Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

General Education Teachers' Attitude Regarding The Use In Their Classes Of Assistive Technology By Students With Learning Disabilities, Kimberly D. Garcia, Randy L. Seevers Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the general education teachers’ attitude regarding the use in their classes of assistive technology by students with learning disabilities. A five-point Likert scale was used for this study. The participants were general education teachers from elementary and secondary schools in a southwest region on the Gulf Coast of Texas. The survey helped gather information to determine the attitudes of general education teachers regarding the use of assistive technology by students with learning disabilities in their classes. The hypothesis was that general education teacher’ attitudes would be positive towards students with learning disabilities …

The Effects Of Using An Off-Task Paper As A Nonverbal Intervention For Inappropriate Disruptive Behavior, Pamela R. Vancleef

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The following study took place within the Academic Compliance Training program at Cathey Middle School in McAllen, Texas. Off-task papers were implemented as a nonverbal intervention during inappropriate behavior occurring after students were given directions for independent assignments. An A-B design was utilized to demonstrate a functional relationship between the independent variable, off-task papers administered as a nonverbal intervention, and dependent variable, operationally defined as all academically off-task behavior. The results of this study suggest that using off-task papers as a nonverbal intervention effectively reduces academically off-task behavior during independent seatwork.

Efficacy Of A Social Skills Training Procedure Used On A Child Having Moderate Mental Retardation, Anestacio Quintana Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This single subject multiple baseline study tested the efficacy of a social skills training procedure. The subject for this study was an eight-year-old female having Down Syndrome. The subject was diagnosed as having moderate mental retardation. Using an A-B-A-B design, the investigator and two observers collected data on off task behavior, during baseline phases. During intervention phases, the Subject was introduced to a social skills training program addressing the off-task inappropriate behaviors. The results of the study illustrated a positive effect of the social skills training procedure on the Subject. There was an established relationship between the implementation of the …

The Effect Of A Student-Chosen Reinforcer On Academic Engagement During Acquisition Tasks In An Elementary Student With Autism, Terrence Jerome Bernard

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This single subject multiple baseline study investigated the effect of a student chosen reinforcer on academic engagement during acquisition tasks in an elementary student with autism. The subject was a 6 year-old Hispanic male with a primary diagnosis of autism. The student is in a regular classroom setting greater than 60% of the day, with the remainder of the day spent in a self-contained classroom. A stopwatch was utilized to measure the student's duration of academic engagement duration during acquisition tasks. The acquisition task consisted of an age appropriate fine motor word copying activity. The reinforcer was presented in a …

Making Inclusion Work In Rural Southeast Texas, Fara M. Goulas Ph.D., Lula J. Henry Ph.D., Kimberly Griffith Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Inclusion is a common term and everyday practice in two rural schools in Southeast Texas. A consortium based on a collaborative endeavor between the regional educational service center, the local university, and two rural school districts was established with a common goal, an effective general education environment, and pedagogical sound instruction for students in inclusive settings. Data was collected to assess the impact of the Inclusion Project. Results indicated an increase in positive attitudes toward the concept of inclusion.

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Welcome to the 7th edition of the Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. This particular edition is devoted to the papers presented at the Oxford Roundtable: Addressing the Special Education Needs of Children, convened in March 2003 at Oxford University in Oxford, England. The Oxford Roundtable is a think tank gathering of administrators, college professors, and teachers who come together by invitation to present research and conduct conversations about issues and trends in the field of Special Education. This international assembly provokes thought, shares ideas, and engages in, sometimes spirited, discourse concerning the needs of children with special needs. The following …

If It Takes A Village, Then We'd Better Educate The Villagers: Preservice Teachers' Attitudes And Beliefs About The Inclusion Of Students With Severe Disabilities, Pamela Pruitt Garriott Ph.D., Lynne Snyder Ph.D., Lilly Tennant Ph.D., Ravic Ringlaben Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes and beliefs of preservice teachers concerning inclusive education for students with severe disabilities. Individual interviews were conducted with 35 preservice teachers to determine their attitudes and beliefs concerning inclusion of students with severe disabilities and to examine the factors that influenced these attitudes and beliefs. Following qualitative data analysis procedures, findings indicated that the preservice teachers were relatively evenly divided on their opinions about where students with severe disabilities should receive educational services. The most significant finding of this study was that the preservice teachers attributed the underlying basis of …

Poems By David Keiser, David Keiser

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

A collection of six poems by David Keiser: The Possibilities of Eggs, American Disability, Energetic Elizabeth, No Notebook, Ugly Blues, and Principal Poem.

Attention Deficit Disorder: Are Schools And Physicians Working Together?, Paul Koulouris

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Over the past twenty years, the existence of Attention Deficit Disorder has been documented through hundreds of scientific studies. Schools play a vital role in the early in the early identification of children which ADHD and, in many cases; school personnel coordinate efforts among teachers, parents, physicians, and community resources in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD (Sloan, Jensen & Hoagwood, 1999). In their research, (Satterfield and Cantwell 1981) viewed the classroom teacher as the major determining factor in whether a student with ADHD succeeds or fails in the classroom.

Despite the documented importance of close …

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Welcome to the 8th edition of The Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education. This edition has an international flavor because we welcome two articles written by authors in New South Wales Australia and Japan. This edition ends with a book review and some wonderful poetry concerning individuals with disabilities. The issues concerning inclusive education continue to challenge professionals and excite interest and efforts in a growing body of literature concerning these efforts.

Dr. Fara M. Goulas, Dr. Lula J. Henry and Dr. Kimberly Griffith collaborated to produce a research piece concerning Making inclusion work in rural school system. Their writing addresses …

Inclusion Versus Institutionalization: Japan’S Educational Challenge, Leonardo P. Jimenez, Toshiro Ochiai Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Japan has been undergoing educational reforms as social changes continually spur especially with the advent of globalization. With special needs children in its populace, the country lays down its own educational paradigm. This aims to discuss the two scenarios in the Japanese educational system, the inclusion and the institutionalization, which serve as answers to the schooling dilemma of children with disabilities. Inclusion is a confusing issue since it is not explicitly stated in the nation’s public education rulings but in practice, there is inclusion. On the other hand, institutionalization is aptly considered concrete as it is seen in segregated environment …

Illusion Or Reality? Policy And Process In South African Education, Loshini Naidoo Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

This paper examines the current African National Congress education policy in South Africa using a methodological tool derived from critical theory (Jay, 1973; Wellmer, 1971; O’Neill, 1977; Held, 1980; Guess, 1981; Roderick, 1986; Kellner, 1989; McCarthy, 1978, 1991) since it has an emancipatory rather than a manipulative interest in critical inquiry. While much has been written on South African educational policy after the African National Congress victory in 1994, (African National Congress, 1994a; African National Congress, 1994b; Asmal and James, 2001; Carrim, 1998; Chisholm and Fine, 1994; Council on Higher Education, 2000a, 2000b; Department of Education, 1997; Maharaj, 1999; National …

Signs And Symptoms Of A Stressed System: How To Recognize And Address Child Maltreatment In The Home, Andrea L. Rotzien Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The fact that the disabled are at high risk for maltreatment is well documented (Goldson, 1998; Sullivan & Knutson, 2000; Zeanah & Hamilton, 1998). Reynolds (2001) reported that 39-68% of girls and 16-30% of boys with developmental disabilities would be abused by the age of 18. Westcott and Jones (1999) note that identification, assessment, and prevention is complicated by the communication deficits of this population, their dependency on others, and a tendency for professionals to not report abuse. Thus, it is imperative that professionals understand the risks for abuse and maltreatment in this population. The risks factors and signs of …

Exploration Of Vr Acceptance And Ethnicity: A National Investigation, Keith B. Wilson Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The reported study examined whether African Americans, European Americans, Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, and Asians/Pacific Islanders with disabilities would differ in their rates of vocational rehabilitation (VR) acceptance in the United States. The test statistic revealed that a significant difference existed regarding ethnicity and VR acceptance. Moreover, a small but significant association emerged between ethnicity and VR acceptance (Cramer’s V = .023). The results revealed that in the United States, European Americans are more likely to be accepted for VR services than are African Americans. The author discusses possible barriers to VR acceptance for underserved and underrepresented groups in the United …

Do Maternal/Paternal Child Relationships Have A Similar Pattern When The Child Has Tourette's Syndrome? A Case Study, Judy Olson Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Although I did not realize it at the time, my first experiences in parenting evolved around a child who was diagnosed with onset pervasive developmental disorder by age five. Due to his hyperactivity, he was prescribed Ritalin. Within two weeks after being given this medication, he developed motor and vocal tics and was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome (TS) by the time he reached nine years of age. Subsequently, I began a teaching career in special education. During this time, I had guidance by a psychologist and two physicians who taught me a great deal about Tourette’s syndrome (TS). In the …

Mathematical Disabilities In Elementary School Children, Teresa Oettinger Montani Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

A pilot study was conducted with the lowest performing sixth grade students in two classes in an urban environment. The nine students participating in this pilot study had been performing below grade level for at least two years despite the provision of supplemental services. With direct instruction, slower pace of instruction, mnemonics, math charts, manipulatives, and metacognitive strategies, gains were noted in the students’ performance. Pretest and posttest measure were administered and the results revealed modest gains in calculations and basic fraction knowledge with significant improvement noted with math fluency. The strategies used are known to both general and special …

Book Review: From Disrupter To Achiever: Creating Successful Learning Environments For The Self-Control Classroom, Helen Senu-Oke Ed. S.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Levin and Shanken-Kaye have written a text, “From Disrupter to Achiever”, a major contribution to the literature focusing on how to provide positive intervention in a disruptive classroom. The book is presented to the reader as a new model that challenges traditional beliefs and approaches about behavior management in the classroom. The authors focused on how to create a successful learning environment by promoting positive behavior through respectable interaction between teacher and student with the aim of developing student responsibility.

The purpose of the new model introduced by Levin and Shanken-Kaye, is to inculcate in students, the importance of personal …

Multilevel Assessment And Nondiscriminatory Use Of Results In Planning Individual Education Placements And Plans For Learners With Disabilities, A. Sandy Parsons Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

A multilevel approach to fair and accurate assessment and diagnosis of a learner’s disabilities and the use of this information for determining Individualized Educational Placements and the creation of effective Individualized Education Programs for children based upon diagnosis and assessment data will be presented. These assessment levels address the various areas of child ability, the individual’s performance across various situations and environments, and the use of multiple measures that vary in degree of formality, construct/content, and style of administration. Examples of this multilevel approach and their use will be provided for later discussion.

Nondiscriminatory methods for interpretation and use of …

Inclusion Literature: Ideas For Teachers And Teacher Educators, Sharon A. Hollander Psy. D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Inclusion is certainly a wonderful idea. Sadly, it does not happen by itself. In reality, teachers are responsible for making inclusion work in the classroom. Every day, inclusive educators are faced with the significant challenge of creating a classroom environment where all children are accepted. Children’s literature can play an important role in this effort.

Hard Times And An Uncertain Future: Issues That Confront The Field Of Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Robert A. Gable

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

In this article, I examine challenges to better preparing teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD). Foremost among these challenges is the lack of agreement regarding a conceptual framework upon which to build quality prevention/intervention practices; instead, various authorities advocate disparate approaches, not all of which have empirical support. I assert that unresolved issues surrounding translating scientific research into classroom practice further hinder efforts to apply the most efficacious intervention options, as does our failure to exert control over the infrastructure of public education and the context in which we serve students with E/BD. Finally, I offer some modest proposals …

The Use And Evaluation Of Special Education Parent Advocacy Groups As Reported By Public School Principals And Special Education Directors In Four New Jersey Counties: Bergen, Essex, Morris And Passaic, Patricia J. Kennedy

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Effect Of A Non-Verbal Redirection On Out-Of-Seat Behavior In A Subject Diagnosed As Adhd And Mr, Amy Sharon Ellison-Marino

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This was a single subject study with the A-B-A-B across settings withdrawal design. This design was selected because the subject has comorbidity issues, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Mental Retardation (MR). This researcher implemented the A-B-A-B design and collected data during all four phases. The subject was a eight year old Hispanic female diagnosed as ADHD and mild MR. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity, lack of ability to focus attention, and hyperactivity. MR is characterized by below average intellectual functioning which significantly limits functioning in at least two skill areas.

Effects Of Co-Teaching On Student Participation And Math Success On Students With Learning Disabilities In The General Education Classroom, Mia Karen Baldwin

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A Numerous research studies have been conducted to determine the effects of inclusion on academics, few of these studies specify the method used. The purpose of this study was to determine whether co-teaching would increase student's participation in the regular math classroom. The study was conducted in a sixth-grade regular education classroom in which students with learning disabilities were included. The co-teaching consisted mostly of interactive teaching between the regular education and the special education teacher. The subjects were students identified with a learning disability in either math calculation or math reasoning. The results indicated that student participation was not …

Factors That Contribute To The Retention Of Mexican American Special Education Teachers, Michelle R. Koyama

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Every school year there are reports of the large number of teaching vacancies in the nation, particularly in the field of special education. Currently there are numerous studies addressing the factors that cause special education teachers to leave the classroom, however, there are few studies that suggest variables that contribute to teachers remaining for five years or longer. Further, there are no published studies to date that address the retention of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) teachers, particularly, Mexican American special education teachers. Grounded surveys were constructed through guided interviews that were distributed to 114 participants in two urban school …

Perceptions Of Elementary School Teachers Regarding Preparedness And Inclusionary Practices Of Classified Students In Public Elementary Schools, Melanie Littell North

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Relationship Between Self-Perception Of Individuals With Learning Disabilities And Coping Strategies, Nicholas Frantz Pontius

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between one's understanding of his/her own learning disability (LO) and coping strategies he/she employs to mitigate the effect of the disability. The subjects (N = 120) of this study were students with learning disabilities who attended and graduated from a private school in Richmond, Virginia between 1976 and 1997. A self­-developed questionnaire with two parts was used to collect data for this study. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 120 surveys mailed, 55 (45.8%) subjects responded. Hypothesis regarding relationship between knowledge and coping strategies …

Effects Of Self-Monitoring On Hyperactivity In A Student Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Lillian Lee Pedroza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This single subject multiple baseline study tested an intervention using a self-monitoring procedure. The Subject was a nine-year-old Hispanic male identified as having Other Health Impairments and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and was taking psychostimulant medication. Using an A-B-A-B design, the Investigator and two observers collected time interval data of on-task behavior, during baseline phases. During intervention phases the Subject was involved in a self-monitoring procedure addressing on-task behaviors. Additional data were collected on a scoring sheet, whereby the Subject, the Investigator and the two additional Scorers, scored the student on five on-task behaviors. The intervention was effective. Results …

Pre-Service Teachers' Attitudes Toward Inclusion In A Non-Traditional Classroom, Julie K. Ivey Ph.D., Kathryn Reinke Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 52 pre-service teachers’ participation in an outdoor education program, for sixth grade students, on their attitudes toward inclusion of students with special needs. A survey was administered before and after the three-day event. After the experience the subjects felt more familiar with the concept of inclusion and realized possible conflicts between expectations of regular classroom teachers and special education teachers. This suggests that experiences in outdoor settings, a learning environment not usually explored, can influence pre-service teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion of students with special needs as well as make …

What Are Teachers Doing To Accommodate For Special Needs Students In The Classroom?, Brenda Stevens, Caroline Everington, Stacy Kozar-Kocsis

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Elementary teachers (N=42) from a district implementing inclusive practice were surveyed to determine: a) if the frequency of curricular modifications made differ by type of student disability, b) if there is a difference in the frequency of curricular modifications made for special and typical students, and c) if a relationship exists between modifications made for special needs students and for typical students. Results indicate the frequency of teachers' curricular modifications does not differ by type of disability; that they make significantly more frequent modifications for special needs students; and that there is a significant relationship between the frequency of modifications …

A Three Dimensional Model For The Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities, Kimberly G. Griffith Ph.D., Mark J. Cooper Ph.D., Ravic P. Ringlaben

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

The main thrust of preparation for inclusion has been to prepare the general education teacher as well as the student with exceptionalities for this educational initiative. Students without disabilities are often not the prevailing focus in these efforts. This model is an archetype that enables peers to understand, accept, and care for their classmates with exceptionalities. Students acquire knowledge about disabilities, skills are developed that help them interact appropriately, and activities are provided that influence more positive thoughts and behaviors among all students. A circle is used as a metaphor to explain the relationship of individuals in the class. The …