Education Commons^™

Neurodivergent College Students And Therapy Dogs In Higher Education, Georgia Jean Majka

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine neurodivergent students in higher education and their experience with The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University to investigate whether therapy dogs reduce anxiety levels and provide relaxation. In addition, this study provides recommendations for The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy program at Rowan University to promote the program and its purpose on campus. These resources are important when discussing the neurodivergent student population in higher education, which this research study discusses, based on previous research and the results found from this quantitative approach. This study also makes recommendations for Rowan University …

The Influence Inclusive Literature Circles With Multicultural Literature Has On The Self-Efficacies Of 4th Grade Students With Disabilities, Brianna Norcross

Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to determine what happens to fourth grade students with disabilities reading self-efficacies when they participate in inclusive literature circles with multicultural literature. The purpose of this teacher research was to investigate strategies to improve reading self-efficacies of students with disabilities, investigating what would happen if students with disabilities were placed heterogeneously with their peers while reading books with characters with disabilities and how that influenced their reading self-efficacies. Four students with a disability were integrated with their general education peers in their inclusive classroom to participate in literature circles for four weeks. The multicultural books were books …

We're Still Emerging: A Poetic Inquiry Exploring The Tensions Between Inclusive Mindsets, Teacher Identity And Disability Stigma, Kerry K. Cormier

Theses and Dissertations

This poetic inquiry sought to understand the tensions, perspectives and experiences of teachers as they work to create more inclusive mindsets and identities despite working in a system that allows for ability profiling and disability stigma in schools. This work fills a gap in the literature in that not much is known about the journeys teachers take as they come to identify as inclusive educators. The conceptual framework drew from scholarship in the fields of Disability Studies in Education, Studies in Ableism, critical pedagogy, and teacher identity. Conducted in a professional development school, I worked as the university's professor-in-residence to …

Special Education Due Process: An Analysis Of Decisions In New Jersey From July 2005 - June 2012, Renee A. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

With every reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) since its inception in 1975, parents and school districts have been encouraged to mediate differences through non-legal means, whenever possible. This study assessed Special Education due process in the State of New Jersey between July 2005 and June 2012. The goal was to identify common patterns that led to due process and assess how former litigants described their experience and feelings about due process. I used a qualitative case study approach to collect and analyze data. First, I conducted a document analysis of 187 due process case results. I …

A Case Study Of The Perceptions Of English Faculty Regarding Interactions With Students With Disabilities, Ara V. Karakashian

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study (Yin, 2018) was to explore the perceptions of 11 full time English faculty who teach at least one section of ENG 101-College Composition I, regarding interactions with students with disabilities (SWD) and learning disabilities (LD) at Friendship County Community College (FCCC), an urban community college in the northeastern region of the United States. Of the 11 faculty sampled, 11 participated in one-on-one interviews and a review of 24 de-identified disability accommodation letters was conducted. Using the Theory of Justice (Rawls, 1971, 2001) and the Ethic of Care (Noddings, 1984), data was collected to …

Barriers That Impede Foreign-Born And Educated Male Nursing Students' Success In A United States Nursing Program: A Case Study, Lisa Marie Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

The United States has a 36% shortage of full-time nurses. This is projected to worsen. There will be a need for 260, 000 more nurses by 2025 and more than 581,000 new nursing positions will be created through 2024 (American Association College of Nursing, 2011; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). By 2030, New Jersey's shortage of nurses will exceed 43% (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). If a diverse population of students complete a nursing program and become nurses working in the field, the literature reports that there are better client outcomes when the healthcare industry mirrors …

Until Superheroes Learn How To Use Their Power: Exploring The Triple Consciousness Of African American Male Students Identified As Dis/Abled, Janelle N. Smith-Alexander

Theses and Dissertations

As early as elementary school, African American students are labeled and passed along from teacher to teacher with negative stigma and stereotypes (Wright, 2018). This negative academic self-concept adversely affects and shapes a deficit lens rather than a strength-based perspective and may further perpetuate trauma, mirroring the disproportionate inequities within education (Banks, 2017; Wright, 2018). The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore how African American males identified as having specific learning dis/abilities understand their triple consciousness and what particular experiences influence their post-high school decisions (Stake, 2006). The study investigated the multidimensional lived experiences of eight …

Rowan Unified Sports: Impact On Student Volunteers Through The Lens Of Transformative Learning, Mariah Francisco

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the impact of participation with Rowan Unified Sports on student volunteers through the lens of transformative learning. Data were collected from 14 participants who were individually interviewed, answering items on demographics as well as their experience and learning through their participation with Rowan Unified Sports. Data analysis suggested evidence of transformative learning as a result of participating with Unified Sports. Participants shared changing perspectives in areas such as intellectual, social, and athletic capabilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Participants also articulated application of this understanding to their everyday life. In other …

Students With Disabilities Attitudes Regarding Accommodations And Services Provided By Disability Services, Yvonne Blackwell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate students with disabilities attitudes regarding the accommodations and services provided to them from the Academic Success Center, Disability Resources at Rowan University. The study was also created to understand students with disabilities attitudes towards faculty knowledge and understanding of disability laws and accommodation policies at Rowan University. This study was structured based on prior research on Enhancing Engagement of Students with Invisible Disabilities completed at Rowan University (Abdullah, 2015). The study subjects included students with disabilities who were registered with the Academic Success Center: Disability Services at Rowan University. Key findings suggest …

Professional Learning Outcomes That Teachers Experience As A Result Of Implementing A Community-Based Instruction Program: A Qualitative Case Study, Suzan Radwan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore the professional learning outcomes of teachers as they implement community-based instruction programs for students with disabilities in a New Jersey school district. The study was viewed through the theoretical lens of disabilities studies in education, which posits that the term disability is a socially constructed concept that leads to the systematic social and environmental disadvantage of people with disabilities.

The sample included public school teachers who have participated in a community-based instruction program for students with disabilities in Mountainview Public Schools in New Jersey. Data collection methods included semi-structured …

A Case Study Of Community College Faculty Attitudes Toward Students With Disabilities, Mary C. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this single case study was to explore the attitudes and experiences of faculty at one small, public, community college in the southeastern United States. Of the 180 faculty sampled, 35 completed the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons survey, 13 participated in a one-on-one interview, and a review of 30 institutional documents was conducted. Using social constructivism, disability theory, and the researchers personal and professional experiences as the framework, the data collected helped to gain insight into the faculty's experiences with classroom accommodations and attitudes toward students with disabilities. Five key findings revealed that community college faculty in the …

The Disproportionate Representation Of Minorities In Special Education, Rasuwl Medina

Theses and Dissertations

Students throughout the United States are promised that individuals who enter the U.S. educational system are placed on an even playing field and that each student will be given equitable treatment within the school they attend. Furthermore, students are assured that studying and learning class material will determine not only their placement within school but the success they will have in life. Despite this long held belief, research and demographic breakdowns of special education placement within the U.S. suggests minorities are disproportionately placed into special education (de Valenzuela, Copeland, & Qi, 2006). This finding is in concert with the already …

Improving The Quality Of Homework Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students Through Translation For Parents, Robin Thorne

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students were provided with Spanish versions of homework for their parents to assist them, their homework performance would improve. Research has shown that in order to remove biases in education, the academic program and the characteristics of the student must be compatible. The sample consisted of 6 CLD students in the same Social Studies class. Student grades on homework were used to determine if student homework averages increased when homework assignments were translated into the parent's native language.

The results of the study does give some …

Fostering Social-Emotional Skills: A Cross-County Comparison Of The New Jersey Early Intervention System, Abigail Alston

Theses and Dissertations

The positive influence of early intervention on the future success of infants and toddlers who qualify for these services has been supported by various studies. Social-emotional skills, a targeted outcome of early intervention services, are an essential component of a child's social and academic success. New Jersey County Determination Reports demonstrate a disparity between the percentage of children entering early intervention with social-emotional skills below age expectation and then proceeding to exit early intervention with substantially increased social-emotional skills. The purpose of this study was to understand whether certain variables impacted these percentages. Variables investigated for each county included the …

Attitudes Toward Accommodations And Academic Well-Being Of College Students With Disabilities, Alex Elizabeth Troccoli

Theses and Dissertations

College students with disabilities remain an understudied population, especially on topics relating to academic success. As more students with disabilities are struggling to complete their college education it calls for more research to be done to ensure students are taking advantage of any resources that can be beneficial for them. This study can contribute to empirical literature about how accommodations and other support service for college students with disabilities can impact academic well-being. The research questions advanced in the study are: 1) Is there a difference in the attitudes of students who are availing and not availing to accommodations? and …

Locus Of Control, Parents Involvement And College Disability Accommodations, Olivia Sara Aquino

Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of students with learning disabilities are enrolled in college and seek support services under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). According to U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2015), Digest of Education Statistics, 2013 (2015-011), approximately 11% of students report having a disability. However, although more students attending post-secondary education are receiving accommodations and supports, the retention of these students remains a central concern. A student's ability to self-advocate seems to be one key to academic success. Self-determination and self-efficacy factors are frequently cited as essential to successful transition to college. The current study explored …

Connection Between Effort And Academic Success In Learning Disabled Students Identified With Learned Helplessness, Nancy D. Braunwell

Theses and Dissertations

This research was conducted with high school students eligible for special education services that have also been identified with learned helplessness. Students were given the intervention of study activity and exposure to success via assessments to determine if they would make a connection between their effort and their academic success. This connection is typically absent in learned helpless students. The data indicated that these students did make that connection and would continue the study activity on their own time after the intervention period to continue to experience success.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And The Impact On Adults Exiting School, Dana Lynn Kilroy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis study was to see if there was a connection between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and going on to attend college. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder commonly diagnosed in children during the developmental years that impedes on their abilities to pay attention and stay still, which could be detrimental in a school setting. Previous research shows that students with ADHD are not going on to attend college and to receive a higher level of education. Adults with ADHD tend to present their symptoms differently than they did when they were children. This thesis …

Socioeconomic Status And Its Relationship To Educational Resources, Christene M. Sledge

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between socioeconomic status and access to educational resources was examined. According to a national report on school funding, New Jersey rates third in the nation for equality in school funding (Baker, Sciarra and Farrie 2015). Although disparities in school funding are lower than average, students of low socioeconomic status are still at a disadvantage when entering school. The ways in which school districts spend their money was believed to be affected by the socioeconomic status of the students who attend their schools. Literature was reviewed on the ways in which socioeconomic status has been associated with various health …

The Over-Representation Of Hispanics In Special Education Programs In New Jersey, Alexandra Lynne Chey

Theses and Dissertations

The over-representation of Hispanics of Special Education programs has been a debate for years now. Over-representation happens when the percentage of minority students in special education programs is greater than in the school population as a whole. This study attempts to evaluate the causes and problems of the over-representation. There are a number of factors that could explain the disproportionality of this issue. This study identifies multiple factors that shape this problem. One of the factors that could be influencing this issue is poverty and low SES. This paper looks at the lowest SES county in New Jersey vs. the …

Will Using The Self-Regulated Development Model Improve Math Word Problem Solving Skills For Seventh Grade Students With Learning Disabilities?, Heather D'Antonio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine if the Self-Regulated Development Model would improve word problem solving skills for seventh grade students. The participants were 17 seventh graders, one student classified as Specific Learning Disabled and two other students were in the process of evaluations. The students were given four word problems to solve over the course of week before they learned the Self-Regulated Development Model. After students became familiar with the Strategy, they solved the word problems again, using the Self-regulated Development Model. Students usually respond to word problems by leaving it blank or writing "I don't know." …

Inclusion: Influencing Attitudes Through Training, Collaboration, And Support, Donna L. Groon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the current attitudes towards inclusion of kindergarten through 5^th grade general education teachers and paraprofessionals in a small New Jersey school district. Participants were surveyed using the MATIES, Multidimensional Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education Scale. An attempt was made to influence the attitudes of those teachers and paraprofessionals through a brief series of interventions that included in-service training, collaboration between the researcher, teachers and paraprofessionals, and the provision of support to teachers in areas where they expressed a specific need. After the intervention, participants were resurveyed to determine if a change in …

Guided Reading Instruction And Making Words, Amanda Cavaliere

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine if the use of the Making Words strategy, when implemented during Guided Reading instruction in a first grade classroom, improves the decoding skills of first grade students with and without disabilities. The students were administered the Yopp-Singer Test of Phonemic Segmentation as a pretest and posttest of the study. The Making Words strategy was implemented at the conclusion of each guided reading lesson during a ten week period. There were 16 first grade students included in this study, four of whom had disabilities. The average number of words correctly segmented at the …

Impact Of The Orton-Gillingham Program On The Reading Of Students Who Are Reading Below Grade Level, Diana M. Sweeney

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Orton-Gillingham supplemental tutoring program on third grade students. Participants were struggling readers who read at a slow rate. These students are in regular education, Basic Skills Improvement Program, or special education classes. Students received tutoring in groups which consisted of four to five students in each group and were homogeneous. The Dynamic Indicator for Early Basic Literature Skills assessments were used as a baseline in September, and posttest in January and February, to measure abilities in fluency, decoding, and story retell/comprehension. Results indicate that the Orton-Gillingham Program was effective at improving the fluency …

A Study Of The Predictive Validity Of The Gates-Macginitie Reading Test And The New Jersey Assessment Of Skills And Knowledge At The 4th, 5th And 6th Grade Levels, Stephanie L. Diantonio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive validity of reading achievement scores obtained using the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test and student performance on the Language Arts Literacy section on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge using a sample of students from the Gloucester City School District. Success For All has been implemented in the Gloucester City School District for over eight years as a Whole School Reform Model to raise student achievement in reading and language arts literacy. The effectiveness of this program was measured by using data collected from the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test and the …

Do Students With Learning Disabilities View Their Self-Concept More Positively In A Private Day School For Special Needs Versus Students In An Inclusive Public School Classroom?, Jennifer L. Wierski

Theses and Dissertations

"An individual's self-concept is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. A strong positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life" (Brothers, date unknown). The following paper addressed the three competencies of self-concept in students with learning disabilities: academic, physical and social. The construct of self-concept was compared in students with learning disabilities in a self-contained versus inclusive classroom environment, The author supported the findings through research contained in academic and professional journals and quantitative data gathered from the completion of the …

An Exploratory Study Of Rates Of Progress In Early Reading Skills In An Inclusive Classroom As Measured By Dibels Indicators, Tracy Deangelo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if inclusion of special education students impacted the rate of progress made within the kindergarten classroom. The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) was used to measure progress. DIBELS is a set of standardized, individually administered measures of early literacy development that can identify children at risk for reading difficulties and monitor the effectiveness of remediation programs.

Kindergarten students from Harrison Township Elementary School were the participants of this study. The progress made by 22 students within a morning noninclusive class was compared to the progress made by 18 students within …

An Exploratory Study To Determine Best Practices In Implementing Response To Intervention, Nikki Allison Renella

Theses and Dissertations

Prior to the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) in 2004, the only operational definition for determining eligibility as a child having a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) was to determine if a severe discrepancy existed between a child's achievement and intellectual ability. Concerns with the IQ discrepancy model have led to changes in the special education code to also include a child's response to scientific, researched-based interventions as adequate criteria to determine a Learning Disability. This process is called Response to Intervention (RTI).

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) determine the elements that …

Determining Multiple Intelligences In The Preschool Aged Child, Jill Elizabeth Capie

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research study was to explore whether valid Multiple Intelligence profiles could be created for preschool children. This study was conducted over a three month period and included 16 preschool-aged participants. Research strategies included surveys (teacher, paraprofessional, and parent), naturalistic observations, and participant interviews. There were four key findings in this study. First, the teacher, the paraprofessional, and the parents had differing perceptions about which intelligences were dominant for each participant. Second, participants appear to have multiple, equally dominant intelligences. Third, participant's views related to their own dominant intelligences frequently differed from those reported by the teacher, …

No Child Left Behind: The Impact On Special Education Teachers At The Secondary Level, Stacey E. Gofberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative investigation was to explore how the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) has impacted special education teachers at the secondary level. Two research strategies were used for this study. First, surveys were given to eleven special education teachers at a southern New Jersey high school. Then, a veteran teacher and a novice teacher at the high school were interviewed. It was found that participants generally endorsed the overarching goals of NCLB, but they did not believe that all of the requirements were realistic for students with disabilities. Based on these …