Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Perceptions Of Educational Equality In Tennessee: A Comparison Of City School Systems Vs. County School Systems In Northeast Tennessee., Timothy Wade Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The majority of city and county school systems throughout Tennessee and the United States at one time or another experience a budget crisis. In the state of Tennessee, school systems are funded through the Basic Education Program, established in 1992 as part of the Tennessee Education Improvement Act. The lawsuit of 1988, Tennessee Small School Systems v. McWherter, created the Basic Education Program. Through the years, the Basic Education Program has provided extra teaching positions, materials, and supplies and has provided the funding formula for school systems throughout the state. Many high-ranking administrators contend that the Basic Education Program …

Attitudes Toward And Knowledge Of Affirmative Action In Higher Education, Erika Ann Carr

Dissertations

Affirmative action has become an increasingly important topic in higher education because colleges and universities are key battlegrounds regarding how affirmative action policies are enacted. Senior-level higher education administrators have historically taken the lead in shaping affirmative action policies in higher education, and knowing their own community's standpoints on the policies could assist them in deciding how to proceed in defending affirmative action in the face of increasing opposition.

This study measures individuals' attitudes toward and knowledge of affirmative action within one university in the state of Michigan, where affirmative action was banned through a state-wide election in November 2006. …

Perceptions And Intervention Practices Of Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Laura A. Getty

Dissertations

A relationship between emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) and language deficits has been validated by researchers in special education (Cantwell & Baker, 1991; Beichman, Cantwell, Forness, Kavale, & Kaufmann, 1998; Cohen, Barwick, Horodezky, Vallance, & Im, 1998) as well as researchers in speech-language pathology (Hyter, 2003; Hyter, Rogers-Adkinson, Self, Simmons, Jantz, 2001; Ruhl, Hughes, & Camarata, 1992; Gallagher, 1999; Fujiki, Brinton, Morgan, & Hart, 1999). The exact prevalence rate between E/BD and language deficits was not definitive as it varies between 35% and 97% depending on the study reviewed (Benner, Nelson, & Epstein, 2002). While it has been documented that a relationship …

Exposing Star Teachers Of Children In Poverty, Bobbi Morehead

Dissertations

Public schools have control over whom they choose to hire to serve as teachers. When quality teachers are hired, all students have a better chance at achieving academic success. It is the responsibility of every public school principal to truly understand common patterns, which can assist teachers to become outstanding teachers, defined in this study as Star Teachers. It is also the principals' responsibility to make sure the work conditions of such Star Teachers are conducive to personal and professional renewal.

The passion to educate all children drives the following research questions: (1) How do Star Teachers describe the significant …

Gender Disparity In Nigerian Education: Women’S Experience Of Barriers To Equal Educational Opportunity, Eugene Okoli

Dissertations

Discrepancies between males and females in access to schooling, school completion rates, and participation in employment opportunities are still more the norm in some regions of the world than others. Limited access to education plagues women in Nigeria as well as in Sub-Saharan Africa. Disparity in access to educational opportunity is a pressing gender equity issue in Nigeria (World Bank, 2003).

Relatively few studies have focused on obtaining the viewpoints of women who experience this phenomenon. To hear the voices of these women regarding how they gained or were denied access to education in the Nigerian context, a cross-section of …

Audio-Assisted Reading With Digital Audiobooks For Upper Elementary Students With Reading Disabilities, Kelli J. Esteves

Dissertations

Audio-assisted reading has been used as an effective instructional intervention for students with learning disabilities (Carbo, 1978; Gilbert, Williams, & McLaughlin, 1996) and with struggling readers (Chomsky, 1976; Hollingsworth, 1978; Hoskisson & Krohm, 1974; Koskinen, Blum, Bisson, Phillips, Creamer, & Baker, 2000; Rasinski, 1990). The strategy involves reading along while listening to an audio recording of a fluent model (Evans, 1997).

The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of audio-assisted reading with digital audiobooks against the traditional practice of sustained silent reading in terms of reading fluency rates and reading attitude scores with upper elementary students with …

Mcnair News, Volume 2, Number 1, Fall 2007

McNair News: Newsletter of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln McNair Scholars Program

Scholars Cap Summer Research Experience with Presentations at California McNair Symposium
Senior Scholar Research Projects
Eleventh Annual MKN McNair Heartland Research Conference, Kansas City, Missouri
Twelfth Annual Rocky Mountain McNair Scholars Research Symposium, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
McNair Scholar Abby Visty Presents during Plenary Session at Ronald E. McNair Scholars Symposium
Reflections on the McNair Scholars Symposium by Emily Haferbier
UNL McNair Program Earns Funding for Another Five Years
McNair Junior Scholars Welcomed at Annual McNair New Scholars Retreat
Kudos to McNair Scholars: Todd Whitehill & Maegan Stevens-Liska
Faculty Perspective: Cody Hollist, Assistant Professor, Child, Youth & Family …

Intellectually Retarded Education In Nigeria: Past, Present, And Future, Dada Olubukola

Essays in Education

Historically, the persons with intellectual retardation have been neglected in most cultures. In our African culture for instance families were concerned about their image in the society. So, they manage to hide their retarded members in the home environment. Today, the education of the intellectually retarded has recorded significant achievement despite the undeniable successes education of children with intellectual retardation is still being hindered by social prejudices and discriminations. This paper highlights the myriads of obstacles and challenges facing their education. The presenter therefore recommends way to improve the quality of their education for the future.

Onset Of Hearing Loss, Gender And Self Concept As Determinants Of Academic Achievements In English Language Of Students With Hearing Disability In Oyo State, Nigeria, J. Abiola Ademokoya, B. A. Shittu

Essays in Education

Since every class of students with hearing disability is always a heterogeneous one, the need for establishing relationship between some intrinsic factors in these students and their academic achievements becomes very imperative. This study therefore examined the influence of onset of hearing loss, gender and self concept on their academic performance in English language. 100 Senior Secondary School class III students with hearing disability were purposively selected to participate in the study. The study also raised 3 hypotheses to ascertain relationships between onset of hearing loss, gender, and self concept and English language achievement. Instruments such as the self concept …

Student Perceptions Of Pullout Instruction, Christen A. Bokinskie

Theses and Graduate Projects

The latest movement in educating students with disabilities is pushing toward full inclusion for academic and social advantages. When considering the educational programming for a child, academic performance is only one part of the picture. Students with special education needs may already have a lower self-esteem than their peers, and leaving the classroom for services may exemplify those feelings.

This study focuses on student impressions of how students are affected by special education and receive pull out instruction. Eight students, four in general education, and four in special education and receive pull out instruction were interviewed and observed in the …

An Analysis Of The Attitudes Of Higher Education Leaders In 18 High-Immigration States About The Appropriateness Of Providing Education Benefits To Undocumented Immigrants., Elizabeth Feranchak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of public higher education must meet the challenges presented by providing education services to the significantly increasing number of undocumented students. However, public policy has not clearly addressed undocumented immigrants' residency status in regard to college and university admissions standards. This issue will affect education leaders in public institutions of higher education who have the authority to define admissions criteria and influence state legislation.

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of higher education leaders' attitudes toward the appropriateness of providing education benefits for undocumented immigrants. Data collected from 384 returned surveys representing 18 states were …

Work Stress, Non-Work Stress And Mental Health Among School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists: Effects Of Social Support, Lena Gloria Caesar

Dissertations

This study utilized secondary data from the Work and Well-being of SLPs survey (Caesar, 2004) to examine possible sources (predictors) of work stress, job satisfaction, and psychological distress among 409 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) employed in public school settings in Michigan. This study also investigated the relationship of work-related and non-work-related stress to the mental health status of SLPs and sought to determine the mediating and/or moderating effects of varied types of social support on the mental health of respondents. Data analysis was done in three stages. First, each of the dependent and independent variables were described statistically. Secondly, correlation analyses …

Drama Discovery: Setting The Stage For Students With Emotional/Behavioral Needs To Learn About Self, Shellie Hipsky

Essays in Education

The Drama Discovery Curriculum (Hipsky, 2006a) was piloted in a middle school classroom for eleven students with emotional/ behavioral disabilities and one student with delinquent behaviors at a small private alternative education school in Western Pennsylvania. Students with emotional and/or behavioral disabilities often have low selfefficacy when it comes to explaining their own disabilities, coping with the label of having a disability, and the general issues that come from having a disability. The article begins by delving into what categorizes a student as having an emotional/behavioral disability. It then explores the compounding factors that often accompany the exceptionality, which include: …

Strategic Directions For Gettysburg College, June 2007, President's Office

Reports from the President’s Office

Gettysburg is a college deeply rooted in the American experience. It was born of democratic values, strong optimism, and the firm conviction that only a liberal arts education fully awakens and prepares people to live purposeful lives as citizen leaders. Our founders were champions of freedom and liberty, progressive thinkers, and staunch believers in the power of the liberal arts to prepare leaders to meet the challenges of our young nation.

Those beliefs were tested on the fields that surround our campus where a century and a half ago men gave their lives in a battle that defined our nation’s …

Office Of Multicultural Affairs (Oma) Annual Report 2006-2007, Intercultural Student Engagement Office, Anthony Johnson, Deborah Kanston

Intercultural Student Engagement (ISE) Annual Reports

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) Annual Report 2006-2007 is a year in review containing a message from the director, staff updates, community programs, statistics and general report of the work of this office. Our Mission: People from all backgrounds bring value to the art and human conversations held at RISD. The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) assists the RISD community-at-large in shaping a culturally inclusive and supportive environment that enables all its members the opportunity to fully contribute to and benefit from the total RISD experience. OMA coordinates enriching opportunities for cultural awareness, dialogue, and interaction. The office services …

Developing A Support Group For Adolescents With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Using An Outdoor Adventure Educational Modality, Tara Lynch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study details the group process aspects of creating an outdoor adventure based support group for adolescents living with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). A review of previous outdoor adventure programs is included, followed by a rationale for the new material. The developmental assessment of teens living with IDDM identifies a need for greater self-confidence, increased independence, and social support. To meet this need, a program that includes aspects of team building, personal challenge, and problem-solving has been created.

Teaching Probability And Statistics To English Language Learners In Grade Five., Mary Jo Johnson Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of English Language Learners enrolling in the Washington County Virginia Public School System during the past several years prompted the idea of this thesis. These students are currently mainstreamed in the regular academic classroom. Adapting to their needs is a new challenge in education for teachers in Southwest Virginia. This thesis offers an opportunity for teachers to prepare for a multicultural classroom setting providing English Language Learners with learning strategies necessary to gain confidence in their mathematical ability and academic success in the areas of probability and statistics. Lesson plans have been specifically designed emphasizing teaching strategies, …

A Comparison Of North Carolina's State, Private, And Community Colleges/Universities Regarding Assistive Technology And Services For Students With Disabilities., Chris Cain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare postsecondary institutions in North Carolina including state universities, private colleges and universities, and community colleges in regard to the number of students with disabilities, assistive technology availability, funding ratios for assistive technology, frequency of professional development training, legislative understanding, and other support factors for students with disabilities. This comparison was accomplished through quantitative and case summarization and analysis research methodologies.

Data were collected through case summarizations and the administration of surveys sent to 110 coordinators of students with disabilities services at the 15 state universities, 37 private colleges and universities, and 58 …

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 …

Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention: A Comparative Analysis Of Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention Programs, Diana Howell

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

School bullying has often been tacitly minimalized as a rite of passage—an unfortunate but common experience among children. In the past few years there has been an increasing awareness of school bullying as a catalyst of school violence. Parents, school boards, and administrators are understanding and taking more seriously the negative impact that bullying has on victimized students and are actively looking for ways to reduce incidents of such violence. This research provides a discussion of bullying behavior and an examination of teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs in their schools. If teachers do not feel that …

Mcnair News, Volume 1, Number 2, Spring 2007

McNair News: Newsletter of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln McNair Scholars Program

Scholars Gearing Up for Summer Research Experience
McNair by the Numbers: as of March 2007
Meet the 2006-2007 McNair Junior Scholars
Senior Scholars Scene
McNair Faculty Mentor Profile: Dr. Mark Wilson
McNair Spring Event Calendar
Kudos to McNair Scholars
Scholar Spotlight on Melissa Tehee
McNair Tip: Test-Taking Strategies for the GRE
McNair Alumnus Nathan Palmer Wins TRIO Award
Senior Scholar Amy Castro Heads to Arizona for the Summer
Words from the Wise: Natasha Luepke

Effects Of Detectable Warnings On Individuals With Mobility Impairments, Helen Lee

Dissertations

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that environmental and architectural barriers, such as curbs, be removed to enableindividuals with disabilities to travel about in the community with increased mobility. While installation of ramps benefit individuals with mobility impairments, the absence of curbs results in the loss of information used by individuals with visual impairments for street detection. As a result, truncated domes detectablewarning surfaces were developed to alert visually impaired travelers of potential hazards and vehicular pathways. Research to date is limited and inconclusive regarding the impact of detectable warning surfaces on individuals with mobility impairments. Further, no research …

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 …

The Ideia And The Right To An "Appropriate" Education, Andrea Blau

Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Physical Inclusion Yet Curriculum Exclusion? School Staff Perceptions Of The Curriculum For Students With Learning Disabilities In Mainstream Secondary Schools In Tel Aviv, Israel, Tsafi Timor Ph.D., Neil Burton Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The Israeli education system has, over the past decade, moved towards the adoption of a more inclusive approach to meet the needs of students with identified learning disabilities. As a consequence many more students in the secondary sector (12-18) are now more willing to acknowledge that they require additional support. The main focus of this research was to assess the extent to which school staff perceives that the curriculum in secondary schools is being reasonably adjusted to meet these learning needs. The study examines the views of head teachers, counselors and teachers in five secondary schools in Tel-Aviv area, Israel. …

The Role Of Personal Characteristics And Job Support In Retaining Teachers Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Bianca P. Prather-Jones Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

This study was a qualitative investigation of the reasons that experienced teachers of students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders give for remaining in that field. The findings of this study indicate that these teachers’ decisions to remain in the profession of teaching students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders were most strongly influenced by both having a sufficient level of support and having certain personal characteristics which they felt made them a good fit for this field. Implications of these findings suggest that changes in recruitment and advising, teacher preparation and professional development opportunities, and processes for providing support to new …

Appropriate Physical Education Service For All Students, Ron French, Lisa Silliman-French, Deborah Buswell

Faculty Publications

All students, including those with disabilities, deserve appropriate, safe, and meaningful physical education instructional programs as identified by Texas Education Agency (2006) and that are reflected in the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE, 2005) standards.

The Emergence Of Inclusion For Students With Disabilities In Ukraine, Sharon A. Raver

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Since independence in 1991, Ukraine has struggled with restructuring its Soviet style educational system. The process has been sluggish and fraught with tension, resistance, and set backs, mirroring Ukraine's efforts to revamp its economy and regain productivity levels that characterized it prior to independence (Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, 2003). One of the initiatives currently being discussed is integration of students with disabilities with their nondisabled peers in educational and social settings. The debate has prompted heated discussions and caused some to recommend a reexamination of the special education system (Zasenko, 2004). This article discusses some of the initial …

The Star Protocol Process: Facilitating Collaboration Between Families And School District Personnel, Joan Nicoll-Senft Ph.D., Kathleen Whitbread

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

This paper describes a process that was developed to facilitate communication and collaboration between school district personnel and families of children with significant disabilities. The Star Protocol was designed to engage families and educators in a structured conversation in order to first collectively define the presenting issue(s) and then co-create an action plan. The Star Protocol draws from elements contained in both person-centered planning processes from the disability field and reflective protocols that have been developed to assist educators to improve their teaching. Each step of the protocol is detailed and an example of the use of the protocol is …