Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Examining The Psychometric Structure Of An Instrument To Measure Students’ Interests And Motivation In Science Learning: Factor Analysis And Measurement Invariance, Fuhui Tong, Shifang Tang, Zhuoying Wang, Beverly J. Irby

Faculty Publications

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and underlying factor structure) and measurement invariance of a researcher-developed instrument: Motivated Strategies for Science Learning (MSSL). Data were collected from 2765 fifth-grade students across [state withheld] school districts. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested satisfactory psychometric properties of MSSL. We further identified strong evidence to support configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across school location groups (i.e., rural and non-rural), confirming that the instrument can accurately capture the construct of science learning motivation among fifth-grade students from both rural and non-rural Texas schools. The study provides the …

Sleep And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jennie Carlin

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and may negatively affect daytime behavior, emotional regulation, learning, and overall family well-being. This quantitative research proposal examines the relationship between sleep difficulties, behavioral functioning, and family experiences among children with ASD. The study will explore how behavioral and environmental sleep interventions may influence sleep quality and nighttime behaviors, how improved sleep may contribute to changes in daytime behavior, and how parents and caregivers perceive the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing sleep-focused interventions at home. A quantitative research design will be used to collect caregiver-reported data through the …

An Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of High School Teachers Using Assistive Technology With Students With Physical Disabilities In Inclusive Education Settings: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Chamarah Melonie Joseph

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to explore the lived experiences of high school general education teachers using assistive technology for students with physical disabilities in inclusive education settings in Lightner Public School District in Florida. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy theory. This theory centers on the connection between an individual’s belief in their ability to execute a given task and their level of attainment on that task. The central research question for this research is: “What are the lived experiences of high school teachers using assistive technology (AT) for students with physical disabilities …

A Predictive Correlational Study Of The Accuracy Of Facial Action Units And Heart Rate Variability To Predict Sustained Attention In Kindergarten, First-, And Second-Grade Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Carrie Michelle Harmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine to what extent facial action units brow raise, lip press, lip suck, and mouth open and heart rate variability predict sustained attention and how accurately heart rate variability predicts the same facial action units in children ages 5 to 7 in kindergarten, first, and second grade with autism in a northeast Florida public school district. Results add to the existing body of research on how accurately facial expression analysis and heart rate variability predict sustained attention in a larger, younger sample of children with autism. They also clarify the …

Black Women Special Educators And Burnout: A Phenomenological Study, Whitney Patrice Collins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand Black women special educators’ experiences with burnout while working in Georgia, public, K-12 schools. The first theory guiding this study was Black Feminist Thought, as it provides an understanding of Black women’s unique experiences in the workplace due to the intersectionality of their race and gender. The second theory guiding this study was Maslach’s multidimensional theory of burnout, as it provides a framework for understanding burnout in the workplace. The central research question explored how Black women special educators describe their experiences with burnout in Georgia public K-12 schools. This …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Music Teacher Efficacy In Elementary Grade-Level Music Inclusive Classrooms Based On Special Education Training, Stanley N. Harris Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study aimed to determine whether there is a significant difference in overall teacher self-efficacy scores between rural and urban elementary schools and between music educators with and without formal special education training. This study is important because teacher efficacy directly impacts teachers’ engagement in learning with students with special needs. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on teacher efficacy by examining differences between music teachers with formal special education training and those without such training who teach in inclusive classrooms. The sample included 146 music educators from rural and urban elementary schools who teach students with …

High-Functioning Autism, Stress, And Access To Resources: A Grounded Theory Analysis Of Families’ Strategies To Create A Network Of Support, Emmett S. Ramirez Vasquez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this systematic grounded theory study was to understand the process of partnership building for parents of individuals between the ages of 10-29 with high-functioning ASD at two counties in Central New York. The method of grounded theory was applied in this study as it gave an opportunity to study this process of partnership building between parents and support systems since previous theories had been insufficient to address this process. This study used a qualitative methodology to gather data from 12 participants including parents of individuals between the ages of 10-29 with high-functioning ASD as well as their …

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

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

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, …

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, …

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, …