Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Role Of Assistive And Adaptive Technologies In Promoting Inclusivity In Classrooms: A Study On Special Education Trainees, Deepa Sikand Kauts Dr., Moomin Ahmad Rather Mr

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Integrating assistive and adaptive technologies is vital for fostering inclusivity in special education. However, awareness and perceived impact of these tools among aspiring special educators remain underexplored. This study examined the awareness and perceived impact of assistive and adaptive technologies among 56 students enrolled in a Multiple Disabilities (MD) B.Ed. Special Education program. Validated scales with strong reliability and unidimensionality were employed, with the awareness scale explaining 70.62% of the variance and the perceived impact scale accounting for 53.68%. Descriptive and inferential analyses indicated that awareness levels ranged from basic to moderate (mean = 3.37), with a subset showing high …

Analysing Nontraditional Students' Chatgpt Interaction, Engagement, Self-Efficacy And Performance: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Mohan Yang, Shiyan Jiang, Belle Li, Kristin Herman, Tian Luo, Shanan Chappell Moots, Nolan Lovett

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Generative artificial intelligence brings opportunities and unique challenges to nontraditional higher education students, stemming, in part, from the experience of the digital divide. Providing access and practice is critical to bridge this divide and equip students with needed digital competencies. This mixed-methods study investigated how nontraditional higher education students interact with ChatGPT in multiple courses and examined relationships between ChatGPT interactions, engagement, self-efficacy and performance. Data were collected from 73 undergraduate and graduate students through chat logs, course reflections and artefacts, surveys and interviews. ChatGPT interactions were analysed using four metrics: prompt number, depth of knowledge (DoK), prompt relevance and …

The Iterative Process Of Developing A School-Based Intervention To Take Actions Against Racism, Lindsay Poole, Danika Perry, Zumana Noor, Kim Graham, Tia Barnes, Danielle Hatchimonji, Kira Branch

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Racism threatens the mental and physical health of Black and Brown K-8 students and may lead to re-occurring harm without intervention. We developed ‘Actions Against Racism’ professional development trainings using a trauma-informed racial socialization lens to provide K-8 educators with proactive strategies to disrupt the negative psychosocial developmental outcomes associated with racism. This paper is a descriptive account of how we iteratively developed this intervention through four phases over the course of four years. The primary takeaway from this work is that developing and implementing interventions to disrupt racism and promote healing must take into account the implementation context, with …

Factors That Contribute To Employment Success For Young Adults With Disabilities Completing A Postsecondary Education Program, Leatha Pfanmiller

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this research was low employment rates for young adults with disabilities. Young adults with disabilities are employed at a much lower rate than their neurotypical peers. The factors identified in this study could be beneficial to other college and postsecondary education (PSE) programs with employment components, to promote higher rates of employment for students with disabilities who attend those institutions.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors that contribute to employment success for young adults with disabilities completing a PSE program. The study was conducted at a medium-sized, 4-year, public university in the …

Advancing Accessibility In Higher Education: A Community-Based Approach To Addressing Rising Student Accommodation Needs Requests In The Post-Covid-19 Era, Mariah Lossing

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Accommodation requests for students with disabilities have increased in higher education over the past decade, with the sharpest rise occurring in the post-COVID environment. Most requests over the past five years have been related to mental health. Faculty, especially adjunct instructors, often lack access to training and resources that address the growing challenges efficiently and effectively. Faculty are balancing academic rigor with flexibility and accessibility while universities experience increasing pressure to retain both students and faculty amidst rising demands and resource limitations. This study explored a community-based approach to addressing accessibility and professional development in the changing landscape of post-COVID-19 …

Academic Librarians With Invisible Disabilities Carry An Invisible Workload That Limits Their Career Potential, Katrina Heiderich Williams

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Stubborn Silos Between Pedagogy And Space Planning Limit Inclusive Higher Education Learning Environments, Louise Nagle, Petrina Comerford

Publications

This research explores lecturers' perceptions of fostering inclusion within higher education learning environments and the challenges they face in adapting to meet these expectations. An exploratory case study employing a qualitative approach was undertaken which utilized semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis. Twelve lecturers were interviewed from diverse disciplines across an Irish university, including STEM, Social Sciences, Health, Arts and Business. The main themes that emerged were a) Considerations of Inclusion in the context of the learning environment b) Restrictions and difficulties within learning environments in terms of inclusion c) Strategy required to adapt to inclusion needs. Additional sub-themes within …

Scholar Perspectives On The Impact Of A Scientific Community Program For Neurodivergent Undergraduate Stem Scholars, Dylan Sullivan, Fernando Zavala, Derek Hidalgo, Jacob Stolle, Rebecca Matte, Christin B. Monroe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Despite the adaptive strengths and unique problem-solving skills demonstrated by neurodivergent (ND) individuals, they remain underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. High unemployment rates among individuals with disabilities emphasize the need for addressing barriers to entry and persistence in the workforce. This study introduces a program designed to enhance opportunities for neurodivergent STEM scholars with financial needs, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program involves: 1) a weekly cohort course to engage in professional development, 2) use of the Birkman Method® survey to help scholars identify and communicate strengths, fostering self-awareness and growth, and 3) …

The Art Of Inclusion: Theatre’S Contribution To Popular Culture Literacy For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Catherine R. P. King

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This essay explores the transformative role of theatre in special education, focusing on its capacity to foster social skills and life navigation abilities in students with disabilities. In light of the fundamental importance of these skills for social inclusion and quality of life, the article highlights the innovative and effective approach to integrating theatre into special education classrooms. It discusses how theatre can empower students with disabilities by enhancing their social interaction, communication, and life navigation skills. In addition, the article delves into the intersection of theatre and popular culture, showcasing how theatre can serve as a valuable tool for …

Queerly Cultivating Anti-Racist Feminist Pedagogy, Laurie Fuller

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Queerly Cultivating Anti-Racist Feminist Pedagogy raises questions and analyzes classroom practices based on adrienne maree brown’s (2017) Emergent Strategy, a radical self-help manual for our current political climate that calls for a paradigm shift in organizing work. Black, mixed, queer, pansexual, feminist writer, pleasure activist, facilitator and sci-fi scholar, brown builds on a continuous tradition of women of color feminists resisting oppression to bring together science fiction and permaculture, biomimicry and organizing, pleasure and activism. She offers fresh perspectives on how to imagine liberation and provides dynamic ways to think about teaching and learning. Emergent Strategy provides principles to …

Principals' Perspectives Of The Impact Of Faculty Engagement, Self-Efficacy, And Resiliency On First-Year African American College Student Retention, Hattie Marie Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study examined principals’ perceptions of the impact of faculty engagement, student resiliency, and student self-efficacy on the retention of first-year urban and rural African American college students. The aim of the study was to determine why students from this demographic leave their higher education institutions after the first year. In the United States, about 30% of students, regardless of race or ethnicity, drop out of college after the first year. Further, given 6 years, about 50% of students drop out before obtaining a degree. Researchers have identified African American students as having a high college dropout rate. This …

Cultural Advocacy And Teachers Of Color, Torine Champion, Linda Wilson-Jones

Journal of Research Initiatives

Teachers of color face marginalization and microaggressions that their White counterparts do not have to face. African American teachers experience microaggressions pathologizing their cultural values and communication styles, cultural/ethnic insensitivity, an ascription of their intelligence, and being treated as second-class citizens) that are hurtful, undermining, and disparaging (Brown, 2019). Asian American teachers face gendered, racial, and sexualized expectations on their campuses (Endo, 2015). A study of Latina bilingual teachers revealed that they felt alienated from their colleagues, had larger workloads, and did not have access to support (Amos, 2016). Teachers of color experience inequalities, microaggressions, and marginalization that impact their …

Critical Literacy And Hip Hop, Sunni Ali

Journal of Research Initiatives

Integrating critical literacy and conscious Hip-Hop in the classroom setting offers numerous benefits. It allows students to engage more effectively in conversations about contemporary topics, enhances their ability to integrate cultural perspectives, and provides a fresh perspective on the challenges they face in school and within their communities.

Integrating critical literacy and conscious Hip-Hop in the classroom setting offers numerous benefits. It allows students to engage more effectively in conversations about contemporary topics, enhances their ability to integrate cultural perspectives, and provides a fresh perspective on the challenges they face in school and within their communities.

When teachers apply a …

Hbcu Faculty Job Satisfaction: Implications For Effective Higher Education Leadership, Demissie Karorsa, Monica E. Allen

Journal of Research Initiatives

Studies show that the success of organizations typically depends on the extent to which leaders promote their employees' job satisfaction and commitment (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). As a result, employees' job satisfaction has received significant attention from business leaders and researchers (Belias & Kouestelios, 2014; Cakmak et al., 2015; Hesli & Lee, 2013; Seifert & Umbach, 2008). Most businesses recognize that enthusiastic, committed, and satisfied employees add value by enhancing customer satisfaction and retention, increasing productivity, and working toward the long-term success of their organizations (Choi, 2016; Cook, 2008). This survey sought to understand Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) …

Dr. Carter G. Woodson And Pedagogy In Education, Dorrance Kennedy, Terri Moore-Brown, Abraham Watson

Journal of Research Initiatives

Dr. Carter G Woodson was an African American historian, author, publisher, and activist. He is known as the Father of Black History. He was the second African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard University. He was the founder of the Journal of Negro Education and the Associated Publishers. He wrote many influential books, including The History of the Negro Church and The Miseducation of the Negro. He died in Washington, DC in 1950.

Practicing Feminist Disability Pedagogy: Building Interdependence Through A Classroom Participation Menu, Kristen L. Cole

Feminist Pedagogy

Following the lead of Parsloe & Smith (2022), this article explains and advocates possible modes of participation that consider the disabled, chronically ill, and systemically vulnerable students and faculty who are fighting to succeed in higher education. The way participation is measured in college classes is often ableist in nature; thus, it is important to unpack the ableist assumptions that undergird how we arrange and assess participation. Utilizing Knoll’s (2009) explication of interdependency as a practice of feminist disability pedagogy, this article offers a semester long activity called a participation menu, which provides a framework for distributing the responsibility of …

Making (Virtual) Space For Disability Equity In Academia, Melissa Vosen Callens, Cali Anicha, Larry Napoleon Jr.

Feminist Pedagogy

Virtual or hybrid options provide a way for marginalized faculty and staff to fully participate in their fields and on their campuses. As such, an equitable and pandemic-informed academic workplace should include fully accessible and well-resourced hybrid participation options for department meetings and events, office work, and classroom duties. In spring 2023, we created a work group on our campus to address the challenges of hybrid work and co-create campus-wide recommendations for hybrid workspaces. In this article, we share our findings and evidence-based recommendations, many of which draw on Universal Design for Learning, as well as offer suggestions on how …

An Opportunity For Growth: Co-Constructing The Liberatory Classroom, Lakesha Anderson Ph.D.

Feminist Pedagogy

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted education, necessitating a reevaluation of teaching methodologies and priorities. This critical commentary offers feminist pedagogy as a framework for honoring students' pandemic educational experiences and creating liberatory learning environments. Feminist pedagogy, rooted in the vision of an inclusive and liberatory classroom, challenges normative ways of viewing the world and encourages engaged teaching and learning. My experience as the parent of a high school student with ADHD during the pandemic influenced my teaching practice as a college professor. Through this experience, I learned to treat students more equitably, incorporating new teaching strategies, embracing flexibility, and shifting …

Disabling Critique: Structural Barriers To Critical Disability Approaches In Teacher Education, Albert Stabler

Feminist Pedagogy

Considerable research has documented student resistance to efforts at diversity and equity in college curricula. Scholars have also focused on negative attitudes among K-12 teacher candidates toward anti-racist and culturally informed approaches within education, as well as on the instrumental and teacher-centered approaches that typify special education teacher preparation. Through citing this research and drawing on my own experiences as a disabled art teacher education faculty instructor attempting to encourage a critical disability perspective, I make the argument that numerous factors contribute to an anti-critical attitude among teacher candidates preparing to work with students receiving special education services.

Curtains Up - Utilizing Assistive Technology For Inclusive Theater Experiences, Lauren Tucker, Nikki Burnell, Morgan Dalton, Marisa Donenfeld, Catherine Gruszka Vadala

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

Community partnerships can enhance inclusive spaces within the performing arts maximizing the knowledge and expertise within organizations. This article shares the components of a collaboration between a non-profit performing arts venue and a graduate program in assistive technology (AT). Through this affiliation visual and communication supports were designed and implemented at sensory-friendly and relaxed performances offered at the theater. A patron profile is presented to illustrate how the supports were integrated before, during, and after the event. The article concludes with next steps and actual patron perspectives as a result of the relationship.

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Disability Education In Medical Schools: A Paradigm Shift For Inclusive Care, Hannah Ship Md, Mph, Sahana Shankar M.D., Rochelle Baer Lcsw, Jeffrey Brosco M.D., Ph.D., Jairo Arana, Damian Gregory, Robert Irwin M.D., Gauri Agarwal M.D., Sabrina Taldone Md, Mba, Sheryl Eisenberg Michalowski Ma, Daniel Quintero M.D., Anna Shah M.D., Frank Woo M.D., Michelle Schladant Ph.D., Ashley Falcon Phd, Mph

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Disability education for medical students is often insufficient and can contribute to health disparities for people with disabilities. Our interdisciplinary curriculum development team created a longitudinal 4-year disability education model aimed at improving patient care for people with disabilities. Central to our curriculum are progressive sessions aligned with students' medical journey, including three required sessions covering interdisciplinary healthcare teams, implicit bias, health disparities, disability culture, shared decision-making, communication, and self-determination. Through the inclusion of people with disabilities, an interdisciplinary curriculum development team, and trainee-driven advocacy, our longitudinal multi-phasic disability education curriculum seeks to mitigate health disparities. Our innovative approach addresses …

Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy & Cultural Humility: An Intersectional Faculty Development, R. Danielle Scott, Elizabeth A. Harsma

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Desirability Of Dape: K-12 Administrators Ideal Pe Teachers Candidates And Their Licensure Areas, Dillon R. Martinez, Steve Baule, Ray Martinez

Essays in Education

Abstract In response to persistent teacher shortages in the United States, exacerbated by specific content areas' scarcity, this article explores the desirability of teachers holding licenses in Developmentally Adaptive Physical Education (DAPE) alongside traditional Physical Education (PE) qualifications. A survey conducted among school administrators in Minnesota and Wisconsin reveals that administrators highly favor PE teachers with DAPE licensure, with 88% of respondents expressing a preference for candidates with this dual qualification. This preference arises from the perceived versatility and enhanced value these educators bring to school districts, addressing multiple challenges such as teacher shortages and meeting diverse student needs. The …

Expanding "Standards" Through Embracing Diversity: The Clarinet Quintets Of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Joyce Solomon Moorman, And James Lee Iii, Lauren Miller

Dissertations

Diversity in music education has been a long-standing discussion amongst educators. This document advocates for the recognition and acceptance of the intrinsic and extrinsic values of diverse peoples and their musical contributions while creating tolerance and respect. The focus lies with three composers, two African American and one African English, in service of promoting inclusion for composers of minority groups within the clarinet repertoire.

The goal is to expand standard clarinet repertoire, with “standard” defined as compositions considered important in building a well-rounded clarinetist in America, to include works such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in F-sharp …

Exploring Equity In Introductory Biology Genetics Education, Sandy G. Phillips-Long

All Dissertations

The dissertation “Exploring Equity in Introductory Biology Genetics Education” delved into the critical examination of equity within undergraduate genetics education. Chapter One outlined the background, significance, research framework, and manuscripts included in this study. Chapter Two was a scoping review that provided an overview of the current pedagogical approaches in undergraduate genetics education. It identified six active learning pedagogies: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE); group work; case-based learning; inquiry-based learning; Virtual Reality (VR); and Consider, Read, Elucidate the hypothesis, Analyze and interpret the data, and Think of the next Experiment (CREATE). Chapter Three was a systematic literature review investigating pedagogical …

The Perceptions Of Tennessee Public School Case Managers On Individualized Education Program Transition Planning And Their Role In Preparing 12th Grade Students For Postsecondary Education Disability Services, Robert A. Bartles

Ed.D. Dissertations

Few students with disabilities applied for postsecondary education disability services and, as a result, had lower graduation rates from four-year colleges than their non-disabled peers. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive study was to discover the perceptions of Tennessee public high school case managers regarding IEP transition planning and to discover their role in preparing 12th grade students with disabilities for postsecondary education disability services as minimal literature existed on the topic. I discovered four themes from coding questionnaire responses of 13 study participants. Most case managers (85%) relied on direct student input to create transition goals and perceived IEP …

Perspectives Of College Students With Disabilities Regarding Their High School Transition Experience: Notes For High School Transition Planning, Lindsay Hartzler, Kitty Dong, Andrew Johnson Kliethermes, Kaitlyn Sandheinrich, Mark Wheatley

Dissertations

Students with disabilities face many challenges as they transition to postsecondary education. These students are often unprepared for the rigor of postsecondary academics; they often lack self-efficacy skills and have limited awareness of postsecondary supports or cannot successfully access them. This study aims to give voice to college students with disabilities to inform practices of high school personnel involved with transition and higher education professionals supporting them. Using Kohler’s Transition Taxonomy 2.0 (2016), researchers sought to study the perspectives of eleven college students on their high school transition experiences in the areas of academic preparedness, self-advocacy skills, and experiences with …

The Disconnect Between General Classroom Teaching Techniques And English Language Learner Needs, Marliese Belt

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

This project will seek to identify gaps in pre-service teacher education as it relates to appropriate instructional strategies for English Language Learners (ELLs). First, public and private liberal arts schools of higher education in Kentucky will be analyzed for relevant programs and courses addressing the needs of ELLs and research-driven instructional techniques used to educate them. It will be determined that many of the schools offer undergraduate or graduate level endorsements and certificate programs, but only one, Murray State University, offers an undergraduate degree-bearing program. Next, ELLs, their characteristics, and unique needs will be defined to ensure that all stakeholders …