Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Online Learning As A Tool For Accessibility For Autistic Higher Education Students, Keirnan E. Brown

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Online learning is becoming more prevalent (Aylmer, 2020) and institutions are seeing an increase in disabled students (HEFCE, 2017; Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of the University System and Research [ANVUR], & National Conference of University Delegates for Disability [CNUDD], 2021; Rao, Edelen-Smith, & Wailehua, 2015). Meanwhile, this group experiences an achievement gap concerning learning and outcomes (ECU, 2017; Eurostat, 2014; Eurostat, 2019; Pearson et al., 2019). Therefore, exploring potential uses of online learning may be beneficial. One related use for online learning is its potential as a tool for accessibility for autistic students. Moreover, a literature gap exists …

From The Editors, Michele H. Koomen, Thomastine A. Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

JSESD remains a venue for the dissemination of research and practice related to the education of students with disabilities in the science classroom and laboratory since 1998. Volumes #1 through 11 were published in a print format. Starting with Volume #12, the journal has been published online and Open Access. Having JSESD in the Open Access format maximizes access for readers and authors and allows the journal to remain economically sustainable. JSESD is proud to now be publishing articles in both PDF and HTML formats (the HTML versions can be accessed through a link from the main articles’ web-page).

Overcoming The Achievement Gap: Arkansas' Utilization Of Weighted Student Funding To Support Students Of Poverty, Michael G. Mcfetridge

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

With over 63% of its students living in poverty, the state of Arkansas has a challenge when it comes to equitable funding and opportunities for its students. One funding mechanism that has been in place in Arkansas for over 20 years now is a categorical funding allocation known as Enhanced Student Achievement Funds (ESA). School districts receive these funds based on their percentage of students in poverty. While this weighted student funding model of allocating more funds to identified characteristics has been in place in Arkansas for over two decades, little research exists to gauge whether these allocation mechanisms successfully …

A Pragmatic Approach To Investigating The Digital Existence Of Food Bank Users, Yaprak Dalat Ward Dr., James Ward Dr., Li-Jen Lester Dr.

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study investigated the digital existence of the food bank users in a university town in Texas, and subsequently, aligned with the research's pragmatic focus, the researchers designed a training model for these food bank users. Two research questions guided the study: 1) What are the digital existence levels of the food bank users; and 2) what training model would best serve these food bank users? Data were collected by means of a survey from 230 individual food bank users representing households. Additional data included observations and conversations with food bank staff, and documents and materials from the site which …

The Real Experts: Understanding Autism And Adhd Through The Lens Of The Individual, Mary Little

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation aims to spark intentional conversation and change geared towards shattering stigmas around the autistic and ADHD experience. Attendees will enhance their understanding of neuro-divergent populations in order to modify environments and provide interventions aligning with trauma informed care and inclusion. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to embrace the power of self disclosure and mentorship.

Brave Schools: Exploring Student Rights & Inclusive Anti-Bullying School Spaces Through Transgender & Queer Liberation Practices, Miruna Ouatu-Lascar

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

In today’s climate student rights and the rights of transgender students particularly are constantly under attack creating school community climates that are hostile & dangerous for kids. This workshop will present participants with an overview of transgender and queer theory liberatory practices & outline strategies for creating inclusive school communities that are not only welcoming but actively engage in combating hate and bully culture.

Unshackling Our Youth Through Love And Mutual Recognition: Notes From An Undergraduate Class On School Discipline Inspired By Ta-Nehisi Coates And Bell Hooks, Gene Fellner, Mark Comesañas, Tahjuan Ferrell

Publications and Research

This research essay challenges educators to embrace mutual recognition when interacting with students. Our data are the words of the young people who participated with us in one particular undergraduate class on school discipline at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, in the United States in the fall of 2022. Tahjuan, who had been our student in the 7th grade in 2011, co-taught the class with us. In writing this essay and in teaching the class, we were inspired by a short passage fromTa-Nehisi Coates about the shackling young people of color endure and another, by bell hooks, that proposes …

A Time To Create Change: A Case Study Of Culturally Relevant Education, Colleen Kopay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An opportunity gap exists in the United States school system where students of color score lower on standardized tests and have fewer opportunities than their white counterparts. Culturally Relevant Education (CRE) theory attempts to close this gap, and is defined by Gloria Ladson-Billings (1995) as

Pedagogy that rests on three criteria or propositions: (a) Students must experience academic success; (b) students must develop and/or maintain cultural competence; and (c) students must develop a critical consciousness through which they challenge the status quo of the current social order (p. 160).

In short, CRE is the use of culture, rigor, and critical …

“Not A Stereotype”: A Teacher Framework For Evaluating Disability Representation In Children’S Picture Books, H. Emily Hayden, Angela M.T. Prince

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Researchers and educators have explored representations of people with marginalized identities in children’s picturebooks for over 30 years. Disability has not been widely acknowledged as a marginalized identity nor explored as an aspect of diversity prevalent in classrooms. In the United States, over seven million students are identified with a disability, and most will spend the majority of their school day in general education classrooms. Like other diverse students, they may not see their identities mirrored in classroom literature. Picturebooks featuring main characters with a disability are rare, and some still foreground medical models, limiting individuals with narrow, ableist notions …

A Phenomenological Study Of School Psychologists: The Influence Of Implicit Bias On The Disproportionate Identification Rates Of African American Students Evaluated For Emotional Disturbance, Sonya Coe-Milo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As advocates, school psychologists remain ethically responsible and uniquely positioned to identify social injustices and promote nondiscriminatory practices in prekindergarten through grade 12 public education institutions. Implicit bias and its influence on African American students is one such practice. In public education, implicit bias contributes to discipline disproportionality, differentiated teacher support, pedagogical practices, and adult perceptions and expectations of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. These factors directly correlate to the disproportionate identification rates of African American students for special education and related services. Therefore, this phenomenological qualitative study examined the personal, lived experiences and perceptions of school psychologists regarding implicit bias …

Oer For Libraries And Textbook Affordability Partners, Lily Dubach, Sarah Norris

Open Ed Live

Join us for an interactive workshop that explores the synergies between libraries and Open Educational Resources (OER). This session will highlight libraries’ role in OER; explore how textbook affordability partners and libraries can exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices; provide a five-fold approach to open education in libraries; and include an active discussion about new technologies to streamline OER adoption, adaptation, authorship.

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

Open Ed Live

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

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

Open Ed Live

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

The Hbcu Experience: Why I Chose My Hbcu And How It Helped Me Prepare For My Career, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy, Angela Richardson

Educational Panels

Panel/Event Coordinator: Angela Richardson

Moderated by: Dr. Anita White

Panelists:

• Justin Alfred : Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge. Civil Engineering / Computer science. Lockheed Martin.
• Joseph Bertrand ‘20 : Senior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC. Mechanical Engineering.
• Darryl Burrell Jr. : Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD.Civil Engineering. City of Houston,Houston Public Works.
• Dr. Garry J. Kennebrew Jr. ‘04 : Morehouse College, Atlanta BS Biology Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.Doctorate in Medicine.
• Jaida Lewis ‘15 : Texas Southern University Chemistry. Owner, Poised Lips by Jai Program Coordinator, CVS Health.
• Ja’Nae …

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

Open Ed Live

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

Misappropriating Self-Care: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of The Burnout Experiences Of Teachers Who Identify As Women, Kimberly A. Kneller

Education Doctorate Dissertations

“Self-care” is a very marketable term, especially in the COVID era. Coupled with a renewed focus on student achievement, the demands of the workplace on teachers are implicated in a troubling rate of teacher attrition and declining enrollment in preparatory programs. This research utilized a mixed-methods approach in gaining a deeper understanding of the predicament that teachers (who predominantly identify as women) are facing. The survey and focus group data obtained in this study support the framework that teachers are at risk of burnout and feel powerless to avoid it. The lack of power perceived by these individuals is a …

Challenges To Inclusive Education For Students With Disabilities In Japanese Higher Education Institutions, Karina Dyliaeva, Steven B. Rothman, Nader Ghotbi

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of the study was to elucidate the current challenges to inclusive education (IE) at the university level in Japan, thereby addressing the gap between policy and the provision of inclusion.

Method: This qualitative case study of a private university supporting inclusive policies in Japan included content analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews to ascertain themes.

Results: The four identified themes were: inclusion practices as a conceptual challenge, conflicting practice of reasonable accommodations, inclusion management gaps, and barriers to and opportunities for inclusive education.

Conclusions: There is a significant disconnect between legal obligation and actual implementation of …

Identifying Critical Employability Skills For Employment Success Of Autistic Individuals: A Content Analysis Of Job Postings, Amy Jane Griffiths, Amy E. Hurley-Hanson, Cristina M. Giannantonio, Angel Miles Nash, Wallace Walrod, Petersen Walrod, Rachel Torres, Raquel Delgado

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study aimed to examine the literature on the skill sets of autistic individuals and determine how these skills align with current and projected future labour market needs. Based on a literature review, researchers identified the following skill categories common to autistic individuals: visual skills, attention to detail and systemizing composite skills. Researchers then gathered aggregated data on occupations and industries from over 90 state and federal sources in the United States. Next, they collected data on the most in-demand jobs, their industries and relevant skills by analysing hundreds of millions of online job postings. The results indicate the most …

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

Empowering Educators Conference

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

A Problem Solving Assessment Model For Remediating Academic Deficits, Tyler-Curtis C. Elliott, Kevin M. Ayres

Empowering Educators Conference

Even the best academic interventions may need to be adapted to meet the idiosyncratic needs of the student. We will present 6 common “causes” of an academic failure (based on operant conditioning), assessment methods used to identify the cause, and how teachers can use this information to make instructional adaptations.

Equity Requires Action: Principals’ Use And Value Of Culturally Proficient Educational Practice, Jaime E. Welborn Ph.D., Peter Flores Iii, Ed.D.

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

This quantitative, descriptive study investigated K-12 public school principals' perceptions regarding the degree to which they use and value practices related to cultural competence in their roles as school leaders. While an abundance of literature regarding leadership in education, disparities in educational outcomes, and school change exists, inequities in policy and practice perpetuate academic and social setbacks for some of our nation's youth Using the lens of the Cultural Proficiency Framework, specifically the Essential Elements, this study aimed to address the research questions and add to the literature by examining (1) the school principals' value in using culturally competent practices; …

Out-Of- School Time Use In Pakistan: A Qualitative Study Featuring Youth's Voices, Salima Kerai, Marium Ibrahim, Tonje M. Molyneux, Uzma Hussain, Anne Gadermann, Rosemin Kassam, Almina Pardhan Dr., Eva Oberle

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The current study addresses the lack of out-of-school time (OST) research in low- and middle-income countries by exploring OST use in the context of Pakistan and incorporating youth's voices. Using a qualitative descriptive design with focus-group discussions, we conducted a study in three middle schools set in low- to middle-income neighborhoods in urban and rural areas of Karachi, Pakistan. We engaged 86 youth (50% girls; aged 10–15 years) that were purposefully selected from grade six (31.4%), seven (44.2%) and eight (24.4%) classrooms, balancing gender and locality. In each focus group, we asked participants to describe their afterschool activity routine on …

Black Youth Males Transitioning From The Juvenile Justice System To Comprehensive School, Andria R. Heaven

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This dissertation explores the barriers faced by Black Youth Males Transitioning from the Juvenile Justice System to Comprehensive School.

The purpose of this study was to provide administrators with a product that can assist staff collaborating with Black male students to seamlessly and successfully transition to a comprehensive school after being released from a secured Department Juvenile Justice facility. The product addresses effective school support for Black male youths who have been detained in the juvenile justice system to re-engage them in such a way to achieve a diploma. This study also investigated school re-entry procedures with formerly incarcerated youth, …

Intersecting Identities And Adjustment To The Primary-Secondary School Transition: An Integrative Review, Joanne Harris, Rebecca Nowland, Megan Todd

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The primary-to-secondary school transition is a milestone for children because of the multiple changes they must navigate. Although most adjust successfully, approximately 30% of children have difficulties during this transition. Intersecting identities are also likely to influence how children navigate the adjustment of the school transfer, but there have been no syntheses of existing evidence relating to the impacts of intersectionality. We conducted an integrative review using eight databases (Education database, ERIC, ProQuest Education, PsychInfo, Scopus, SocIndex, Sociology Database, and Web of Science) and searched for quantitative or qualitative studies that examined how intersecting identities impact children’s self-concept, mental health, …

Your Story, Your Life, Your Learning: Autobiography Reveals Basis For Supporting Personalized, Holistic Pedagogy, Michael Maser

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Each person ongoingly experiences the world uniquely through vital processes shaping their subjectivity, personhood and sense of self. Learning, an innate characteristic or modality of each human life, of living, likewise arises subjectively or idiosyncratically. In this paper, a phenomenological lens is applied to auto/biographical excerpts concerned with various learning experiences to help reveal essential, subjective characteristics of emergent learning. The insights help establish a basis for challenging the primacy of objectivist learning evaluations. The insights also confirm the importance of personalizing learning as a pedagogical gesture nurturing and enfranchising student learning in significant ways beyond conventional educational approaches …

“We’Re Not Walking Schools”: Storying The Pandemic Schooling Experiences Of Mothers Of Children With Disabilities, Kristi Cheyney-Collante, Lindsey Chapman, Shaunté Duggins

The Qualitative Report

This article describes a study designed to better understand the fallout of extended school closures and staggered re-openings for one group heavily impacted by the pandemic, mothers of children with disabilities. Using feminist ways of knowing as the backdrop, we explored how a small group of mothers experienced pandemic-related educational shifts. We aimed to provide solidarity and a space of care. We employed narrative methods to support the storying of their individual and collective experiences. Data were synthesized vis-à-vis participants’ ethic of care, particularly in relationship to the power structures they traversed. Taking a deep dive into the experiences of …

Making Ai Work: Tools For Schools And Classrooms, Scott Matz, Tracy Driehaus

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

The Use Of A Behavior Chain Interruption Strategy To Teach Mands For Help With An Adult With Intellectual Disability And Deaf-Blindness, Hannah E. Thompson, Robbie Hanson

Faculty Scholarship

Individuals with deaf-blindness and co-occurring diagnoses, such as intellectual and developmental disabilities, may experience difculty with independence, specifcally with communication. One behavior-analytic procedure that may be useful for increasing independence and teaching communication to this population is the behavior-chain interruption strategy (BCIS). The current study examined the use of the BCIS to teach a 65-year-old deaf-blind participant with severe intellectual disability to use a SadoTech Elderly Monitoring Pager to notify others in the environment when help was needed. The researcher alternated between establishing operation (EO; help needed, items missing, or inoperable) and abolishing operation (AO; help not needed, items present, …

Underserved And Underrecognized: Elevating Teaching Strategies, Special Education Eligibility, And Educational Outcomes For Grade 2-6 Girls On The Autism Spectrum, Jessica T. Ford

Doctorate in Education

This study involved a qualitative exploratory case study research design and employed in-depth online interviews as the primary data collection method. Participants were former or current special education teachers in Minnesota who had worked with Grade 2-6 girls on the autism spectrum and were sourced from professional networks, educational associations, online platforms, chain sampling, and snowball sampling. This study sought to elucidate the reasons behind the underidentification of girls eligible for autism spectrum special education services, streamline their qualification process, reveal practical educational strategies for academic, emotional, and social support, and furnish accessible resources and training alternatives for classroom teachers …

The Use Of Assistive Technology For Students With Disabilities In Technical Colleges In Ondo State, Deborah Ahuoiza Vincent, Rebecca Oyenike Okeowo, Samson Ariyo

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The goal of this study was to explore the use of assistive technology (AT) for students with disabilities in technical colleges in Ondo State. Three research questions guided the study. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted and the survey included 104 participants (38 university lecturers and 66 students with disabilities) drawn from the three technical colleges in Ondo State. A structured questionnaire consisting of 54 items was also adapted and used in data collection. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.86. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS Version 26. The findings of the study revealed that while there …