Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Computer-Based Training For Mswo Preference Assessment With Paraprofessionals In A Self-Contained Special Education Classroom, Megan Robertson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Special educators are required to train the staff who work in their rooms to be competent in working with students with severe disabilities. Oftentimes these special educators do not have enough time to adequately train the staff and this often results in a high turnover rate and frustrated staff. This study looked at the effects of using a video model to train staff to complete a multiple stimulus without replacement assessment which identifies a student’s preferences. These preferences can then be used for a student to earn throughout their school day. The participants were paraprofessionals who work in a self-contained …

What Motivates Them To Graduate? A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Students With Disabilities Who Earn A High School Diploma In Title I Schools, Heather Steelman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of students with disabilities in Title I schools that kept them motivated to earn a high school diploma. The central and sub questions explored factors associated with the attainment or fulfillment of basic psychological needs of competence, relatedness, and autonomy, as well as intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors. Title One high school graduates with disabilities, or students who had an individualized education plan (IEP) when they entered high school and continued to have an IEP through graduation, were identified through snowball sampling and participated in this study …

Implementation Of The Aim Social Skills Curriculum, Jennifer Cook

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The AIM social skills curriculum was designed to introduce the elements of mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and applied behavior analysis (ABA) to children in a fun and accessible way. The elements of the AIM curriculum have been used as the treatment approach for children with social and emotional disabilities. This paper focused on the implementation of the program with students who are determined to have emotional disabilities. Combining the elements of mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy and applied behavior analysis allows for targeting the variables that maintain maladaptive behavior, the way the environment is either increasing or decreasing …

Early Childhood Special Education Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Inclusion: A Qualitative Study On A School’S Transition From Segregated Classrooms To More Inclusion Classrooms, Shally Moua

Doctoral Dissertations

Inclusion has been a topic of interest in education and a great deal of research has identified teachers’ attitudes as a barrier to inclusion. Therefore, using the model of attitude (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993) and inclusive pedagogy framework (Florian & Black-Hawkins, 2012), the qualitative study aims to: (1) examine the attitudes of early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers toward inclusion as a school shift from segregated to more inclusive classrooms, (2) explore types of support they received and how that support shaped their inclusive pedagogical practices to teach in inclusive classrooms, and (3) identify barriers that impact their transition to …

Parent And Teacher's Perceptions Of Employment Outcomes For Youth With Intellectual Disabilities Transitioning From The Public School Setting., Rachel Leann Baker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 1990, and with subsequent amendments in 1997 and 2004, the secondary transition provision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have required special educators to plan, coordinate, and deliver transition services for secondary-aged students with disabilities (U.S. Department of Education, 2011). The experiences, social impacts and economic opportunities for employment continue to be monitored at both a federal and state level as part of expected outcomes for public secondary schools. The purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine the alignment of current research with current practice of transition planning for students with intellectual disabilities. The study …

Teaching Healthy Communication Skills For College Students With Disabilities, Molly Mcshane

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For college students with disabilities, interpersonal communication can be difficult. There have not been sufficient supportive services for college students with disabilities when it comes to learning communication skills in a college environment. Without effective communication skills, college students with disabilities may face social barriers and fewer chances for personal connections, which may lead to social isolation. In order to address this issue, I planned to create a 2-hour lesson for members of the Student Awareness for Disability Empowerment club (S.A.D.E) at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Improving Inclusion: The Ongoing And Transformative Process Of Improving Education Systems To Meet The Needs Of All Students, Robert Mistler

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For this Capstone Project the researcher will investigate how instructors view the environment of the classroom when there is a mix of special needs students incorporated into the general population classroom setting and what they think could be done to improve the environment. The inclusion of special needs is necessary for fair and equal treatment; further, by separating the general population from special needs students, brings about a culture of segregation that can have lifelong impacts. Through an evaluation of scholarly literature and interviews conducted with teachers at an elementary school the findings uncovered three emergent themes: collaboration with teachers …

An Evaluation Of A School District’S Mental Health Services Program Designed To Ensure A Safe And Positive Learning Environment For All, Jasodra Suba

Dissertations

A key component to academic success is comprehensive mental health services for students. The intended purpose of this evaluation was to study the implementation of strength-based performance standards in one school district’s mental health training for all individuals preparing to work in a school-based environment. The context of my program evaluation was one large public school district in the United States operating in a state that mandates that each public school district implement a mental health services program. As part of this study, I examined the underlying concerns surrounding the large public school district’s implementation of evidence-based Mental Health Assistance …

Faculty Perception Of Inclusive Instruction At Three South-Central Community Colleges, Karen R. O'Donohoe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Enrollment rates for student with disabilities in higher education continue to rise, particularly in 2-year colleges, but graduation rates have not kept pace due to barriers not addressed by traditional disability supports (Black et al., 2014; NCES, 2019; Smedema et al., 2015). Inclusive instruction is a low-cost, high-impact solution that can be implemented on any campus (Black et al., 2014; Lombardi et al., 2013; Roberts et al., 2011). This quantitative study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive non-experimental research design that explored faculty self-reported attitudes and actions associated with inclusive instruction at three of the largest degree-granting, two-year institutions in a single …

Understanding The African American Male Student Experience Of Being Diagnosed With Emotional Disturbance Through The Use Of Counter-Storytelling, Sara Ordaz

Doctoral Dissertations

In the U.S. educational system, it is too common to see African American males overrepresented in special education classrooms, including segregated special education settings. African American males continuously experience disproportionate representation and placement in special education, especially under the label of ED (Harry & Anderson, 1994). Twice as many African American students in the United States are receiving services for Emotional Disturbance than their White counterparts.

Students who are labeled with ED have the lowest educational outcomes as well as lower success rates in life than any other disability classification (Merrrell & Walker, 2004). The consequences of the ED label …

Balance Control And Exercise-Based Interventions In Older Adults, Youngwook Kim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Loss of balance and consequential falling, caused by natural degenerations in the sensory and motor systems with aging, are critical issues that require constant research exploration to ultimately improve the quality of life in older populations. Balance can be simply classified into static and dynamic balance, and the latter is more associated with common causes of falling in older adults. There are numerous ways to improve dynamic balance, and exercise training has been considered the most beneficial intervention for that purpose. Specifically, aquatic exercises have been suggested as a promising modality because several properties of water, including buoyance and hydrostatic …

A Parent Survey On Discrete Trial Teaching Versus Naturalistic Teaching And The Use Of Behavioral Terminology, Mckenzie Steele

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Children receiving special education are often exposed to a variety of learning strategies. Care providers may use an array of different strategies when describing therapeutic approaches to parents (including the use of technical or layman terminology), and research has indicated that the use of technical terminology may influence individuals’ perceptions of behavior therapy. This study examined the use of behavioral and layman terminology and video models to see if it affected parents’ preference between Discrete Trial Teaching, and Naturalistic Teaching. Participants were parents with children receiving special education services between the ages of 2-5 years old. Data were collected by …

An Investigation Into The Feasibility Of Streamlining Language Sample Analysis Through Computer-Automated Transcription And Scoring, Carly Fox

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of the study was to investigate the feasibility of streamlining the transcription and scoring portion of language sample analysis (LSA) through computer-automation. LSA is a gold-standard procedure for examining childrens’ language abilities that is underutilized by speech language pathologists due to its time-consuming nature. To decrease the time associated with the process, the accuracy of transcripts produced automatically with Google Cloud Speech and the accuracy of scores generated by a hard-coded scoring function called the Literate Language Use in Narrative Analysis (LLUNA) were evaluated. A collection of narrative transcripts and audio recordings of narrative samples were selected to …

The Covid-19 Impact On Induction Support, Christina L. Wilcoxen

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

For beginning teachers, Fall 2020 provided an unforgettable first year. The previous spring had brought abrupt and unexpected changes to teaching. Schools closed without notice, student teaching experiences stopped midway through, and teachers were thrown into situations they had never been trained to address. This led to difficult decisions and new obstacles as the world fought to manage COVID-19 and the associated fallout. Teacher candidates graduated with incomplete student teaching experiences and gaps in understanding. Induction programs support beginning teachers as they transition into their own classroom and provide guidance in meeting performance standards. As a result, seven local school …

Assistive Technology In Early Childhood, Ciarah Thoreson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This capstone will be focusing on assistive technology in early childhood special education as it relates to students with physical health disabilities. This project is important because there seems to be a lack of information about supporting early childhood students with physical health disabilities in home and school settings. As an early childhood special education teacher, it can be difficult to determine what assistive technologies would be appropriate for each individual student. This project focuses on exploring assistive technology within early childhood to promote inclusion.

Assistive technology is any product or tool that helps individuals with disabilities learn, work, and …

"It's Not By Accident": Examining Leadership Efforts To Disrupt Oregon's Segregated K-12 Education System, Michael Eric Salitore

Dissertations and Theses

The American education system systematically and persistently excludes students from the general education setting based on (dis)ability. Disproportionate segregation of students with Intellectual Disability (ID) is a form of prejudice that is acceptable today and allowable by current laws. Fully segregated education settings for students with ID are harmful to students with disabilities, to their neurotypical peers, and to civilized society as a whole. For many students with ID, ableist systems, deficit thinking, and special education rules allow for segregated placements to persist, impacting their pathway to accessing the general education curriculum.

Improving inclusive practices as a research-based practice for …

Meaningful Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities In Jewish Supplementary Schools, Zeena Goldenberg

Dissertations

This basic qualitative research study describes how Jewish supplementary school directors and educators define inclusion, include students with disabilities in their religious school education programs, identify different components of the schools that benefit inclusion, and understand barriers that impede inclusion. Through in-depth interviews with Jewish supplementary school directors and educators, the study explored three important goals. The study first explored how Jewish supplementary school directors and educators define meaningful inclusion, and how they perceive their inclusive classrooms enable students with disabilities to have meaningful access to both academic information and socialization with their same-age peers who do not have disabilities. …

Early Math Interventions In Informal Learning Settings Coding Protocol, Gena Nelson, Hannah Carter, Peter Boedeker

Early and Special Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of document is to provide readers with the coding protocol that authors used to code experimental and quasi-experimental early mathematics intervention studies conducted in informal learning environments. The studies were conducted in homes and in museums with caregivers as intervention agents and included children between the ages of 3,0 and 8,11 years. The coding protocol includes more than 200 variables related to basic study information, participant sample size and demographics, methodological information, intervention information, mathematics content information, the control/comparison condition, outcome measures, and results and effect sizes. The coding protocol was developed for the purpose of conducting a …

Adapting Applied Behavior Analysis In Autism Intervention To Improve Individualized Education For Children With Autism, Elisabeth Alonso

Symposium of Student Scholars

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) intervention for children diagnosed with autism provides detailed assessments of the clients’ abilities and guides skill acquisition with the goal of transitioning the client, often into a typical school classroom. The lack of accessible autism training and access to knowledgeable ABA professionals in school settings prevents teachers from engaging with their students on the autism spectrum. Furthermore, this gap in training does not equip teachers to follow through with the research-based interventions to improve students’ quality of life. Teachers must have an understanding of ABA in layman’s terms to improve the child’s classroom functioning. This research …

Perceptions Of Preservice Teachers Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities About Their Preparation For Inclusive Education, Abdullah Aljudaya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Inclusive education improves social skills, cognitive abilities, and quality of life for students with special needs and has significant implications for governments, economies, and the workforce. Implementing inclusive education is a challenging process, however, that requires support from all sectors to provide the necessary skills and training to pre-service teachers. Empirical evaluations of teachers’ first-hand perceptions of the content and quality of these training programs are necessary to advance inclusive education practices and pre-service training to ensure special education teachers are prepared for their roles. To address this issue, this dissertation presents an in-depth review of the literature, followed by …

African American Female Caregivers’ Perceptions, Experiences, And Expectations Of The Special Education Process, Lenell Denise Walton

Special Education ETDs

A select few African American families who have a child with a disability have the skills and knowledge to be proactive in the special education process. Special education teams must guide and mentor African American students and their families through the special education process. However, African American families have consistently contended that their child’s special education team does not provide the services necessary to meet their child’s academic goals. This qualitative study examined the perceptions, experiences, and expectations of African American female caregivers regarding the special education process. Participants were nine African American mothers and one sibling whose family members …

Developing Strong Transition-Focused Ieps Using Labour Market Data, Amy Jane Griffiths, Meghan E. Cosier, Rachel Wiegand, Sneha Kohli Mathur, Sara Morgan

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Employment rates and post-school transition outcomes for individuals with disabilities remain alarmingly low compared to peers without disabilities. Transition-Focused Individualized Education Plans (TF-IEPs) often centre on skills associated with employment experience opportunities that are immediately available to the individual with a disability. While the transition plans focus on the student's strengths and areas of interest, less attention is paid to the guidance and support a student might need in choosing a sustainable career. We contend that teams must develop transition plans with specific attention to projected labour market data. Using this information will ensure that we are preparing students with …

The Predictive Influence Of Challenging Behavior On Parent Stress In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Paige Weir

LSU Master's Theses

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, restricted interest, and repetitive patterns of behavior. Individuals with ASD also exhibit challenging behaviors that affect parent and caregiver stress directly. However, researchers have not yet examined the predictive influence of specific challenging behaviors on parent stress, particularly in young children (i.e., infants and toddlers) with ASD. Therefore, the current study expands existing literature by a) investigating the influence that challenging behaviors of young children with ASD have on parent stress and b) examining the unique contribution that each behavior (i.e., aggressive/disruptive behavior, stereotypy, and self-injurious …

Faculty Knowledge Of Services For Students With Disabilities And Attitudes Toward Academic Accommodation, Reem F. Alrusaiyes Dr.

International Journal for Research in Education

The current study aimed to discover the extent of faculty members knowledge of the services provided to students with disabilities, in addition to identify their attitudes towards providing academic accommodations to students with disabilities. The study investigated the differences in participants' responds attributed to gender, college, academic rank, and years of experience. The researcher used the descriptive approach, using the questionnaire as a data collection tool. The study sample consisted of 213 faculty members at King Saud University. The results showed deficiency of knowledge in the faculty members of procedures and services provided to students with disabilities in university, however, …

The Role Of Sustainable Development In Supporting The Education Of Students With Disabilities From Teachers’ And Special Education Department Pre-Service Teachers’ Viewpoints, Nouf Rashdan Almutairi Dr., Eman Mahmoud Alashmaoie Dr.

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed to identify the role of sustainable development in supporting the education of students with disabilities from the viewpoint of special education teachers and pre-service teachers. The sample consisted of 42 teachers and 35 pre-service teachers. The researchers used a survey about the role of sustainable development in supporting learning of students with learning disabilities, which consisted of 40 items divided into four domains. The results showed that sustainable development plays a big role in supporting education of students with disabilities from the point of view of both their teachers and pre-service teachers. There were no statistically significant …

Using Interactive Mobile Applications To Teach Reading Skills To Female Students With Hearing Impairments, Norah Alowayyid, Norah Aldosiry

International Journal for Research in Education

No abstract provided.

African American English-Speaking Children's Judgments Of Grammaticality: Effects Of Clinical Status And Grammatical Structures, Lori Elizabeth Vaughn

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

African American English (AAE)-speaking children’s ability to judge the grammaticality of sentences was evaluated by their clinical status and grammatical structure. The study originated from a need to understand more about the tense and agreement systems of AAE speakers with specific language impairment (SLI) relative to their typically developing (TD) AAE-speaking peers. Tense and agreement forms are typically excluded from the assessment and treatment of children who speak AAE in fear of misinterpreting a dialect difference as a language disorder. As a result, limited information exists about the tense and agreement systems of AAE-speaking children.

The data were archival and …

Strategies For Highlighting Items Within Visual Scene Displays To Support Augmentative And Alternative Communication Access For Those With Physical Impairments, Kevin Pitt, John W. Mccarthy

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose: In contrast to the traditional grid-based display, visual scene displays (VSDs) offer a new paradigm for aided communication. For individuals who cannot select items from an AAC display by direct selection due to physical impairments, AAC access can be supported via methods such as item scanning. Item scanning sequentially highlights items on a display until the individual signals for selection. How items are highlighted or scanned for AAC access can impact performance outcomes. Further, the effectiveness of a VSD interface may be enhanced through consultation with experts in visual communication. Therefore, to support AAC access for those with physical …

Special Education Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Job Satisfaction In Youth Development Centers: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Kimberley Kerchelle Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of students with disabilities entering youth development centers is increasing exponentially. The youth development center schools that are responsible for providing academic services to these students are inadequately staffed with special education teachers to meet the behavioral and academic needs of juvenile offenders with disabilities. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore the relationship between special education teacher self-efficacy and job satisfaction in teachers within the twenty-five youth development center schools located throughout the Georgia DJJ System. The participants completed the Teachers' Sense of Self-Efficacy Survey (TSES) and the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS). TSES was …

Very Young Child Survivors’ Perceptions Of Their Father’S Suicide: Exploring Bibliotherapy As Postvention Support, Cortland L. Watson, Elizabeth Cutrer, Melissa A. Heath, Erica E. Miller, Terrell A. Young, Suzanne Wilson

Faculty Publications

Each year in the United States, 7000 to 30,000 children experience their parent’s suicide. Due to the stigma associated with suicide, feelings of guilt, and intense grief, surviving family members avoid talking about suicide. Over time, children struggle with confusion and intense emotions associated with their parent’s suicide. In this study, seven adults, who reported being younger than six years old at the time of their father’s suicide, participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Participants’ responses highlight the challenges that young children face due to limited memories of their deceased parent. Interviews concluded with an opportunity for participants to review and …