Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Adapted Stories: Creating Accessible Stories For Children With Complex Language Problems, Janet L. Dodd

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Many children with autism spectrum and other language impairing disorders present with complicated language problems (CLP; Franke & Durbin, 2011). These children exhibit delays across multiple domains of language and often benefit from narrative- and story-based interventions. However, many children’s stories—the vehicle often employed for these types of interventions—are often too complex for them. The purpose of this article is to introduce a strategy for making stories accessible, linguistically and cognitively, for children with CLP.

The Effects Of Synchronous Online Cognitive Strategy Instruction In Writing For Students With Learning Disabilities, Carrie Straub

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the effects of self-regulated strategy development (Harris, Graham, & Mason, 2009) for cognitive strategy instruction in persuasive writing (POW+TREE) using a synchronous online learning environment for special education students. Participants are four adolescent students with learning disabilities (LD) with low achievement in writing. One undergraduate research assistant delivered instruction using a synchronous online platform (e.g., Adobe Connect) in conjunction with collaborative writing software (e.g., Google Docs word processing). A multiple probe across participants design was used to demonstrate a functional relationship between instruction and number of essay elements (EE). Number of correct minus incorrect word sequences (CIWS) …

The Effects Of The Combination Of Interview Practice In A Mixed-Reality Environment And Coaching On The Interview Performance Of Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Zachary M. Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify if a functional relationship exists between a treatment combination of interview practice in a mixed-reality learning modality (TLE TeachLivETM) and the use of individualized coaching sessions on the interview performance of young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Student participants took part in live preinterviews with the University of Central Florida (UCF) Office of Career Services measuring their current levels of employment interview performance. Student participants then engaged in interviews with avatars in the TLE TeachLivETM lab. After each treatment interview in the lab, student participants received individualized coaching sessions to assist them …

Examining Potential Teacher Bias Of Hispanic Males With Emotional Disturbances In Virtual Settings, Angel L. Lopez Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The importance of looking at student and teacher interactions holistically is essential and results in reflective teaching practices; consequently, the reflective practice of teaching needs to incorporate all facets of the teacher, known and unknown. This study looks at the potential influence of hidden biases towards adolescent Hispanic males and students with Emotional Behavior Disorders by observing preservice teacher (PT) interactions with students within a simulated classroom environment. Factorial MANOVAs and Discriminant analyses revealed statistically significant interactions and relationships between participant level of bias and the identified student avatars. These exchanges were more prevalent with one student avatar by both …

Enriching Students With Developmental Delays In An Early Childhood Classroom Using Ipads With Mathematics Applications, Selma Powell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Laws and legislation related to early childhood and special education have shaped the field and impacted the need for early intervention services, but the outcomes of those services both academically and socially at the forefront. Children with developmental delays today are eligible for school services beginning at birth across the country, the new challenging is determining the impact of services on the social and academic outcomes. Many children with developmental delays are served in inclusive early intervention classrooms. A need for developmentally appropriate quality mathematics instruction exists to prepare students to meet the demands of a global economy; students must …

Using Transfer Of Stimulus Control Technology To Promote Generalization And Spontaneity Of Language, Trina D. Spencer, Thomas S. Higbee

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

Children with autism often use newly acquired language in restricted contexts and with limited variability. Instructional tactics that embed generalization technology have shown promise for increasing spontaneity, response variation, and the generalized use of language across settings, people, and materials. This case example explores the integration of textual scripts and explicit engineering of transfer of stimulus control procedures to facilitate functional conversation skills of a young girl with autism. The generalized use of prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions was assessed within the context of natural conversation with teachers, parents, and peers. The intentional programming of training contexts has the …

Headway Emotional Health Services: A Parent Satisfaction Survey And Needs Assessment, Eowyn T. Gatlin

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Headway Emotional Health Services seeks to transform lives and restore families by providing a variety of quality mental health services to children and families in the Twin Cities Metro Area. The Vision Program is a partnership between Headway and the Bloomington Public School system. The Vision Program serves K-12 students who qualify for level 3 Emotional and/or Behavioral Disability (EBD) services. All students are in a classroom at their mainstream school and receive daily support from the Vision Mental Health Specialist, a special education classroom teacher, and a paraprofessional. Many students are able to participate in some mainstream programing through …

What's In A Name? The Influence Of An Adhd-Inattentive Type Label On Perceived Social Competence As Viewed By Mental Health Professionals And Teachers, Jason Arkin

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Objective: To determine whether the presence of an ADHD-PI label influenced adult perceptions of a female adolescent’s social competence. Method: Forty four primary and secondary teachers and 54 mental health professionals rated their perceptions based on a vignette that included or did not include the label ADHD-PI. Results: The ADHD-PI labeled vignettes elicited more negative perceptions of the child’s social acceptance and ability to make close friends. Also, mental health professionals rated the girl as more socially accepted, regardless of diagnosis. There were no other significant main effects and there were no significant interaction effects. Conclusion: The presence of an …

Parent Perceptions Of The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, Charity C. Roberts

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Author's abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand both contributors and barriers to use of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (SB10). Although SB10 was designed to offer parental choice of schools for students with disabilities, it has diminished the capacity of parents to access due process granted through IDEA. Perspectives in this study were provided by parents who chose to rescind their child's participation in the voucher program and parents who continued to access the voucher. Analysis of the lived experiences of parents of students with disabilities in Georgia revealed both similar and diverse experiences, perceptions and concerns …

Impact Of Read 180 On Adolescent Struggling Readers, Kathy Joiner Smith

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The foundation for the present study was based on the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001), Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) 2004, and Florida Response to Intervention (RTI) (Florida RTI, 2009). In line with the NCLB Act, Florida requires students to pass the reading portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) on grade level in order to graduate (FL-DOE, 2001). In alignment with the RTI framework, READ 180 is presently being implemented as a Tier 2 intervention with adolescent struggling readers across the nation. The methodology for this research was a retrospective research design, with the …

Examining Teacher Identity And Prospective Efficacy Beliefs Among Students Enrolled In A Precollegiate Urban Teaching Academy (Uta), Marsha Simon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teacher recruitment and retention challenges facing urban school contexts provided the impetus for this study. High percentages of historically marginalized students, plagued by high poverty rates and low academic performance, as well as substandard facilities and inadequate material resources, serve as causative factors inhibiting recruitment and retention of credentialed teachers in urban schools (Education Commission of the States [ECS], 1999; Guarino et al., 2006; Horng, 2009; USDOE, 2003; 2004; Wirt et al, 2004). Schools and districts attempt to meet chronic teacher shortages in hard-to-staff urban schools by creating innovative teacher preparation schemes, such as the Urban Teaching Academy (UTA). This …

A Multi-Perspective Exploration Of A Cross-Age Tutoring Initiative: An Analysis Of The Responses Of All Students, Ann Elizabeth Gillies

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory study assessed the effectiveness of a cross-age tutoring intervention on adaptive behavior goals of three PreKindergarten/Kindergarten-aged students with labels of autism spectrum disorder. Data were collected in an inclusive environment; the school library. Three fourth grade general education cross-age tutors were trained to use a simple, naturalistic least-to-most prompting strategy to support the young students with individualized adaptive behavior goals while in the library. A mixed method design was utilized in this study; a quantitative single case multiple baseline across participants design to show performance outcomes of the young students as a result of the tutoring intervention, and …

Students With Asd In Mainstream Primary Education Settings: Teachers' Experiences In Western Australian Classrooms, Rebecca Soto, Julie Ann Pooley, Lynne Cohen, Myra Taylor

Research outputs 2012

The shift to inclusive education within Australia has resulted in increasing numbers of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) being placed in mainstream educational settings. This move has created new demands on teachers who are not necessarily trained to meet the challenge. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop an understanding of how 12 Western Australian primary school (K-7) teachers adapted to the challenge of having a student with ASD in their mainstream classroom. Using an interpretivist framework, data from semistructured interviews revealed that teachers perceived a need to first recognise and accept the challenges associated with having a student …

Assistive Technology For Students With Disabilities: Resources And Challenges Encountered By Teachers, Dawn Larae Jacobsen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Assistive technology may be a solution for students with disabilities who are struggling to achieve academic growth; however, the consideration for assistive technology process is not prevalent in schools.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to take an in-depth look at the processes and factors that teachers of students with disabilities used in considering, adopting, and utilizing assistive technology to meet the needs of their students. Three teachers in one rural school shared the resources and challenges they encountered in the assistive technology process. Furthermore, using Rogers's Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Davis's Technology Acceptance Model as theoretical frameworks, …