Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

The Differential Effects Of Navigational Aids On Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Virginia Morash-Macneil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the differential effects of a GPS based navigational app displayed on a smartwatch and a paper map on the ability of individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) to independently navigate unfamiliar walking routes. A single case alternating treatment design was used to compare the effectiveness of these navigation supports on independent pedestrian navigation. Five adults ranging in age from 26 to 45 with mild to moderate ID participated in the study. Visual analysis and the comparison of means between treatments indicate an increase in performance during the app treatment phase for all participants. Overall, all …

Summary Of Performance Portfolio: Supporting Post-Secondary Transition For Students With Learning Disabilities, Mariya T. Davis, Julie D. Southward

Special Education Faculty Publications (Archived)

Students with disabilities, including those with learning disabilities (LD) experience difficulties transitioning to post-school environments. A Summary of Performance (SOP) document, provided to students with disabilities during their final year of high school, may serve as a platform for requesting access to services from post-secondary service providers and consequently improve students’ success in adult life. However, a SOP portfolio may help special educators effectively bridge services offered in high school and post-secondary settings and ensure smooth transition experiences for students with LD. This article outlines how special educators can use the SOP portfolio as part of comprehensive transition planning to …

Online Behaviors Of Teenagers On The Autism Spectrum, Amelia Anderson, Abigail Phillips

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The Internet can be a source of connection and support for teenagers on the autism spectrum. This study explores how teenagers on the autism spectrum who identify as library users spend time online by addressing the following research questions: How do teens on the autism spectrum participate in the online environment? And, how do teens on the autism spectrum make sense of social media? Quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed from nine participants, recruited through online discussion forums. Implications suggest a potential role for educators and librarians to offer opportunities and support in creating and building online connections.

Practitioner Perception Of The Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices In The Special Education Classroom: A Case Study, Jolene G. Swezey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to identify factors that inform the decision-making process of 11 special education practitioners for the implementation of evidence-based practices in the classroom at Central Combined School (pseudonym). The theoretical framework for this study is Lipsky’s street-level bureaucracy theory. Street-level bureaucracy theory states that social services workers use discretion to administer required policies. Understanding how special educators act as street-level bureaucrats will provide new insights into teacher perception of the decision-making process for implementing evidence-based practices. The central research question asked, What are the factors that inform the decision-making process for special …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Impact Of A Progressive Learning Curriculum On Student Achievement In A Northeastern Urban Public School District, Corey Mckinney

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study used a non-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest design to compare the scale scores on the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 Mathematics sections of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA). This investigation compared the 2018 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment in Mathematics (NJSLA-M) scale score means for sampled special education students in Grades 4 – 8 to the 2019 NJSLA-M scale score means for the same group. A Paired-samples t-Test was used to determine what statistical differences exist, if any, between the scores 2017–2018 results of the students prior to receiving instruction based on learning progressions and the 2018–2019 results after receiving …

Factors Influencing The Retention Of Teachers In Private Schools Serving Students With Autism, Leah M. Farinola

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this sequential mixed-methods study was to explore the factors associated with teacher retention in New Jersey private schools serving children with autism. This study explored the most influential variables in teacher retention within school administrators' scope of control. The research design consisted of two phases, with the first phase guiding the second. The first phase was quantitative and included collecting and analyzing data through teacher responses from an online survey. Survey data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. This analysis led to the creation and review of the interview questions utilized in the second phase. The second …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Preservice Teachers’ Preparation To Use Assistive Technology In Saudi Arabia, Dr. Khalid Mohammed Abu-Alghayth Phd

International Journal for Research in Education

Preparing future teachers for assistive technology (AT) usage is essential for effective and appropriate teaching of students with disabilities. Teacher preparation to use AT in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is still not thorough and has been linked to teachers’ lack of AT use with students. Thus, in this study a qualitative approach was employed to explore preservice teacher preparation to use AT. Utilizing a qualitative survey questionnaire, data were collected from 32 participants from two Saudi universities. Three major themes from the data were obtained for this study: (a) teacher preparation, (b) learning experiences, and (c) perceived needs. …

The Relationship Between Phonological Awareness And Reading Fluency For Elementary Second And Third Grade Dyslexic Students, Mohammed Msoud Aldossari, Dr. Abdulrahman Ali Bedewi

International Journal for Research in Education

This study explored the relationship between phonological awareness and reading fluency in students with dyslexia in grades 2 and 3. A related purpose was to examine the differences between males and females in their phonological awareness and reading fluency skills. The sample consisted of 41 students (21 boys and 20 girls), aged between 8 and 9 years. The study tools included the phonological awareness test and the reading fluency test. The results of the study showed that there was a significant correlation (r = .44) between the male/female students’ scores on the test of phonological awareness and their reading …

Stem For Everyone: A Mixed Methods Approach To The Conception And Implementation Of An Evaluation Process For Stem Education Programs For Students With Disabilities, Amy Jane Griffiths, John Brady, Nicholas Riley, James Alsip, Vanessa Trine, Lauren Gomez

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Some students with autism spectrum disorder and other learning differences may have superior visual acuity, increased attentional focus, and logical thinking abilities, lending to an affinity for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. At the same time, economists report that, the United States will experience a 28.2% increase in STEM-related jobs between 2014 and 2024. Although students with disabilities (SWD) can help to fill those positions, 85% of SWD graduates are either underemployed or unemployed as they enter young adulthood. Thus, there is a need to develop, evaluate, and report outcomes of STEM preparation programs specifically tailored to SWD. …

Interpretation Of Ambiguous Pronouns In Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Kara Hawthorne, Susan J. Loveall

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Background — Pronouns are referentially ambiguous (e.g. she could refer to any female), yet they are common in everyday conversations. Individuals with typical development (TD) employ several strategies to avoid pronoun interpretation errors, including the subject bias — an assumption that a pronoun typically refers to the subject (or, with the closely related order-of-mention bias, the first-mentioned character) of the previous sentence. However, it is unknown if adults with intellectual disability (ID) share this strategy or the extent to which the subject bias is associated with non-verbal abilities or receptive vocabulary.

Methods — We tested 22 adults with mixed-aetiology ID …

Reviewing Tools For Evaluating K-12 Instructional Materials Through An Implementation Lens, Kristen R. Rolf, Sarah E. Pinkelman, Kaitlin Bundock

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

This review examined how state-created tools for evaluating instructional materials support local schools and school districts to address implementation when adopting instructional materials. We followed a priori, systematic procedures to conduct a web search and visit each state’s department of education website in search of instructional materials evaluation tools. After identifying all of the state-created instructional materials evaluation tools in the areas of English/language arts and mathematics, we reviewed the tools and coded them for evidence of alignment with the six implementation indicators defined by the Hexagon Tool (Metz and Louison, The Hexagon Tool: exploring context. Based on Kiser, Zabel, …

Fundamental Principles Of Metacognition: A Qualitative Study Of Metacognition, Pedagogy And Transformation, Philip Hulbig

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study investigated the transformative quality of a metacognitive education. It examined a transformative metacognitive education from both the subjective personal perspective of the student who has gone through the process of transformation and the more objective pedagogical perspective of the professors who work to bring forth such transformational experiences in their students. Through interview and analysis these perspectives were integrated to produce a pedagogical theoretical framework derived from experience and grounded in observations about metacognition across various scientific disciplines. The personal elements of metacognition that promote educational transformation from within the students were contrasted with the pedagogical approaches of …

Effects Of Social Media On Adolescents, Jeffrey Scott Erickson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social media has a strong influence on adolescents. The effects of social media use can be both positive and negative for adolescents. Social media makes adolescents feel more connected to their friends, family, and interests. On the other hand, it creates an unhealthy reliance by some adolescents which can cause problems with addiction, communication, mental health, and schooling. Addiction to technology and cell phones in particular is a negative pertaining to adolescents. Negative effects occur when adolescents are overly dependent and unfocused due to the use of social media while at school. Studies show that communication skills can be harmed …

Special Education Teachers And Burnout: The Factors That Contribute To It And Effective Strategies That Combat It, Sydni M. Fancher

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will explore the reasons behind teacher burnout in special education. The field of special education has increased dramatically throughout the years. As more research is being done to determine the various disabilities out there, the need for special education teachers increases. There is a gentleman by the name of Maslach that discovered the term “burnout”. According to Maslach there are three different components of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. After researching this topic the four findings that contribute to teacher burnout include: stress management, workplace characteristics, benefits of mindfulness, and identifying the disabilities that …

Impact Of Relative Age On Need For Special Education Services, Leonie Giles

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of a literature review of research on a potential correlation between a student's birthdate, age upon entry into kindergarten, and the potential need for special education services while in elementary school. Results were mixed on the benefits of delaying entry into school. While results appeared contradictory at times, closer analysis indicates that benefits depend on the individual, on the presence of a disability, the gender, and socio-economic status, and on when a student is born. Students born in the months directly preceding kindergarten eligibility are at a disadvantage when compared to those born right after the cut-off …

Understanding The Needs Of Children In Poverty To Improve Academic Achievement: A Literature Review, Christy Michele Lothrop

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poverty affects one in five children in the U.S., where 50% of public schools identify as mid-high or high-poverty schools. Decades of research confirms a significant and constant economic academic achievement gap. This literature review sought to determine how poverty impacts children’s development and ways educators can improve educational outcomes for students in poverty. Researchers illustrate how poverty impacts children environmentally and neurologically, leading to brain changes associated with language, memory, socioemotional, and executive functioning skills. Researchers offer a multitude of ways that educators can improve educational outcomes for students in poverty including: improving school climate and teacher-student relationships, implementing …

The Impact Of Visual Schedules For Students With Disabilities: A Literature Review, Kristine L. Mcdonald

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this empirical research literature with application emphasis was conducted so I could better understand the effects of visual schedules and video modeling. Visual schedules and video modeling showed an increase of independence with transitions between classroom settings and daily routines had on students with autism. These studies reviewed students from elementary aged to young adults. The majority of students who participated in the reviewed research had no previous exposure to visual schedules. 20 peer reviewed publications were studied and analyzed on these simple interventions and the impacts and success students encountered. The documented success of a simple …

The Impact Of Mindfulness Practice On Adolescents With Special Needs And Mental Health Diagnosis, Rebecca Jean Mcquiston

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with mental health diagnosis, trauma or special education labels such as emotional behavioral disorder or learning disabilities often show signs of distress, and/or dysregulation in the classroom. They are referred to providers and evaluated based on the behaviors or symptoms that are presented. Many times, these behaviors impact their ability to learn, regulate emotions and function when compared to their typically developing peers. These students have developed maladaptive behaviors to cope with strong feelings. Within the last ten years, clinics, schools and districts have increased their attention and efforts to develop social emotional learning programs to teach students essential …

Student Anxiety And Practical Strategies For The School Setting: A Literature Review, Cassie M. Ott

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 2010, anxiety levels have risen worldwide. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to anxiety as they experience varied life challenges. Considering anxiety disorders most common in youth (generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social phobia (SP), and test anxiety), this thesis delves into research focused on diagnoses with comorbid anxiety (including Depressive Disorders (DD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)), and the underlying causes of anxiety. To clarify the research questions regarding symptom identification and successful strategies to use in school settings, the literature review provides information about symptoms, anxiety behaviors, and the impact on …

Students With Special Needs And Their Ability To Self-Monitor Goals, Erin L. Schmitz

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Self-monitoring behavior is one way students can be involved in their learning. Research shows that desired behaviors increase, and academic performance improves, when students monitor their behavior during class. This action research project reviews self-monitoring literature and examines how accurately fifth-grade male students who are receiving services for Autism Spectrum Disorder can self-monitor their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and how self-monitoring affects their progress toward their IEP goals. The results suggest these students were able to accurately self-monitor and show progress toward their IEP goals.

Using Arts To Improve Academic Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Melissa Jean Briggs Wood

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Theatre is often used as a tool in the classroom to target specific skills in language arts classes. More and more, it is being woven into curriculums outside of the language arts classroom to explore multi-disciplinary teaching. Theatre arts have the potential to reach a wide array of students in order to increase academic achievement, engagement/attainment, and social-emotional skills. Not only can theatre arts improve skills for students as a whole, but it can positively impact students with learning disabilities and special needs, too. Research indicates through empirical data that students generally show improvements in academic achievement, engagement and confidence …

The Effects Poverty Has On Students In Special Education, Morgan Marie Auge

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poverty is an issue around the world that affects children and their academic achievement. In the United States 21% of children are raised in poverty. Children from poverty have a higher risk of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and youth. Children from homes of poverty are affected by stress causing the brain to not fully develop. This thesis is a summary of academic literature on poverty and its relationship with special education which includes the placement of special education students in Minnesota, United States, and other developing countries. Special education has continued to be researched over the last …

Restorative Justice In Schools - The Impact And Implementation, Chad Edward Felty

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Are restorative practices producing fewer negative outcomes for students and improving relationships within schools? The following literature review and application looked at the effectiveness of restorative practices in schools. The evidence showed that restorative practices are an effective way to decrease the number of negative behavior outcomes for students. Intentional relationship work was defined as a major theme in the effective implementation of restorative practices. The literature described the main themes that were imperative in implementing effective restorative practices in schools. The gathered evidence led to the application which defines a specific way to enhance the restorative practices within a …

Response To Intervention In Child Find, Eucabeth Kimaiga

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis highlights RTI and child-find under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) federal law, revised in the special edition of 2011. In 2011, the child find mandate was the focus of the IDEA regarding the education for learners with special needs. This concept mandated school districts in each state to acknowledge, find, and assess allchildren, from birth to 22 years of age with special needs and disabilities, who could need early care or special educational services. Children who were perceived to have a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) used to be found eligible for special education services after …

Is Special Education A Life Sentence? Examining Disproportionality In The Declassification Rates Of Students Of Color In An Urban School District, Rasheed Bility

Theses and Dissertations

Federal law states that any student suspected of having a disability must meet initial eligibility requirements to qualify for special education services. Furthermore, an individual education program (IEP) team is required by federal law to re-evaluate each student with a qualified disability tri-annually to assess his or her ongoing need for such services. The pathway toward initial eligibility is explicitly outlined within federal legislation; however, the law does not explicate an avenue for declassification or exiting from special education. As a result, many students may remain in special education and are labeled as students with a disability when they may …

Employer Perspective On Augmenting Work Experiences For Individuals With Disabilities, Liza A. Laurino-Siegel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate employer perspective on augmenting work experiences for individuals with disabilities in the workplace through a qualitative case study approach. This study utilized two specific workplaces that are structured, have core values, are mission-driven and support individuals with differing abilities. The goal was to develop an understanding on how these workplaces continue to help individuals gain meaningful employment while supporting their differences and unique learning approaches in the workplace. Data collection included employer interviews, employee insight, an employer focus group, observations of employees at the work sites, artifacts, photos and the researcher’s journals. …

A Latinx Critical Race Theoretical Approach To Testimonios Of Latinx School Psychologists, Karen Yulieann Ramírez

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

As a Latina school psychologist, I use Latinx Critical Race framework with testimonios as methodology to document the individual and collective experiences and perspectives of six Latinx school psychologists in urban and suburban school settings regarding the role that race plays in the special education process. Their testimonios reveal how they are racialized in their profession through their intersecting identities of race, ethnicity, culture, and language. In particular, they testify to their everyday experiences of racial microaggressions, in which they are viewed through a deficit lens by supervisors, colleagues, and the parents of the students they serve. In addition, their …

Impacts Of Social And Emotional Learning Interventions In Special Education Students, Cassandra R. Drusch

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social and emotional learning is educational programming that can help the student learn to recognize emotions, set goals, perspectively think, maintain positive relationships, make decisions and learn conflict resolution (McCormick, 2019). Research has shown that social and emotional learning is beneficial to not only the general education population but also special education students. The author of this thesis researched the impact of social and emotional learning on students with disabilities in the five disability categories; emotional behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental cognitive disorders, specific learning disability, and other health disabilities. A literature review was conducted to determine the impacts …

Impacts And Strategies In Positive Student-Teacher Relationships, Cassandra C. Eckart

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers, educational professionals, and classroom teachers consistently seek out ways to engage students in the classroom. For some students, engagement comes naturally. They connect easily with people and are by nature, curious and active learners. For these students, traditionally taught textbook engagement strategies are often very effective and lead to a vibrant classroom experience. Conversely, in almost every classroom there are one, or two students. The one who the classroom teacher struggles to connect with. The student is disengaged in the classroom, does not complete work or participate in class lectures and discussions. Though well educated in engagement strategies, classroom …

Benefits Of Physical Activity For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trey Lewis Benhart

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents with autism live a more sedentary lifestyle than those without an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Lack of exercise results in increased health risks, obesity, and decreased quality of life, exercise, motor skills, and peer interaction. Exercise can serve as a treatment for those with autism that increases quality of life, improves peer relationships, overall health, and increases expected behaviors. Special education providers should receive training about the benefits of physical activity along with strategies to best incorporate physical activity into daily routines, instruction, and goals. Due to lack of systemic resources and social opportunities, researchers cite many benefits to …