidates indicated varying levels of familiarity, views of impact, and the ability to provide accurate definitions of these terms, indicating the need for explicit and scaffolded exposure to the ideas of ableism, audism, and inclusivity across multiple courses within teacher preparation programs.

Teaching Iep Development To Preservice Teachers Using Real-World Scenarios And Kentucky Resources, Laura S. Clarke, Dusty Columbia Embury

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

When considering all of the content and pedagogy required for preservice teachers to master before they begin teaching students with disabilities, candidates at public, regional university report that one of the most complex components is understanding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and how to write them. In this article, we will provide a program description of the structure, components, and outcomes of a model preservice personnel preparation program designed to address the pedagogical needs of university teacher education candidates in this rural state university. We will describe the plan and initial results from a small pilot study in which faculty in …

Critical Incident Analysis: A Methodological Approach For Teaching Trauma Informed Practices, Penny B. Howell, Mary S. Thomas, Shantel D. Crosby, Khirsten Scott

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Drawing on sociocultural theory, a transdisciplinary, multi-racial team of teacher educators, a social work educator, and a scholar of English and rhetoric, designed a study focused on developing teacher candidates’ understanding of trauma-informed practices during their teacher preparation program. Qualitative data from teacher candidates’ reflections on Critical Incident Descriptions (CID) completed during student teaching reveal their developing understanding of trauma-informed practice with Timing, Maintaining Relationships, Holding High Expectations, and Engaging Students so they Remain in the Classroom as prevalent themes across all CIDs. Findings suggest that Critical Incident Analysis promotes teacher candidates’ reflection practices as they make connections …

High School Teachers' Perspectives On Using Assistive Technology To Support Students With Disabilities In The Southern United States: A Single Instrumental Case Study, James N. New

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single instrumental case study was to examine the perspectives of high school teachers in the Southern United States on using assistive technology (AT) in the classroom to support students with disabilities. This study was led by the technology acceptance model (TAM), which emphasized how teachers perceived the usefulness and ease of use when adopting technology into their classrooms. The central research question was: How do high school teachers in the Southern United States describe their experiences with using assistive technology to support students with disabilities in their classrooms? This qualitative study used a single instrumental …

A Causal-Comparative Study On The Difference Between Elementary, Middle, And High School Special Education Teachers’ Emotional Exhaustion Based On Years Of Experience, Stacey Spruill Earp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether emotional exhaustion differed among special education teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in the southern United States while controlling for years of teaching experience. This study is significant because emotional exhaustion is a central component of burnout and has implications for teacher well-being, retention, and the quality of services provided to students with disabilities. A quantitative, non-experimental comparative design was employed. Data was collected from a sample of 158 special education teachers working in public schools in the southern region. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey through …