Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

A Comparison Of Methods For Teaching Auditory-Visual Conditional Discriminations To Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Laura Lee Grow

Dissertations

Early and intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is an approach to treating the behavioral deficits and excesses observed in children with autism spectrum disorders. The magnitude of improvement in the overall functioning of children receiving EIBI has stimulated additional research and widespread clinical dissemination through the publication of EIBI curricular manuals. Many EIBI manuals recommend teaching conditional discriminations using the simple/conditional method. Initially, component simple discriminations are taught in isolation and in the presence of a distracter stimulus. Finally, conditional discriminations, which include stimuli previously taught as simple discriminations, are presented to the learner. Although the simple/conditional method is often recommended …

Mcnair News, Volume 4, Number 1, Fall 2009

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

McNair Welcomes Twelve New Scholars
McNair Summer Research Experience
Senior Scholar Research Projects
Reflections on the 2009 California McNair Symposium
Alumnus Spotlight – Martin Diaz
McNair Gives Back to Lincoln Community
McNair Graduate Student Mentors
Alumni News: Degree Watch
It’s the Little Things That Make the Big Difference
Planning Your Graduate Career: Trajectory for Success

Unlv Magazine, Matthew K. Jacobsen, Holly Ivy De Vore, Lisa Arth, Cate Weeks, Greg Lacour, Tony Allen, Afsha Bawany, Barbara Cloud, Gian Galassi, Phil Hagen, Karyn S. Hollingsworth, Michelle Mouton, Erin O'Donnell

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Manipulatives In Mathematics Instruction, Jessica Strom

Mathematics Graduate Theses

This paper is a review of research pertaining to the use of manipulatives in middle and secondary school mathematics instruction. It covers the research on the rationale for using manipulatives, the psychology behind learning with manipulatives, the common mistakes when teaching with manipulatives, and the suggested process to follow when using manipulatives in the classroom. There is a large amount of research and information on manipulatives in the classroom. One of the most prevalent topics addresses that the concrete characteristics of manipulatives allow students to progress through a natural learning process on their way to an abstract understanding of mathematical …

Kindergarten Connection: An Early Literacy Intervention Through Home/School/Community Connections, Laurie Card-Roley

All Graduate Projects

Students most at-risk for academic failure are the populations of students classified as English Language Learners; migrant students; special education students; children of poverty; homeless students; students in foster care; children of abuse or neglect; and children with social, emotional, or behavioral concerns. The number of students falling within the at-risk population of students has continued to increase over the years. A program and curriculum called Kindergarten Connection attempts to address these barriers to learning by identifying family, societal and academic concerns prior to kindergarten and connecting families to the school and community resources that will provide the needed support. …

Transition Curriculum For Vessey Leadership Academy Leadership Application Project, Paul Terrence Gruber

Theses and Graduate Projects

Research indicates students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) struggle with their transition from high school onward. Students who once received services, now on their own, are left poorly equipped for success. Studies show these students often have low rates of participation in post-secondary schooling, high rates of unemployment, and high rates of incarceration or involvement in crime. Though studies show these young adults struggle after high school, very programs have been implemented to improve their chances for success. The following Leadership Application Project (LAP) was developed in an effort to create a transition curriculum for Vessey Leadership Academy, a …

Fernando De Azevedo E A Questão Da “Raça Brasileira”: Sua Regeneração Pela Educação Física [Fernando De Azevedo And The Issue Of The “Brazilian Race”: Regeneration Through Physical Education], Karl M. Lorenz, Ariclê Vechia

Education Faculty Publications

No final do século XIX a nas primeiras décadas do século XX, uma questão que afligia a intelectualidade brasileira era o atraso econômico e social do Brasil, apesar de suas riquezas naturais. A tese que ganhou destaque foi a que atribuía à “degeneração da raça brasileira” a causa do problema. Este pensamento tinha raízes nas teorias raciais europeias sobre a desigualdade das “raças” e na necessidade do controle das categorias sociais estigmatizadas. Fernando de Azevedo, membro e secretário da Sociedade Eugênica de São Paulo, atribuía à mestiçagem da “raça” a fraqueza física e moral do povo brasileiro. Influenciado pelas ideias …

Career Decision Making For Male Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Model Of Critical Factors Aiding In Transitional Efforts, Gregory B. Gray

Dissertations

This study is intended to reveal helpful information that will guide high school practitioners in serving students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) more effectively. ADHD is neurological in origin, making it invisible. This disorder makes people susceptible to distractibility, impulsivity, disorganization, frustration, anxiety, and moodiness (Janus, 1999). Fifteen percent or more of the U.S. population has ADHD. These individuals, who often are viewed by career counselors, teachers, and employers as frustrating or difficult, are uniquely vulnerable in high school and beyond. Because individuals with ADHD have invisible handicaps, their academic performance and social behaviors can be interpreted incorrectly. Thus, …

Technical Adequacy Of Curriculum-Based Measures Of Vocabulary Growth For Preschool English Language Learners, Kathleen M. Vantol

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to design and establish the technical adequacy of curriculum-based measures (CBMs) of vocabulary acquisition for use with preschool children. This study sought to establish the technical adequacy of two tools that can be used for measuring benchmarks of vocabulary acquisition for both native English speakers and for English language learners (ELLs) who are native Spanish speakers. In order to address the instructional needs for students who are Spanish speakers, a Spanish version of the CBM expressive language measure was created.

In this study, CBMs of expressive and receptive vocabulary were developed based upon the …

Does A Co-Learner Delivery Model In Professional Development Affect Teachers’ Self-Efficacy In Teaching Mathematics, John J. Ribeiro, Denise Demagistris

Teacher Education

A mixed method study is reported examining teacher efficacy regarding professional development in mathematics instruction for two groups of teachers: in building with peers (N=17) and MAT student co-learners in the classroom (N=14). An end-of-course survey, focus group interviews and pre-post data for the Teacher Self Efficacy Scale were used to investigate:1. What is the difference in teachers’ efficacy regarding mathematics instruction based on the professional development delivery system they experienced? 2. What are teachers’ perceptions of their professional development with peers conducted onsite in district compared with professional development with peers and preservice teachers at a university setting? Descriptive …

Expectations For Career And Social Support By Mentors And Mentees Participating In Formal Elementary And Secondary School Mentoring Programs, Monique Jacob, Robert K. Gable

Teacher Education

Teacher shortages are a nationwide concern, attributable primarily to high attrition rates among new teachers (Ingersoll, 2003; Ingersoll & Kralik, 2004; Ingersol & Smith, 2004). Ingersoll and Kralik (2004) claimed that an estimated 50% of new teachers left the profession within their first 5 years. Reasons for leaving include: isolating and non-supportive teaching environments, poor working conditions and overwhelming teaching assignments (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2005). To support beginning teachers, Rhode Island passed legislation requiring districts to develop a mentoring process (Law 16-7.1-2 Accountability for Student Performance). One variable measuring mentoring success is how closely participants’ expectations for the relationship …

Teacher And Student Perceptions Of Self-Determination, Jennifer L. Black

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

For almost two decades, research efforts specific to self-determination have resulted in the development of curricula, assessments, instructional strategies, interventions, model programs, and proposed quality indicators (Field et al., 1998). Despite the combined efforts and perceptions of researchers, teachers, parents, employers, and college disability service providers related to these important aspects of self-determination research, limited attention has been devoted to understanding the perceptions of self-determination from secondary students with and without disabilities and their general and special education teachers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher and student perceptions related to self-determination. Teacher perceptions were measured with the …

Academic Library Services For Users With Developmental Disabilities: Partnership Of Access And Syracuse University Libraries, Adina Mulliken, Ann Atkins

Publications and Research

Syracuse University Library and Access partnered to provide library orientations to six Syracuse University students who have developmental disabilities. Access is a service that supports college course attendance for students who have developmental or cognitive disabilities. Students with developmental disabilities are being included in college life more and more. As this occurs, academic libraries will be providing more services to this population. We hope Syracuse University’s experience will be useful for other libraries to build on as they develop services. Additionally, we discuss opportunities to improve services for all students by focusing on students with developmental disabilities.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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." …

Mcnair News, Volume 3, Number 2, Spring 2009

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

Recognition Reception: Achievements and Awards
McNair Recruitment Video Created
Community Outreach, Volunteerism & Leadership
Spotlight on Dr. Laura Damuth: UCARE & Fellowships
McNair Research Projects Funded by UCARE for 2008-09 & 2009-10
Alumni News
How to Be a Successful Graduate Student Panel
Kudos to McNair Scholars
McNair Scholars Headed for Graduate School
Dean’s List: It’s Academic
Once a McNair Scholar - Always a McNair Scholar by Carol Boehler

The Impact Of On-Line Training On College Faculty Attitudes And Knowledge Of Students With Disabilities, Wayne M. Pollock

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Due to legislation, advances in technology, and hopefully, a more positive social acceptance, students with disabilities are entering college at a faster rate than has ever been experienced. Data reveal that the largest increase in identified disabilities of incoming college freshmen are in the area of learning disabilities. However, many students with disabilities do not complete their college education, partly due to faculty members' lack of knowledge about various disabilities, less than accepting attitudes, and the lack of accommodations made for them. Using the Scale of Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons (SADP) and the Disability Knowledge Questionnaire, the impact of an …

The Rights Of Parentally-Placed Private School Students Under The Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act Of 2004 And The Need For Legislative Reform, Lewis M. Wasserman

Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal

No abstract provided.

By Reason Thereof: Causation And Eligibility Under The Individuals With Disabilites Education Act, Katherine May

Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Introduction: Classroom Life In The Age Of Accountability, Gail M. Boldt, Paula M. Salvio, Peter Taubman

Occasional Paper Series

"For this Occasional Paper, we invited teachers to respond to the ways in which proliferation of standards and testing combined with their own loss of professional control is altering the landscape of American education....Our goal is to raise questions about whether and how educators are balancing the demands of high stakes testing, scripted curricula, and a focus on performance outcomes with the emotional complexity of classroom life."--The editors

Confounded And Compounded By Language: English Language Learners And High Stakes Testing, Elizabeth Park

Occasional Paper Series

As her students prepare to take their tests to exhibit English proficiency, the atmosphere, writes Park, "becomes military at best, prison-like at worst. Regulations are distributed. Teachers are warned that state examiners may appear unannounced to look for infractions of the myriad rules..." Scare tactics are used to try to assure that the testing activity remains uncontaminated by human desire, fear, or simple boredom.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 84, No. 30 [29], Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news. Articles:

• Hale, Marianne. University Endowments Shrink During Economic Hard Times
• Hale, Marianne. In Their Own Hands – Kelly Autism Program
• Hale, Marianne. Enrollment Numbers Prompt Board of Regents to Give $6.1 Million to Academic Affairs
• Barczak, Mary. Despite Rally Cancellation, Student Government Association Lobbies Legislators
• Fox, Emily. A Thousand Words – Lori Spalding, Clothes Lion
• Ulber, Emily. Winter Crime Spree Calls for Caution – Robberies
• Erskine, Anne. Editorial Cartoon re: Winter Weather – Cherry Statue
• Pulling the Plug: Western Officials Should Commit to Shutdowns – Winter Weather
• Dooper, Jennifer. …

Childhood Mental Illness: Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder, Vicki Wolffe

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Many children are inflicted with psychosis. The following essay is an investigation of the characteristics of mental illness as it appears in youths. Studies have been conducted as to what mental illness looks like in children. Various treatment options are described. The body of this work has been compiled, predominantly, through the review of literature on the subject matter. Limited observation of a child that has been diagnosed with a severe form of psychotic illness has been noted.

Comparative Review Of Onsets Of Autism, Treatment Approaches, And The Affects Of Autism On Families Of Young Children, Cathy Morales

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis examines the possible variations of onsets of autism, its symptoms and behaviors, reviews the literature investigating the causes of autism, and explores the experiences of families living with autism. Two treatments for autism are compared and contrasted: the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship Floortime Model (DIR/Floortime). Included are the completed questionaires from the parents, teachers and therapists of the two children observed.

Effective Inclusion Practices, M. Alyssa Barnes Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

This study examines effective instructional practices, which support the inclusion of students with special needs. Eight teacher and administrator participants completed interviews about their experiences working in a full-inclusion environment. In addition, the research includes narratives based on observations from the school. The findings summarize five practices essential in successful inclusive environments. These strategies include assessing the whole child, performance-based assessments, and use of visuals, specifically graphic organizers, and collaboration. Finally, the data demonstrate the idea that all of these practices benefit students with and without disabilities.

Creating A Warm And Inclusive Classroom Environment: Planning For All Children To Feel Welcome, Jessica L. Bucholz Ed.D., Julie L. Sheffler

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The type of classroom environment that a teacher creates and encourages can either increase or decrease a student's ability to learn and feel comfortable as a member of the class. The classroom environment should do as much to foster cooperation and acceptance as the teaching methods that the teacher uses. This article describes a number of methods to help teachers plan for and create a classroom that welcomes and supports all children.

Language Module, April Dixon

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

A study of children with learning disabilities and of children without provides a clear picture of the acquisition of language development of children. Language skills are generally typical of children at different age levels who do not have diagnosed learning disabilities. Language skills of the learning disabled are generally atypical due to constraints placed on the child during critical learning periods by the disability. Analyzation of the data in this study shows a correlation between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and language development in young children. Strategies can be implemented by classroom teachers to enhance the acquisition of language.

Is Public Education Preparing Learning Disabled To Succeed At The College Level?, John Fermin Ramirez

Theses Digitization Project

This study will use a qualitative and quantitative methodology to investigate and analyze if special education departments of school districts and universities are following the federal law in preparing students with learning disabilities to succeed in college. Research indicates universities are not complying with the federal mandates for learning disabled students. This research project will investigate whether or not some school districts and universities are implementing programs consistent with federal law.