Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Deconstructing The Positive Behavioral Support Model And Replacing It With The Neo-Montessori Constructivist Intervention Model Or How Montessori Changed My Cold Data Driven Heart, Thomas D. Knestrict

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Positive behavioral supports (PBS) and the development of behaviorally oriented planning has become a ubiquitous paradigm in American schools. It is the preferred model for addressing behavioral issues with children as a means of preventing special education identification and placement. The effectiveness of this model has been well documented in peer-reviewed journals and shows an ability to change behaviors and improve academic achievement as measured by empirically designed assessments. However, the measurement of intellectual, moral and behavioral autonomy is seldom measured. Also, researchers from one perspective (Applied Behavioral Analysis) preclude other theoretical perspectives, to create the bulk of the evidence …

Feelings: Actions, Methods, And Strategies To Prepare Students For Learning By Creating An Environment Considerate Of Affective Needs, Virginia Heslinga

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

This article examines two critical questions for building trust to provide learners in communities that have experienced violence with the ability to participate with hope in classroom settings: (1) After the many recent alarming and violent events that have occurred in our society, how can educators best meet the affective needs of students to create a positive environment for learning? (2) Are there strategies and methods that any educator can use to help students feel interested in learning and ready to learn in spite of the repeated upsetting events in the news and in their communities? The answer is yes. …

Understanding Employment Preparedness Needs For College Students With Asperger's Disorder, Rebecca S. Hansen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

About 1 in 68 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder and nearly half of those individuals have average to above average intelligence. A significant number of those individuals are currently earning college degrees. Regardless of the escalating prevalence rates of individuals with Asperger’s Disorder who have the intellectual capacity to obtain a college degree, there has been little attention on how to identify and provide the types of specialized supports these college graduates require as they prepare for finding and maintaining meaningful employment. The ways in which colleges are preparing students for employment must be examined to include …

Campus Climates Experienced By United States Military Veterans, Michael Jessee Adkins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to learn how military veterans experienced higher education campus climates. A recent West Virginia law requires state-operated colleges to become veteran friendly and this study examined the perceptions of veterans who attended college before and after the passage of the law. Six veterans participated in a series of in-depth interviews regarding their personal experiences with attention given to factors that enabled and/or constrained their academic progress. The interviews were electronically recorded using audio media and standard conventions of informed consent were followed. Interview transcripts were produced, coded, analyzed to identify common themes, and interpreted …

Parent Perceptions Of Parent-School Partnership Efforts For Students With Disabilities, Jessica Chadwick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The study examined parent-school partnership efforts, as reported and perceived by parents of students with disabilities in a Mid-Atlantic State. Due to the high correlation between parent involvement and academic success, these qualitative comments were deemed vital to ongoing special education improvement in the state. The study utilized the State Education Agency parent survey data which was collected in accordance with the State Performance Plan / Annual Performance Report requirements under Section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. Survey responses from parents of students with disabilities were aggregated and analyzed for local education agencies. These comments …

Teacher Attitudes: An Analysis Of Middle School Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Inclusion, Jennifer K. Holley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The demands for general education teachers to meet the diverse needs of their students has increased greatly over recent years. The attitudes of these teachers towards the practice of inclusion greatly influences the successful of inclusion itself. In this study the attitudes of teachers towards inclusion was investigated. Findings indicated that teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion are split. Teachers’ attitudes towards specific disabilities are clear. Findings indicate more teachers believe students with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, communication disorders and health impairments should be educated in a regular classroom where students with mental impairments (cognitive disabilities/developmental delay), behavioral …

Labeling: Student Self-Esteem And The Stigma Of A Label, Amanda Kay Sowards

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Labels help to provide educational support to students who struggle academically, physically, emotionally and socially. The decision to use a label should be carefully considered due to the possibility of negative connotations regarding social relationships, personal preferences and the effects on self-esteem. The author discusses a study that examines the effects of labeling in regard to the impact on the self-esteem of students with disabilities and will scrutinizes if students with disabilities are negatively perceived by their peers. Current research of labeling, self-esteem and social disadvantage is discussed. Due to the overwhelming number of students being labeled and a lack …

Science For Visually Impaired Students And Accessible Technology, Lydia M. Moreland

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Blind and visually impaired students need appropriate methods and accessible technology in order to compete and advance in learning the science concepts. The study investigated the attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge of assistive technology used by science teachers of the visually impaired from a Mid-Atlantic state and how they are incorporated in the classroom. The participant response gives notice to what forms of assistive technology are used in frequency, and the training and comfort level to use the assistive technology. The open responses stated themes of teachers needing more training in visual impairment college programs to use assistive technology to increase …

Loudness In The Library: Empowering Students To Think Critically About Identity And Bias, Anshu Wahi, Allie Bruce, Jamie Steinfeld

Progressive Education in Context

Describes how an unplanned, informal discussion about how race and identity are depicted on book covers evolved into a year-long investigation with a class of 11 and 12-year-olds where the interests and comments of the students drove the curriculum.

A Study Of High School Students' Perceptions Of Mentoring Students With Disabilities, Ashley N. Davis

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed as a phenomenological qualitative study grounded in Contact Theory to investigate Early College high school students’ perceptions of a multi-year mentoring program. The Early College students were paired with elementary students with varying special needs in a self-contained classroom throughout 3 years in various settings, including community-based therapeutic horseback riding and a school-based sensory program. The study attempted to garner how the mentoring experience affected the Early College high school students personally, as well as their attitudes, feelings, and beliefs in relationship to their tolerance toward people with disabilities as reported by the participants through individual …

A Study Of The Social And Emotional Growth And Development Of Students With Disabilities In An Inclusive Setting In An Inner-City Middle School, Heather Rachelle Lemmons

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this retrospective, explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was to determine the impact of an inclusive educational setting on the behavioral, social, and emotional growth and development of students with various disabilities. Many aspects of a student’s educational experiences can be affected by a proper placement in an inclusive setting with non-disabled peers including discipline rates and referrals, need for behavioral goals and plans, and perceptions concerning personal social growth and development.

The setting for this research study was an inner-city middle school serving Grades 7 and 8 in western North Carolina. Eighth-grade middle school students identified as students …

Working Within The Tensions Of Disability And Education In Post-Colonial Kenya: Toward A Praxis Of Critical Disability Studies, Brent C. Elder, Alan Foley

College of Education Departmental Research

This paper explores emerging and evolving critical approaches to inclusive education development work in the postcolonial, global South context of Kenya. Taking an ontoformative (Connell, 2011) perspective of disability, we view disability as a dynamic process inherently tied to social contexts and their fluid effects on disabled bodies. Thus, not all impairments are a natural form of human diversity, and many are imposed on bodies in underdeveloped countries through oppressive imported Western practices. In this paper we present our work not as models of ‘what to do’ or ‘what not to do’ in development work. Rather we offer a reflection …

Stories From The Margins: Refugees With Disabilities Rebuilding Lives, Brent C. Elder

College of Education Departmental Research

Every day around the world, people are displaced from their country of birth, are labeled as “refugees,” and are relocated to refugee camps run by the Office of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The most fortunate refugees live in camps for a decade or less before relocating to a country offering refuge. Others may live in camps for 20 years or more before resettlement. Some never leave the camps. Many reports from the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledge that refugees with disabilities are at a higher risk of human rights abuses (UNHCR 2010; WHO …

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Welcome to the Winter Spring edition of The Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. The conversations concerning inclusion continue with research from international perspectives.

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Welcome to the Summer/Fall edition of The Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education.

Indian Higher Education System: Challenges And Suggestions, Sahil Sharma, Purnendu Sharma

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Higher education system plays an important role for the country’s overall development which includes industrial, social, economic etc. Indian higher education system is third largest in the world. The role of Indian higher educational institutes such as colleges and universities in the present time is to provide quality based education in the field of education, research etc to empower youth for self sustainability. This paper includes the key challenges that India is currently facing in higher education and also includes some initiatives taken by the government to meet those challenges.

What Do Elementary School Librarians Know And Believe About Students With Color Vision Deficiencies?, Karla Collins

Education & Human Services Faculty Publications

Colour vision deficiencies affect approximately eight percent of the male population, yet the condition is often overlooked in the educational setting despite the pervasiveness of colour in the school. The purpose of this study was to explore how elementary school librarians provide instruction and prepare the library environment to meet the needs of students with colour vision deficiencies. Findings indicate that elementary school librarians in Virginia did not feel knowledgeable about colour vision deficiencies but were interested in knowing more and expressed a desire to make changes. The case study participants'ʹ knowledge increased from pre-­‐‑test to post-­‐‑test. There were noticeable …

A Phenomenological Study Of Participation In Specialized And Inclusive Recreation Programs, Charles Keith Mullins

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand whether participation in specialized recreation programs, which are designed for individuals with disabilities, increases opportunities for participation in inclusive programs, which are designed for both individuals with and without disabilities. Regardless of the popularity and growth of inclusive services, specialized programs persevere in numerous recreational service settings and continue to be used by individuals with disabilities and their families. This study helps to clarify why individuals with disabilities and their families choose to participate or not participate in these programs. The research questions focused on the connection between participation in specialized …

Nontraditional Pre-Service Teachers: What They Learn From Inclusion Literature, Kimberly Sutton

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Characterized by work, financial, and family demands, nontraditional students are an increasing population in university teacher education programs. Typical teacher education programs include at least one course on the education of students with special needs, and faculty may address perceived weaknesses of the course textbook by supplementing it with "inclusion literature," narratives written by or about individuals with disabilities. Although inclusion literature has been documented to be of value, to date there has been no research that specifically examined the use of inclusion literature with nontraditional pre-service teachers. This qualitative study examined the impact of inclusion literature on a population …

Limits And Perspectives For The Promotion Of The Inclusive Culture And Paradigm Within School Context: Theoretical Considerations And Empirical Findings From Greece And Hungary, Elias Kourkoutas, Agnes Nemethne Toth, Elena Vitalaki

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The basic tenets of the "inclusive paradigm" in relation to pupils with Special Educational Needs are presented and analyzed in the first section of this paper. Also the findings from recent studies in Greece and Hungary referring to the perceptions of teachers regarding the possibilities of full inclusion of these students in mainstream schools are presented and discussed. Based on these data, at the final section of this paper, we also discuss the likelihood of building and "implementing" an innovative inclusive paradigm in mainstream school system, based on teachers' needs, and the demands and challenges of contemporary social and educational …

Addressing Barriers To Effective Rti Through School Counselor Consultation: A Social Justice Approach, Jeffrey M. Warren, Gretchen Robinson

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a culturally responsive framework developed to provide targeted, evidence-based instruction to all students in regular education settings. A goal of RTI is to reduce the disproportionate number of students of color referred for special education services. However, numerous barriers often prevent teachers from effectively engaging in the RTI process and serve to impede the delivery of instruction. School counselors can provide rational emotive-social behavior (RE-SB) consultation for teachers to address psychosocial barriers and promote social justice. This article outlines RTI, barriers to implementation, and how school counselors can advocate for all students through RE-SB consultation.

Issues Of Inclusive Education: Some Aspects To Be Considered, Farid Suleymanov

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The purpose of this article is to shed light on the aspects of inclusion which have proved to be essential for further development of newly founded inclusive education. The practice of inclusive education gets increasingly obvious in gains more support and interest in education system in almost all countries in the world. There is a distinctly declared agreement in the world that all children have the right to education regardless of their race, gender, nationality, disability and etc. And these agreements have been indicated in universally important documents. Over several decades the concept of inclusion has contributed a lot to …

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Music’S Impact: A Review And Curriculum Proposal, Susanna M. Lindberg

Selected Honors Theses

The following thesis is a review of literature, covered in three chapters, and a proposal for a researched-based education curriculum. The goal of this research is to find how music affects the brain, how it influences education, whether it affects emotions, and if it has an impact on special populations in regards to education. In the final section of this thesis, there is a theoretical proposal for a yearlong music-based literacy curriculum for third grade students who struggle with reading and comprehension.

Resilience: A Framework For Inclusive Pedagogy In A South African Context, T. M. Makoelle, M. Malindi

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The social ecology of resilience perspective sees resilience as the capacity of individuals to negotiate and navigate their pathways towards the resources that sustain well-being, the capacity of the individual’s physical and social ecologies to provide resilience resources, and the capacity of individuals, families and communities to negotiate culturally meaningful ways to share health-promoting resources. This means that resilience is a process that involves an individual’s own assets or strengths as well as those found in his or her physical social and ecology. Inclusive education, on the other hand, is a discipline that allows learners whose socio-economic circumstances, physical disability …

Teachers’ Attitudes And Perceptions Of Inclusion In Relation To Grade Level And Years Of Experience, Marsha C. Barnes, Trudi Gaines

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The practice of inclusion is increasingly evident in today’s schools and expectations continue to rise with respect to how all students perform on high-stakes standardized testing. Positive attitudes about inclusion and concomitant lower stress levels among teachers would provide the most conducive environment for positive student outcomes. The authors investigated the relationship between teacher grade levels, years of experience, and their attitudes and perceptions toward inclusion. It was hypothesized that teachers of lower grade levels and with fewer years of experience would have more negative attitudes toward inclusion. A previously developed survey instrument was used to gather data from teachers …

When Job Skills Are Not Enough: Transitioning Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Francis Dematteo, Patricia S. Arter

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The purpose of this paper is to describe transition outcomes of school-aged young adults with ASD enrolled in a university-based program that emphasizes vocational training and socialization with neuro-typical peers and adults. Although this program appears to integrate best practices for successful transition to employment, reports from parents and program alumni indicate that few graduates continue to work despite their acquired vocational and social skill repertoire. This trend supports the need for adopting a resource-based transition model to better utilize employment related resources in the family network and community.

Intellectual Disability Discrimination, Kirsti D. Mutz

Selected Honors Theses

A lack of understanding concerning individuals with intellectual disabilities has led to exaggerated fears and diminished expectations. Consequently, these individuals have faced social exclusion. Research reveals, however, that societal discrimination can be stunted when people are given both information about and contact with these individuals. This research provides the foundation for a film documentary that provides society with the information and contact required to cultivate positive, inclusive attitudes towards individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Facilitating Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities Within One Urban Archdiocese In The Northwestern United States, Angela Pierce Mejdrich

Theses and Graduate Projects

Inclusion of students with disabilities in Catholic schools has yet to be realized across school systems and is limited to select individual schools and (arch)diocese. Current research in this area is limited, consisting of small studies with results that are not generalizable due to differences in state laws, school governance, and other variables, but suggests that a focus on Catholic identity and mission is one means of facilitating inclusion. The material in this program evaluation informs and shapes the recommendations for furthering inclusion in archdiocesan schools made in the white paper to the Diversified Learners Cornmittee of an urban archdiocese …

The Effects Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On The Mathematics Achievement Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Kenya Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematics is essential in everyday life activities and most educational opportunities and careers require mathematical knowledge, thus it is vital that students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) receive sufficient instruction that leads to proficiency in the subject. Performing poorly in mathematics can result in dire future outcomes. This is particularly true for students with EBD, who already experience significant difficulties throughout and after their educational career. While studies have documented the academic and behavioral problems of students with EBD, not until recently have studies begun to concentrate on academic interventions that may aid in preventing some of the academic …