Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Asynchronous Intervention For Students With Disabilities On Career Awareness, Erica Rood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Historically, students with disabilities have fewer opportunities to prepare for post-high school life, and this is especially true when it comes to getting a job. This is also true for those students with complex support needs (i.e., autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, other health impairment). One way to help individuals with disabilities have greater success after high school is to teach them about different careers.

This study was for high school students with disabilities who have complex support needs. It focused on helping them learn about different careers through online modules. The study looked at whether this type of learning …

Perceptions Of Recent Special Education Graduates Of The Transition Programming Taxonomy: Transcendental Phenomenological Research, Karen Sue Rozmus

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research study was to develop an understanding of recent special education graduates' perceptions of transition programming taxonomy at a southern coastal community. Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs was used. This theory directly relates to the study showing how important understanding the perceptions of support the recent special education graduates during their lived experiences as they transition into adulthood. The Central Research Question was: What are recent special education graduates’ perceptions of transition programming taxonomy? This transcendental phenomenological research study of 10 participants was designed to use data collected from independent interviews, focus …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perspectives Of Transition Planning For High School Special Educators, Keva A. Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of integrating transition planning for special educators at secondary schools in Triton County, Michigan. The theory guiding this study is Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, as the principle theorizes that an individual’s behavior is determined by their intentions and perceived behavior of control. The central research question of this study is: What are special educators’ lived experiences integrating special education transition planning at secondary schools in Triton County, Michigan? The design of this study employed hermeneutic phenomenological design with various units of analysis. The data was collected through …

“I Should’Ve Listened!”: Lived Experiences Of Postsecondary Transitions Among Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders From Non-Traditional High Schools, Kristen De Rose

Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of former students with EBD who attended a non-traditional high school. Eight semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to understand how students experienced emotional and academic supports during high school and throughout the transition into adulthood. Results revealed that participants appreciated attending a non-traditional school for its school connectedness, emotional and instructional supports, and school-based counseling. Additionally, findings suggest the school did not prepare them for the transition to post-secondary life. These findings suggest that emotional and academic support for students with EBD in non-traditional high school settings positively affected students’ sense of success …

The Transition From School To Work For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders: Examining The Lived Experiences Of Students In Private Day Schools, Gabrielle S. Pickover

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of young adults with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) as they transitioned from private day school settings into sustained employment. Guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, the study explored participants’ perceptions of the barriers, supports, and strategies that shaped their transition experiences. Data were collected through twelve semi-structured interviews with six participants who maintained at least one year of continuous employment following high school. Analysis revealed four primary themes: structure as a stabilizing force, resilience developed through adversity, experiential learning as a pathway to employment, and employment as identity and independence. Findings suggest …

Teacher Perceptions Of Their Role In Aspiration Development With Diverse Students With Disabilities, Joseph Edward Simmons Jr.

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aspirations stem from a humanistic perspective, emphasizing the person as a whole. They serve as a foundational and predictive component of an individual’s life. Teachers play a critical role in shaping the successes and challenges their students encounter (Zolkoski, 2019). Aspirations, as a cognitive process grounded in forward-thinking, are essential to personal development and evolve through experiences (Hart, 2016). However, students with disabilities often lack opportunities to explore their aspirations within schools. These students are frequently constrained by both teachers and systemic practices within the school environment (Gilmour et al., 2019). Aspiration exploration is crucial because children and youth need …

Tangible Worth In Virtual Worlds: Leveraging Video Games For Play, Empowerment, And Community, Louise M. Yoho

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Video games have become a mainstream form of entertainment that are played regularly by many around the world, including a large number of youth with disabilities (YwD). Video games’ popular presence in our society has created exciting new opportunities for student learning that educators who work with YwD can leverage for both skill acquisition and increased social interactions. This is especially true given that screens have become one of the most consistent and accessible ways of maintaining human contact, despite physical distances, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation that accompanied it. This paper is specifically focused …

Assessing The Attitudes Of General Education Kindergarten Teachers Making Classroom And Teaching Adaptations For Students With Disabilities, Joseph Graul

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The transition from preschool to kindergarten can be particularly challenging for children with disabilities in inclusive classrooms (general education classrooms where typically developing children and children with disabilities are taught together) as children face new academic, social, and behavioral expectations. Classroom and teaching adaptations can help these students succeed, making the transition to kindergarten and elementary education smooth and effective. This study looks at how general education kindergarten teachers feel about making various classroom adaptations for children with disabilities and compares current teachers’ views to those of a similar 1999 study conducted by Vaughn et al. which this study replicates. …

An Exploratory Multiple Case Study Of Special Education Transition Program Structures In Virtual Public Charter Schools, Krystle Merry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation research is an exploratory multiple-case study of special education transition program structures in three virtual public charter schools in a southern state in the United States. Virtual public charter schools are extensions of public school systems or districts that are required to comply with state and federal-mandated special education transition services to ensure students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004). This study aims to explore transition Program Structures within the Taxonomy for Transition Programming 2.0 (Kohler et al., 2016) at the systemic level based on the …

Understanding The Emergence Of Self-Determination In Children With Disabilities Through Family Experiences In Early Childhood: A Qualitative Study, Karen K. Lange

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract A person’s ability to be self-determined begins to develop through the earliest interactions in life within the context of the family and caregiving environments. This qualitative phenomenological study of the experiences of eight parents representing seven families of young children explored how families promote their children’s early development of the skills, abilities, and attitudes of self-determination. The critical importance of the family context for the promotion of self-determination in young children is seen in the four themes that emerged from the experiences shared by these families. (1) The family context is transformed by a child with a disability, changing …

Social Skill Development In Teenagers With Autism Who Are Homeschooled In Rural Southwest: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Caregivers, Sondra J. Bistline

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the caregiver's lived experience of social skill development in their teenage or young adult students who have autism. Vygotsky's social constructivism theory frames the structure of social development within the student's family, community, and local culture. The central research question guiding this study was, what were the caregivers' lived experiences of social interactions with their homeschooled teenager or young adult diagnosed with autism? All participants were caregivers of teenage or young adult students diagnosed with autism who received all or part of their schooling through homeschooling, micro-schooling, or habilitation services …

Perspectives Of College Students With Disabilities Regarding Their High School Transition Experience: Notes For High School Transition Planning, Lindsay Hartzler, Kitty Dong, Andrew Johnson Kliethermes, Kaitlyn Sandheinrich, Mark Wheatley

Dissertations

Students with disabilities face many challenges as they transition to postsecondary education. These students are often unprepared for the rigor of postsecondary academics; they often lack self-efficacy skills and have limited awareness of postsecondary supports or cannot successfully access them. This study aims to give voice to college students with disabilities to inform practices of high school personnel involved with transition and higher education professionals supporting them. Using Kohler’s Transition Taxonomy 2.0 (2016), researchers sought to study the perspectives of eleven college students on their high school transition experiences in the areas of academic preparedness, self-advocacy skills, and experiences with …

A Systematic Review On The Efficacy Of Video Modeling On Social Interactions Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Miguel Cantu

Masters Theses (Archived)

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of video modeling in increasing social interactions with individuals with ASD (IwASD) in transitional or postsecondary educational settings. The study inclusion criteria included (a) quantitative data must be present, (b) an objective or research question must be stated, (c) video modeling must be an intervention in their study, (d) a minimum of one target behavior must focus on social interactions, and (e) all studies must be published within the last six years. This systematic review analyzed the purpose, sample, methodology, settings, discussion, and results to find the effectiveness of the intervention, resulting …

Understanding Video Modeling Adoption: Perspectives Of Special Education Teachers, Support Specialists And Transition Consultants, Hayot Tuychiev

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigates the knowledge, perceptions, and adoption factors of special education teachers and support specialists regarding video modeling (VM) as a vocational intervention for high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Grounded in Rogers' theory of innovation diffusion, the research explores their understanding of VM, its perceived effectiveness, and the factors influencing its adoption or rejection.This qualitative study investigates special education teachers' knowledge, perceptions, and adoption factors related to Video Modeling (VM) as a vocational intervention for high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Grounded in Rogers' theory of innovation diffusion, the research explores teachers' understanding …

Perceptions Of Families, Students, And Teachers On Iep Engagement For Families And Students Of Color During Junior High And Senior High School Iep Conferences, Amillia K. Oswalt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of families and students of color and their teachers during junior high and high school IEP meetings. This study, informed by DisCrit, explored the similarities and differences of families, students, and teachers during IEP meetings as well as the use of research-based practices designed to increase family engagement for culturally diverse families. Participants completed surveys and participated in interviews about their experiences. The student’s most current IEP was also reviewed to determine the ways in which teachers document family and student engagement within the IEP document. The major themes identified were that research-based practices …

The Transition To Adulthood For High School Students With Special Needs, Athena Hays, Mary Jan Greer, Jinna Danser

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The reason for many special needs students not engaging in occupations after high school is because many guardians have not had to navigate this type of transition before and are not provided enough education on what these opportunities include before their students graduate. Many students with special needs do not optimize their engagement in the community because guardians are not being provided with education on post-graduate opportunities.

The purpose of my Doctoral Capstone Project is to develop an educational transition service program for special needs students as well as guardians and teachers of these students preparing for high school graduation …

Implications Of Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs (Ipses) On Quality Of Life For Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Sarah K. Eggleston

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Students with intellectual disability (ID) who are aging out from qualifying for special education services through the public school system often encounter difficulty in the transition to early adulthood. While students with disabilities in Virginia have access to employment and transition services to aid them in seeking job placement, some students with ID still carry aspirations of going to college like many of their peers without disabilities. College is an experience that allows emerging adults to gain independence, social skills, pivotal identity development, and opportunities to explore academic and professional interests, while increasing their qualifications for more competitive employment. In …

Self-Determination And The Lived Experience Of Employed Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Abdelrahman Mohammad Alzarie

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literature reveals that self-determination is a critical predictor of employment at the post-secondary level for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). However, current research concerning self-determination in the post-secondary work of individuals with ID is scarce and primarily focused on the perspectives of parents or educators or has been driven by evaluating learning models of self-determination. Furthermore, individuals with ID were not adequately represented as participants in the current research, and their voices were not given the opportunity to be heard. Therefore, this qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experience of six Saudi employed adults with mild ID who …

Transition Guide And Supports For Families Of Adolescents With Disabilities, Chelsey S. Traut

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Often when individuals with disabilities transitioned out of high school, there were a variety of repeated questions that teachers and administrators seemed to constantly be answering each year. The first goal of the project was to answer those questions and potentially serve as a resource for teachers and other professionals to answer the questions parents/guardians were asking them. Another goal was that even if the information was different for their district it could at the very least guide professionals and families in the right direction to find answers and support. The literature review provides information about parent/guardian and teacher collaboration …

Parental Stress Factors During The Cpse To Cse Transition: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental, Static-Group Study, Christine Elizabeth Iturriaga

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine if a statistically significant difference existed between parental stress factors related to the transition process between pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, using the Committee on Preschool Special Education to Committee on Special Education transition process, of parents who were exposed to a workshop and those who were not. The study administered a parent survey from the Parenting Stress Index, Fourth Edition Professional Manual. The research addressed if exposure to a workshop on the transition process would decrease stress factors in parents of children who attended a self-contained setting (4410 programs). The study …

Systematic Literature Review Of Experiences And Supports For Students With Asd Post Hoc: Findings Regarding Diversity And Implications For Research And Educator Preparation, Eric J. Lopez, Mariya T. Davis

Special Education Faculty Publications (Archived)

The following post hoc analysis examines cultural and/or linguistic information from a previous systematic literature review of 24 studies investigating demographic information, encounters, assists and suggestions of study participants enrolled in post-secondary education institutions with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The analysis and discussion of results appeal for the need to not only include and focus on diversity but to refocus on cultural consciousness. Implications and future directions for research and for educator preparation programs are proposed.

Transition: Early Intervention To Preschool, Kim Thiesse

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) requires all Individualized Family Service (IFSP) plans to address transition. Early Intervention programs must initiate and discuss the transition process from early intervention to school-based services with each family at least 90 days before the child’s third birthday. Transition should be a process of information sharing and planning for each individual family. The transition process can be very stressful for many families because services, service providers, location, and delivery of services change. Preschool is often a family’s first experience with a school environment, successful collaboration and communication through the transition phase enhances the …

"Not My Job", Or Is It: School Counselor's Perceptions Of Collaboration With Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Elizabeth S. G. Dimond, Michelle Mcknight, Trenton J. Landon, Jarhed Peña, Kayla R. Currier Kipping

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

Students with disabilities (SWD) face obstacles in completing their high school education and deciding on their next steps, such as college or careers. This qualitative study used inductive thematic analysis to explore the perspectives of secondary school counselors on their experiences collaborating with vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors and their knowledge of the services they provide. Study participants were identified through national and state-level professional school counselor associations and included 159 secondary school counselors. Participants answered five open-ended questions regarding their beliefs and collaborative practices with VR counselors. Results indicated that many school counselors are aware of VR services but lack …

Autism To Higher Education: Tools For Parents, Amber L. Jordan, Shannon Emery

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Over the years, a marked increase in the number of students with High Functioning Autism (HFA) attending colleges and universities has occurred. This can be attributed to: (a) the passage of legislation such as the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA); (b) revisions to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM); and (c) early intervention and treatment (Pillay, 2012). Although the increase in enrollment may be an indicator that a more welcoming climate for individuals with HFA has been created, many institutions are not adequately prepared to accommodate these students and parents have …

Self-Advocacy And Postsecondary Program Achievement In Students With High-Incidence Disabilities, Alyssa Nelson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines studies that investigated and evaluated the relationship between self-advocacy and college program completion in postsecondary students with disabilities. Research was reviewed that used school-aged participants with disabilities, postsecondary-aged students with disabilities, high school faculty, postsecondary faculty, parents of the students with disabilities, and two and 4-year college Disabilities Services staff. Many factors are involved in why students with disabilities tend not to self-advocate for themselves or ask for support or assistance in secondary and postsecondary educational institutions. Inversely, some motivators promote students’ self-advocacy decisions, which has sparked interest in this area of study. The studies reviewed …

Individualized Education Plan (Iep) Goal Ideas To Support College Readiness, Kathleen Becht

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

This resource includes over 100 ideas for possible IEP goals to help prepare students for college. The ideas fall into four categories: education, career and employment, community engagement and services, and independence. Educators and families are encouraged to use this resource once students have identified personal strengths and interests, goals, and areas for improvement.

Paid Employment Of Transition-Age Youth With Intellectual Disability And Autism Compared With Other Youth, Belkis Choiseul-Praslin, Clare K. Papay, Meg Grigal, Alberto Migliore, Jie Chen

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

Employment is one of the most significant markers of independence and success for a person. One’s ability to secure and maintain employment in a paid position can have a significant impact on their overall quality of life, community participation, financial self-sufficiency, and pathway to a long-lasting career. Unfortunately, the paid employment rate for youth and adults with a disability remains markedly lower than their peers without a disability. Our understanding of national employment trends and outcomes for youth with disabilities has been heavily informed by the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) and NLTS2, with data gathered in 1987–1991 and 2001–2009 …

Improving Transition Services For Students With Intellectual Disability At Giles County High School, Catherine Claire Paul

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project was to improve transition services available to high school students with intellectual disabilities in Giles County, Tennessee. The problem was there is a lack of consistent transition planning in Giles County, Tennessee. The central research question was, “How can transition services for students with intellectual disabilities be improved at Giles County High School in Giles County, Tennessee?” This project was conducted through interviews with administrators and educators, surveys of parents, and a document analysis of available information in Giles County for transition services. The information was then coded and analyzed for a mixed-methods research design. …

The Why, The Who, The How… A Guide To Planning Effective, Collaborative, Person-Centered Transition Services For Students With Disabilities, Kristie Covington, Lorita Rowlett

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Providing effective transition services and plans for students with disabilities can seem like a daunting task to special education teachers and supporting agencies. Planning effective collaboration and coordination between stakeholders increases the likelihood that students with disabilities will graduate high school and participate in desired postsecondary activities, be it paid employment or postsecondary education (NTACT, 2019). Many special education teachers and supporting agencies are unsure where to start when planning and coordinating transition services; in response we created a document that can be used as a guidance and planning tool to design effective, person-centered, collaborative transition services. The planning tool …

Young Adults With Disabilities Acquire Vocational Skills With Video Modeling, Carly Schroeder-Mackay

Dissertations

Students with disabilities often require substantial support to acquire the skills needed to secure work experience and paid employment. Special education transition programs have an obligation to utilize evidence-based practices to facilitate the acquisition of such skills. In the present project, three studies were conducted to examine the effects of video modeling on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of job-related tasks taught in a classroom setting to young adults with developmental disabilities. In Study 1, a multiple baseline across behaviors experimental design with four participants was used to assess the effects of video prompts on the percentage of correctly completed …