Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Accessibility And Open Education Drop-In Session, Karen Tinsley-Kim, Keven Corcoran

Open Ed Live

Join this session on accessibility and open education and bring your questions! In this safe and informal space, facilitators are ready to receive your question. This session does not include a formal presentation; instead, attendees will ask questions and facilitators will guide discussion on topics related to accessibility and open education.

Is Opt-In The Future Of "Inclusive Access"?, Nicole Allen, Wendy Howard

Open Ed Live

"Inclusive Access" is a model that has been adopted by many institutions to provide students with course materials. Recent developments at the federal level have raised questions about the transparency and equity of these programs. This presentation will discuss the current state of Inclusive Access, including how regulatory changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Education may change the default model from "opt-out" to "opt-in." It will also share the University of Central Florida’s experience implementing a successful opt-in Inclusive Access program.

Ouer Story: In The Interests Of All, Anne Prucha, Kacie Tartt

Open Ed Live

In this session the presenters will speak about their use of Open Educational Resources combined with Personalized Adaptive Learning in redesigned high-enrollment GenEd courses. Hear about their successes and challenges--plus outcomes--in a non-traditional approach with OER and PAL in the Humanities. The session will also focus on the advantages and benefits of these innovations for students and faculty alike.

Self- Determination And Student- Led Ieps, Elizabeth R. Clarke

Empowering Educators Conference

In this session, Dr. Clarke and her student, a high school senior, will analyze and instruct educational professionals about self-determination. She will explain how to give students a voice in their IEP and their educational plans, as well as the subsequent effects: boosting motivation, independence and academic success.

A Qualitative Case Study Of Disabled Students’ Experiences With Online Course Accessibility During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jason Altmann

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY OF DISABLED STUDENTS’

EXPERIENCES WITH ONLINE COURSE ACCESSIBILITY

DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Jason Altmann, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Xiaodan Hu, Director

This dissertation presents a qualitative case study exploring the experiences of disabled students with online course accessibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates how the abrupt shift to online learning impacted the accessibility of educational materials and support services for disabled students in a large, suburban community college.

Critical Disability Theory (CDT) framework was utilized to guide interview questions and explore the connection between the initial …

Fish In A Tree Book Study Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Individuals lead storied lives, and everyone has a story to tell. Our stories can be shared orally and documented in print. Often, learners are exposed to stories through novels and other trade books. Teacher educators may benefit from using the stories in novels and trade books as case studies in preservice teacher preparation course. This assignment description outlines how to use the novel, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, as a case study to contextualize and understand the lived story of an individual living and learning with dyslexia. Through the novel, preservice teachers experience the dilemmas faced and …

Toward Equal Access: A Model For Lay Advocacy Programs Serving People Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Melissa Bell

JADARA

Advocacy programs are prevalent among state government agencies that specialize in serving persons who are deaf or hard of hearing around the United States. The work is crucial to ensuring equal access and equal opportunity, yet the lay advocacy profession is not yet formalized with certification, ethical standards, or training programs for advocates serving this population. Research was conducted to advance efforts to maximize these programs’ effectiveness by compiling components of an ideal model for lay advocacy programs. Directors from state agencies that specialize in serving this population around the country refined the model and described the structure of their …

Awakening To Activism: Exploring Disability Activism Through The Voices Of University Student Activists, Sophia Hirokawa

West Chester University Master’s Theses

In this study, I explored disability activist identity and activism through one-on-one, semi-structured qualitative interviews with four university activists who shared their personal stories of awakening to disability activism, using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to explore themes. Each interviewee had a unique form of disability activist identity and a multifaceted process of awakening to that identity. They identified strengths in the disability activist community, such as a supportiveness, persistence, and uniqueness, but they also identified challenges, such as ineffectiveness of laws and policies, discrimination, and a lack of accessibility and awareness. The results of this study illuminate the …

(A.D.D.)Ing Curriculum: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Experiences Of Teachers With Attention-Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder In Challenging Educational Spaces, Daniel Szokoly

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the experiences of teachers with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Specifically, it focuses on how their neurodevelopmental disorder impacts their teaching practice, their ability to form relationships, and how they interact with the spaces they inhabit. Using tools of narrative inquiry and critical disability narrative such as observations, interviews, artifacts, etc., I have gathered and analyzed the stories of my four participants who have been diagnosed with ADHD, including myself, over a period of eight months in order to create a framework within which to shine a light on these teachers' experiences. Theoretically, my dissertation draws upon critical …

Learning Curve: Designing An Inclusive Early Childhood Learning Center, Sarah Alrumayh

Theses and Dissertations

This research centers on the improvement of early childhood education environments in hopes to reduce the disparities in outcomes among children aged 2-6, widely known as "the achievement gap." It sheds light on designing an inclusive, child-centered school for students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) and speech or language impairments (SLI). Drawing on the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), it underscores the benefits of integrating students with special education needs into mainstream education, thereby fostering inclusive learning environments. (IDEA, 1975).

The research question probes how to create a nurturing and adaptable school environment tailored to the diverse needs of …

Accessibility For All: An Interdisciplinary Team's Perception Of Multisensory Community Experiences For Students With Severe Disabilities, Karrissa Ebert

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This phenomenological study sought to understand how members of a special education team account for and navigate successes and barriers faced during the planning and implementation of community experiences for students with severe disabilities. The needs and abilities of this population are vast and often difficult to accurately define, and there remain many gaps within the research. Individual interviews of six special education team members from varied professional backgrounds yielded thick, rich narratives about the successes and barriers faced while planning and implementing community experiences for their students. The dominant theme that emerged was that successful community learning experiences had …

An Evaluation Of The Process For Assigning Standardized Testing Accommodations For Students With Autism, Lisa Ober

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation evaluated the process for assigning standardized testing accommodations for students with autism on the standard course of study. The study captured current levels of teacher understanding, their perceptions regarding how testing accommodations might increase equitable access for students with autism, and how these beliefs influence the process of assigning accommodations. The study identified key themes surrounding current processes and equity through qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with exceptional children and general education teachers and observation of professional learning communities and individualized education plan meetings. The findings revealed that inadequate teacher training and the lack of universal protocols for …

Amplifying Voices Of Postsecondary Outcomes For Physically Disabled Students A Qualitative Research Study, Jessica Keogh

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The present qualitative research study analyzed and amplified the voices of physically disabled and/or chronically ill students' perspectives of their postsecondary transition process. Previous transition research dating back to 1983, just a decade after the passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, focuses on students with cognitive disabilities, Autism, and Intellectual Disabilities (Will, 1983). From my professional and lived experiences, there appears to be a gap in postsecondary transition services for youth with physical disabilities, which is further substantiated in previous bodies of research (Faggella-Luby et al., 2014; Targetta et al., 2013). This research study is important as it …

Udl As A Framework For Expanding Liaison Work And Engaging With Students, Erica Defrain

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Faculty Publications

This chapter examines the development of a series of virtual workshops designed to strengthen research and information strategies in the social sciences. Guided by the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)—emphasizing equity, flexibility, and simplicity—the program evolved into both a successful synchronous learning experience and a sustainable suite of asynchronous instructional objects accessible across the university. Now in its third semester, the workshops have expanded beyond traditional liaison boundaries, increasing awareness of library resources and services throughout the academic community. The chapter details the iterative process of developing, designing, and assessing the workshops through a UDL framework, highlighting pedagogical …

An Overview Of Udl Theory And Scholarship In Higher Education, Rachel Mcmullin, Danielle Skaggs

University Libraries Faculty Publications

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework for improving and optimizing teaching and learning. It’s focused on intentionally designing for the needs and abilities of all learners—putting accessibility into the planning stages instead of as an accommodation after the fact—and providing flexibility in the ways students access and engage with materials and learning objectives.

Autism In Agricultural Education: A Case Study Of An Adolescent With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Parent On Career And Technical Education, Grace Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a unique and often misunderstood diagnosis. Little is known about the experiences of adolescents with ASD. As students with ASD graduate high school, many are under- and unemployed. Career and technical education (CTE) in U.S. schools is intended to prepare all students for careers post-secondary. Agricultural education is one of the predominate career clusters within CTE. This qualitative single case study sought to create a platform for both a student and their parent to share their experiences in agricultural education and CTE. Participants were an adolescent with ASD who had taken at least one year …

Effectiveness Of An Inclusive, Small-Group Adapted Aquatics Program On Increasing Vo2max In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Peggy Manuelita Scarborough

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

There is a need to examine the effectiveness of interventions, such as swimming, that are aimed at increasing physical health and developing psychomotor skills in an inclusive setting for children with ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an inclusive, small-group adapted aquatics program on increasing VO₂max in children with ASD. Participants included two 11-year-old children diagnosed with ASD. The study took place over eight weeks and included a six-week Small-Group Adapted Aquatics (SGAA) program. Participants were assessed for VO₂max using the 20m PACER test during week one and week eight …

Music Education Within An Autism Support Classroom: Building Community And Educational Skills, Emma Lamberti

Honors Theses

The purpose of this action research study was to explore how music education might provide a sense of community, develop educational skills, and discuss general best practices for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a middle school autism support classroom. To examine community, educational skills, and best practices, this study completed two cycles of action research. The curriculum in Cycle 1 consisted of typical music lessons for a general music classroom. Interviews with teachers and students, video observations, and researcher reflections after each lesson were used to inform the development of Cycle 2. Cycle 2 retained the overall …

Advancing Strength-Based Inclusive Mental Health Research In Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Luther Kalb, Joan B. Beasley

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Acknowledgments, Matt Wappett

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Diverse Minds, Shared Planet: Designing, Assessing, And Adapting Curricula To Engage Diverse Learners With Their Environment And Inspire Positive Change, Mallory Rose Lampe

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The pieces that compose this portfolio together explore how environmental education can connect diverse learners to their environment through the integration of accessible curricula to inspire stewardship and action to take care of the planet we share.

How Virtual Reality Simulations Prepare Teachers In Teacher Preparation Programs For Inclusive Classrooms, Lorilei G. Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Teacher preparation programs are ever evolving based on research and student needs. The use of technology, such as virtual reality (VR), is at the forefront of education to help provide opportunities for teacher candidates to practice teaching in a semi-authentic classroom environment of students with and without exceptionalities. VR is a way for teacher candidates to practice teaching in a structured and conceivably less stressful environment in comparison to a real brick and mortar inclusive classroom. This qualitative study utilizes interviewing with video cuing for two novice teacher participants who went through the same inclusive education course at a major …

Coming To Your Library Soon: Make All The Things Accessible!, James M. Day, Cody Michaels

Publications

Web accessibility refers to the practice of ensuring that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed in a way that allows people with disabilities to use them effectively.

The Potential Of Humor To Joyously Dismantle Ableism+: Considerations For Social Workers, Mia Ocean

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Social workers are often well-positioned but not adequately equipped to disrupt, unsettle, or counteract ableism. Humor is one approach to disability justice work that can move the social work profession forward in a novel way. Within this practice brief, I use first-person narrative to illustrate the potential and limitations of humor to dismantle ableism+ in everyday interactions between social workers, clinical social work practice, and policy transformation. First, I share an example of how to use humor as a direct, call-in strategy to confront social worker-initiated ableist interactions. Second, I describe how a mixed disabled/abled couple can laugh together at …

From Elementary School To Doctoral Education: An Autoethnographic Journey, Gwendolyn D. Dailey

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Every child has a right to education, and their skin color should not determine their education quality. However, since the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), it has been proven that race continues to matter in the success and failure of education (Delgado & Stefancic, 2001). The persistent achievement gaps between students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as the disparities in access to high-quality educational opportunities, demonstrate how race and ethnicity shape the educational experiences of students of color (Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis, 2012). Unfortunately, stories such as Ruby Bridges of New …

Universal Design For Learning Principles Impact On Students With Neurodiverse Learning Styles, Jennifer Y. Cole, Julia Graham, Shelly Norvell, Patricia Schaber

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Universal design for learning (UDL) is a pedagogical framework that utilizes the principles of equal access, flexibility, simplicity, perceptibility, and efficiency in the process of teaching and learning. This multi-institutional cross-sectional study examined instructional methods and designs that occupational therapy students identified to be useful or not useful for their diverse learning needs based on principles of UDL. The study also sought to determine if select methods or designs were perceived to enhance learning for those who are neurodivergent in contrast to other students. An online survey was distributed to students across four occupational therapy programs. The survey consisted of …

The Importance Of Endrew: Analyzing The Influence Of A New Legal Precedent In Pennsylvania Due Process Hearing Officer Decisions Before And After Covid-19 Closures, David H. Rush

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

In 2017, a new standard for determining substantive violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was established with the ruling for Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. Recently, the United States Department of Education and State Education Agencies have cited the Endrew decision as being important in defining what constitutes a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) under the IDEA, in light of mandated school closures due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Despite its noted importance, there has been limited analysis into how this new legal precedent has influenced special education due process hearing officer decisions. …

Exploring Perceptions Of Advanced Coursework Enrollment Practices: A Multiple Case Study, Tomika Ferguson, David B. Naff, Jenna Lenhardt, Amy E. Jefferson, Isaiah Moore, Andrea Herndon, Richard Ashburn, Jessica Harris, Jenna Conlee, Courtney Forstmann

MERC Publications

This report from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium highlights findings from a multiple case study exploring enrollment practices related to advanced coursework matriculation in a suburban middle school and rural high school. In connection with the MERC Equitable Access and Support for Advanced Coursework study, this multiple case study included perspectives from students, parents, and educators as they reflected on the factors that support and inhibit access for advanced courses in their schools.

Stereotypes Of A Black Man Misunderstood: The Experiences And Development Of Black Men With Bipolar Disorder On College Campuses, Gerron Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Black men graduate from universities at a lower rate compared to other groups. Students with disabilities also graduate at a lower rate. When the two groups intersect, the results can be disastrous. Black men with bipolar disorder face a host of problems on college campuses. From a lack of sense of belonging to trouble in class, they struggle to stay afloat in college. The purpose of this study was to document the experiences and development of Black men with bipolar disorder on college campuses. A grounded theory approach was used in this study. Grounded theory was chosen because it leads …

You Shall Know A Forum By The Words They Keep: Analyzing Language Use In Accessibility Forums For Blind Users, Nithiya Venkatraman, Anand Aiyer, Yash Prakash, Vikas Ashok

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Discussion forums are one of the favored platforms for knowledge sharing. Given their popularity, copious research exists on understanding linguistic and behavioral characteristics of forum conversations. However, prior investigations have mainly focused on general forums designed primarily for sighted users, and as such the applicability of their findings to the dedicated accessibility discussion forums frequented by blind individuals remains unanswered. To bridge this knowledge gap, and facilitate the development of better-informed assistive technologies for blind people, we investigated language use and identified the key semantic and cognitive characteristics of online accessibility forums. To aid our investigation, we collected a dataset …