Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

A Descriptive Study Of The Accommodations, Assistive Technologies, And Supports Chosen By Students With An Intellectual Disability Attending A Post-Secondary Institution, Lori Olson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate the perceptions of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) attending a Transition Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID). This study explored what they perceived to be the most chosen and helpful accommodations, assistive technologies, and supports and why they chose them. The researcher sent out an electronic survey to students with ID attending a Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) to determine the most chosen and helpful accommodations, assistive technologies, and supports and why they found them helpful.The top ranked accommodations used and found most helpful in this …

A Study Of Factors That Influence Symbol Selection On Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, William Todd Dauterman

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) each year. Given the complexity of ASD and how it is manifested in individuals, the execution of proper interventions is difficult. One major area of concern is how individuals with ASD who have limited communication skills are taught to communicate using Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices (AAC). AACs are portable electronic devices that facilitate communication by using audibles, signs, gestures, and picture symbols. Traditionally, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are the primary facilitators of AAC devices and help establish the language individuals with …

Life After High School For Students With Moderate To Severe Disabilities: An Assessment Of Postsecondary Preparedness, Audrey Moore

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transitional preparatory programs from the perspective of parents and teachers in North Carolina. The following three research questions guided this research inquiry: Based on parent and teacher perspectives, how did the high school transitional program facilitate success after high school for students with moderate to severe disabilities? To what extent do the parents and teachers of students with moderate to severe disabilities perceive that a transitional program is a necessity for post-high school success? The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA, 2004c) section on transition served as …

A Mixed Methods Study Of The Impact Of State Special Education Funding Distribution On The Academic Gap Of Students Identified With Disabilities, Christy Hutchinson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Since the passing of Public Law 94-142 in 1975, federal funding for special education programming has been distributed based on a flat or fixed per-student allotment. Flat funding distribution is a set dollar amount per child, while a fixed distribution is a set amount provided to every state regardless of population. In addition to federal funding, each state must allocate state tax dollars to the local education agencies (LEAs) according to the allocation model. Currently, there are four popular models of special education funding used across the United States, including flat or fixed rate per-student allotment, weighted funding, a census-based …

Teacher Perceptions Of Behavioral Programs Serving Emotionally Disabled Students, Joshua Weese

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has undergone numerous revisions since 1965 when the first federal statute dealing with the education of students with disabilities was implemented. A revision completed in 1975 instituted the concept of least restrictive environment (LRE), which demands that all students with disabilities be exposed to the maximum amount possible with their regular education peers, regardless of disability. Full inclusion is the primary mode schools use to meet this requirement. Research has illustrated the positive effects of inclusion-style classrooms and LRE, both for regular and special education peers. However, contemporary research has begun to show …

Why Do They Stay? A Qualitative Study On The Motivation Of South Carolina Elementary Self-Contained Special Education Teachers Who Persist In The Classroom, Judith Mills

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the motivational factors that have influenced South Carolina (SC) elementary self-contained special education teachers to remain in the profession beyond the 5-year mark, while despite having the same experiences, many others quickly leave the profession behind. Based on the theoretical framework of Ryan and Deci’s (2018) motivational theory of self-determination, this study sought to explore the lived experiences of 10 special education teachers. Data were collected through interviews, member-checked, coded, and analyzed for common themes. The results indicated that student growth and success; relationships with students, parents, and colleagues; collaboration …

Finding A Voice For Individuals With Asd Who Are Minimally Verbal Through Comprehensive Communication Assessment, Shelley Lund, Kristy Weissling, Wendy Quach, Miechelle L. Mckelvey

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose: Many, but not all, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a difficult time communicating in conventional ways to express their decisions, preferences, and ideas. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can fulfill many purposes of communication and support a child to achieve maximal self-determination and agency. The goal of assessment is not to fit the child to a particular device or communication strategy—but rather to identify the strategies that enhance the child’s strengths to maximize their independent communication and ultimately their ability to exert control over their world.

Method: Our method was to combine results from our scoping review …

Changes In Sensorimotor Cortical Activation In Children Using Prostheses And Prosthetic Simulators, Christopher Copeland, Mukul Mukherjee, Yingying Wang, Kaitlin Fraser, Jorge M. Zuniga

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

This study aimed to examine the neural responses of children using prostheses and prosthetic simulators to better elucidate the emulation abilities of the simulators. We utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to evaluate the neural response in five children with a congenital upper limb reduction (ULR) using a body-powered prosthesis to complete a 60 s gross motor dexterity task. The ULR group was matched with five typically developing children (TD) using their non-preferred hand and a prosthetic simulator on the same hand. The ULR group had lower activation within the primary motor cortex (M1) and supplementary motor area (SMA) compared to …

Highlights Of Annual Report Of The Cohort 2 Tpsid Model Demonstration Projects (Year 5, 2019–2020), Meg Grigal, Think College National Coordinating Center Staff

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

This Highlights document was created with data from the Annual Report of the Cohort 2 TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (Year 5, 2019–2020) for those who are interested in the most critical statistics from the report, or are sharing with a broad audience. It features bold graphics and brief summaries of program and student data, including exit and post-exit outcomes. The full Annual Report provides program- and student-level data reported by TPSIDs (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) during the 2019-20 academic year. Program data reflect program characteristics, academic access, supports for students, and integration of the program …

Highlights Of Annual Report Of The Cohort 2 Tpsid Model Demonstration Projects (Year 5, 2019–2020), Meg Grigal, Think College National Coordinating Center Staff

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

This Highlights document was created with data from the Annual Report of the Cohort 2 TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (Year 5, 2019–2020) for those who are interested in the most critical statistics from the report, or are sharing with a broad audience. It features bold graphics and brief summaries of program and student data, including exit and post-exit outcomes. The full Annual Report provides program- and student-level data reported by TPSIDs (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) during the 2019-20 academic year. Program data reflect program characteristics, academic access, supports for students, and integration of the program …

Understanding Discourse Of Co-Teachers In Middle School Mathematics Inclusive Classrooms, Amanda Lannan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The researcher in this study investigated the verbal discourse moves of co-teachers in middle school mathematics classrooms to solicit students' mathematical thinking with a specific focus on students with disabilities. In this examination of two classrooms, students received high-level mathematics instruction from expertly trained co-teachers. A quantitative analysis of the video transcripts using a validated tool for coding teacher behaviors was used to examine the content and context of mathematical discourse in each of the classrooms. The researcher examined qualitative data using a critical discourse framework. Three themes emerged from the discourse analysis: (a) empowerment of co-teachers, (b) strategic use …

Using Wearable Assistive Technology To Improve Time Management Of Students With Disabilities In A School-Based Employment Training Setting, Jonathan Solomon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

All areas of life require time management, but those skills are especially integral and require a different level of accountability for an individual to be successful in academia or when employed (DiPipi-Hoy et al., 2009; Macan et al., 1990). A study by Janeslätt et al. (2015) measured daily time management of adults and found individuals with cognitive disabilities possessed low daily time management skills compared to neurotypical peers. In a study by Button et al. (2019) the majority of college students with disabilities at one university who sought out support services spent most of their time working on the area …

Co-Teaching Practices Of General And Special Educators In Secondary Science Classrooms, Samantha Jolene Ringl

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The purpose of this study was to establish current levels of co-teaching implementation and to explore teachers’ perceptions of co-teaching and co-teacher relationships. This study also examined whether there is a relationship between teachers’ perception of their co-teaching relationship and their perception of co-teaching implementation in their classrooms. Analysis revealed that teachers generally have positive perceptions of their co-teaching partners and relationships, and these perceptions did not significantly differ between science teachers and special educators. However, this study found that teachers are not regularly planning lessons together, sharing the workload in the classroom, or choosing co-teaching models together. This study …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Teacher Interactions With Students With Special Needs, Travis Depuydt

All NMU Master's Theses

This qualitative, phenomenological research study was designed to study the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on teacher interactions with students with special needs during the mandatory school closures that took place during March of 2020. This study consisted of seven interviews with special education teachers, from three different districts, located in Menominee and Delta counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Participant responses to interview questions (See Appendix C), revealed six common themes:

1. Inability to consistently connect with students and a lack of participation amongst students.
2. Lack of training and no prior online teaching experience.
3. Lack of available technology …

Teaching Strategies Leading To Success In Self-Contained Classrooms, Sonja Michelle Robinson-Madden

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation addressed the strategies used in self-contained classrooms that lead to the success of students with intellectual disabilities in Jamaica. The study was prompted by the poor performance of primary schools in teaching delivery as evidenced in the National Inspectorate Report. The views of successful teachers were collated in order to provide meaningful research data that can be used to improve the effectiveness of teachers regarding their teaching strategies and engagement of their students in the teaching-learning process. In addition, the research findings may be used to inform policies regarding the education of special needs students who are …

Integrated Curriculum In Physical Education, Delaney M. Rice

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This paper seeks to address an absence of resources for teachers that highlight cross-curricular integration of physical education and core academics to benefit the learning, motivation, health, and academic outcomes of students. Curricular integration, or the highlighting of overlapping themes between subjects, has become a popular way to maximize educational time in schools. The benefits of curricular integration are well documented, however, less known are the benefits of curricular integration in the fields of physical education and special education. By analyzing existing literature, reviewing existing curricula and educational resources, and surveying educational professionals, a guide was created to support teachers …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction With Autistic Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heather Ann Marzenski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Families and educators have voiced concerns about the literacy skills of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the situation. Pandemic era studies have demonstrated the ramifications that students with ASD have faced, including regression of literacy skills, lower grades, lack of support services, and subpar instruction. Teachers' perceptions remained unexamined in the pandemic era studies. The purpose of this basic qualitative dissertation was to examine teachers’ perceptions about the materials and strategies used to deliver literacy instruction during the pandemic for students with ASD. The conceptual frameworks that underpinned this study were self-determination theory …

Universal Design For Learning’S Successful Implementation: What Can Administrators Do?, Monica Grillo

Graduate Research Posters

Administrators have a unique position to influence teacher attitudes by creating an inclusive school culture and providing instructional leadership. Implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a critical issue for public schools in our country. UDL is an inclusive framework based on the science of learning. It supports and removes barriers to learning for all students while maintaining high expectations. Federal education policies have called for inclusive instruction based on UDL principles. Nevertheless, our educators and administrators are not sure they believe in it and do not know what exactly it is or how to implement it with fidelity. Previous …

Culturally And Linguistically Relevant Content Area Instruction For Diverse Students With Learning Disabilities, Shaqwana Freeman-Green, Melissa Driver, Peishi Wang, Jessica Kamuru, Dia Jackson

Faculty Articles

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students comprise a substantial population of students with learning disabilities, and are historically disproportionately represented in spe- cial education. To effectively teach CLD students with learning disabilities, teachers should integrate evidence-based practices and culturally sustaining pedagogy in their practice. This article highlights several practical examples of culturally sustaining evidence-based practices across the content areas of mathematics, reading, and writing. Suggestions for practice and future research are presented in the article.

Comparative Effects Of Words Plus Pictures And Words Alone On The Reading Comprehension Of Youth With Disabilities, Lindsay Caudill

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This study compared the effectiveness and efficiency of two instructional conditions on the reading comprehension of fifth and sixth grade students with moderate and severe disabilities. A words plus pictures and words alone condition were examined through the use of an adapted alternating treatment design replicated across 3 participants. Results indicated that the effect was minimal, with words plus pictures being slightly more effective.

The Effects Of Using Constant Time Delay To Teach Digraphs To Elementary Students With Mild Disabilities, Sara Schuer

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Constant time delay (CTD) is a near-errorless response prompting procedure that involves a presentation of a stimulus, a delay interval, and a controlling prompt. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of teaching vowel/consonant digraph sounds to children with mild disabilities using constant time delay. A multiple probe (conditions) across behaviors design, replicated with three students, was used. The results indicated that CTD is effective in teaching vowel/consonant digraphs to elementary students with mild disabilities which then generalize to reading words containing those same digraphs.

The Relationship Between Stress And Quality Of Life In People With Multiple Sclerosis: The Mediating Role Of Resilience, Byung Jin Kim

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system encompassing the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve, in which the patient’s immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues. Due to the unpredictable characteristics of the disease, MS can lead to an unusually high level of stress and may negatively impact the individual’s QoL. Resilience is a psychological structure that shows positive coping and adaptive ability from difficult or stressful situations. Resilience also indicates a buffering effect on the stressors of individuals with disabilities and serves to protect psychological health and function from disability. The purpose of this …

Internet-Of-Things Devices In Support Of The Development Of Echoic Skills Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Krzysztof J. Rechowicz, John B. Stull, Michelle M. Hascall, Saikou Y. Diallo, Kevin J. O'Brien

VMASC Publications

A significant therapeutic challenge for people with disabilities is the development of verbal and echoic skills. Digital voice assistants (DVAs), such as Amazon’s Alexa, provide networked intelligence to billions of Internet-of-Things devices and have the potential to offer opportunities to people, such as those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to advance these necessary skills. Voice interfaces can enable children with ASD to practice such skills at home; however, it remains unclear whether DVAs can be as proficient as therapists in recognizing utterances by a developing speaker. We developed an Alexa-based skill called ASPECT to measure how well the DVA …

Professional Development For Working With Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Teacher Self-Efficacy, Alison Johnson, Lina Soares, Antonio P. Gutierrez De Blume

Georgia Educational Researcher

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effect of teacher professional development for working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and teacher (N = 56) self-efficacy in the general education classroom. A pretest/posttest quasi-experimental research design was implemented. Teachers in one randomly assigned school received professional development training on research-based practices in working with students with autism to determine if the training had any effect on their perceived self-efficacy ratings and teachers in the other school were randomly assigned to serve as the control (i.e., no additional professional development training was provided during the research phase). …

Lessons From The Past And Challenges For The Future: Inclusive Education For Students With Unique Needs, William Evans, Robert A. Gable, Amany Habib

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

The school-age population of students is becoming increasingly more culturally and linguistically diverse. There is mounting recognition that English Learners (EL) represent a unique group of students who have special educational and linguistic needs. This article considered the needs of learners with diverse special needs such as (a) learning and behavior challenges and (b) English Learners identified as students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE). We highlighted some potential lessons to be learned from past-to-present efforts to serve students with behavior problems. Selected evidence-based practices were featured that are applicable to learners with special needs, thereby supporting the development …

The Efficacy Of Art And Movement Treatment Modalities On An Individual With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tristen Valentino

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Current statistics report 1 in 54 children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), many of whom have co-occurring mental health disorders. However, minimal research has been conducted on adults with autism with co-occurring mental health disorders and the efficacy of art and movement therapy techniques. This is the case study by Tristen Valentino, clinical therapist, of a client, David Smith (who was given the pseudonym to maintain confidentiality), a 35-year-old, obese, single, cisgender, heterosexual, Caucasian, male. The implications of this case study are discussed relative to the diagnosis and treatment of adults with ASD who possess comorbid clinical …

Using Online Games To Engage Students In Transition Skills, Emily Miller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For this project, a game will be designed to assist students in transition skill-building. It will be presented at a minimum of one teacher's conference, and after the conference, I will be assisting in designing custom games for conference participants if they request to have a game made. During the conference, I will be talking about my experiences with using the Breakout EDU platform to design educational games and how learning the platform went for me. It will be a very beneficial experience for me, learning how to utilize an engaging online platform that I can use in my future …

An Inquiry Into The Relationship Between Individuals Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired And Suicide, Henry Joseph Tyszka

Wayne State University Dissertations

In the United States, death certificates document pre-existing conditions only when they directly contribute to a death. This precludes generating data in the event of a suicide involving a blind or visually impaired individual and for that reason existing suicide data is scarce for this population. This Grounded Theory study, with the participation of a Licensed Professional Counselor, interviewed twenty blind or visually impaired individuals utilizing the CDC Self-Directed Violence survey instrument to determine the level of stressors that were experienced by the participants as well as the nature and number of protective supports, amongst other factors. The study reinforced …

What’S In A Photograph? The Perspectives Of Composition Experts On Factors Impacting Visual Scene Display Complexity For Augmentative And Alternative Communication And Strategies For Improving Visual Communication, Kevin Pitt, John W. Mccarthy

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose: Visual scene displays (VSDs) can support augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) success for children and adults with complex communication needs. Static VSDs incorporate contextual photographs that include meaningful events, places, and people. Although the processing of VSDs has been studied, their power as a medium to effectively convey meaning may benefit from the perspective of individuals who regularly engage in visual storytelling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perspectives of individuals with expertise in photographic and/or artistic composition regarding factors contributing to VSD complexity and how to limit the time and effort required to apply principles …

Applying Implementation Science To Support Active Collaboration In Noninvasive Brain–Computer Interface Development And Translation For Augmentative And Alternative Communication, Kevin Pitt, Aimee Dietz

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to consider how, alongside engineering advancements, noninvasive brain–computer interface (BCI) for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC; BCI-AAC) developments can leverage implementation science to increase the clinical impact of this technology. We offer the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as a structure to help guide future BCI-AAC research. Specifically, we discuss CFIR primary domains that include intervention characteristics, the outer and inner settings, the individuals involved in the intervention, and the process of implementation, alongside pertinent subdomains including adaptability, cost, patient needs and recourses, implementation climate, other personal attributes, and the process of …