Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Facilitating Interprofessional Collaboration To Support Aac Users: A Feasibility And Impact Study, Matthew L. Love, Marcella Cardoza Mccollum, Wendy Quach

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This study explores the efficacy and challenges of interprofessional learning opportunities for preservice special education teachers and speech-language pathologists through a novel Interprofessional Summit. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research examined how interdisciplinary collaboration impacts the preparation of these professionals for working with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) communicators in inclusive settings. Data were collected from a small convenience sample of participants at a single university, focusing on the process rather than outcomes of interprofessional engagement. Through content and thematic analysis of summit facilitation guides, participant artifacts, and post-summit surveys, findings revealed high levels of engagement and fidelity to the …

Increasing Inclusive Practices In An Elementary School Using Transcendental Phenomenology, Jenny C. Chiappe, Bryan E. Thornton, Mary A. Falvey

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This transcendental phenomenology study examined two schools, one comprehensive elementary school and one segregated special education center, as they transitioned to become one school to create more inclusive spaces for students with extensive support needs (i.e., intellectual and developmental disabilities). The transition occurred over a three-year period. The study used purposive sampling. Three general education and three special education teachers and the principal completed individual interviews during Year 3 of the transition. Classroom observations were conducted. The study used thematic analysis and revealed themes that described the school restructuring process: uncertainty during restructuring process; uncertainty around access based on students’ …

Role-Ing While Bipoc: Understanding The Experiences Of Table Top Role Playing Game Players Of Color, Jordan K. Posey

Dissertations

In 2015, controversy surrounded the interactive computer game Mission US: Flight to Freedom. The game was unveiled as an accessible way to teach about American chattel slavery by mixing elements normally associated with roleplaying games (RPGs), Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs), and social studies curriculum. The conversations surrounding the game exemplify the complicated history of RPGS/TTRPGs and the limitations of gamification in educational settings. This qualitative study aimed to analyze aspects of gaming culture through a critical race lens by documenting the experiences of Tabletop Roleplaying Game (TTRPG) players identifying as Black, Indigenous, and a Person of Color (BIPOC). Using a …

Table Of Contents

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

No abstract provided.

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 …

Using Virtual Reality To Train Teacher Candidates In Classroom Management, Chelsea Marelle, Claire Donehower, Sara Hansen, Andrew Roach, Lauren Boden, Emily Tanner

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This study used a multiple baseline across behaviors design to analyze the effects of didactic training plus simulated rehearsal and feedback on a preservice teacher’s implementation of behavior management skills (i.e., opportunities to respond, behavior specific praise, token reward system) with students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Results indicate a functional relation between the intervention package and increased teacher performance across all three behavior management skills. Participants reported positive perceptions and experiences of the use of simulated classroom environments like TeachLivE^TM as a training component. Implications for future research and practice are provided.

Effects Of Interactive And Hands-On Learning Experience Of Assistive Technology On Students' Perspectives And Knowledge, Jiyeon Park, Michelle A. Gremp, Mikyung Shin

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This quasi-experimental study assessed knowledge and perspectives on assistive technology among 114 undergraduates in a Special Education course. The experimental group were provided hands-on, interactive learning experiences in class; after the instruction, they showed significantly greater knowledge gains and more positive perspectives compared to the control group, which received traditional instruction.

This presentation was delivered at the CEC 2025 Special Education Convention & Expo in Baltimore, MD.

Harnessing The Power Of Applied Behavior Analysis: Evidence Based Interventions For Children With Autism, Sandrene Foster

Empowering Educators Conference

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a proven therapy improving behavior, academics, and social skills, widely used for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other needs. With ASD diagnoses rising, early intervention is essential. This presentation explores ABA fundamentals, effective early interventions, and continuous assessment to maximize outcomes for children with ASD.

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Special Educators Working In A Juvenile Detention Center, Karli M. Piskurich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of special educators working in a juvenile detention facility, and their perceptions of the relation of juveniles with disabilities to recidivism. Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences guided this study, as it allows educators to provide differentiated and individualized instruction to incarcerated youth with disabilities. A secondary theory used was Skinner’s behaviorist theory, as educators of students with disabilities implement various behavioral strategies pertaining to the students’ needs. With respect to the purpose and theories, the central research question that guided this study was, “What are educators’ experiences …

Understanding The Sense Of Belonging Within Inclusive Elementary Settings: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Precious La'shawn Sanders-Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand how educators foster a sense of belonging for students in inclusive elementary schools. The results of this study were intended to help policymakers and teachers in inclusive elementary schools make decisions about how to encourage both students’ involvement and teachers’ effectiveness. The theory that guided this study was social identity theory, which helped in understanding how individuals perceive and express their feelings towards belonging in social groups. Tajfel’s social identity theory provided a framework to answer the central research question: What are the lived experiences of educators regarding the sense …

Educators' Experiences With Social Skill Acquisition Through Collaborative Learning Strategies For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disabilities: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Sharmonica Monique Prince

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the effectiveness of social skill acquisition through collaborative learning strategies for students with emotional and behavioral disorders by educators in the Crest County School District. The theories guiding this study were Skinner’s theory of behaviorism and Bandura’s social learning theory, as both theories are significant to understanding how external stimuli and observational learning shape behavior. The central question was, “What are educators' experiences with social skill acquisition through collaborative learning strategies for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities?” A phenomenological study was utilized to describe teachers' perceptions of collaborative learning and …

Middle School Teachers’ Experiences In The Virtual Co-Teaching Setting: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Suzette A. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the collaborative planning, instruction, and evaluative practices of middle school co-teachers working in a virtual setting within a southeastern state. This study's theory stems from Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning theory. A sample population included twelve co-teachers in different middle schools throughout a school district in the Southeast. Data was obtained using the semi-structured interviews from 12 participants, 11 participants participated in the focus group sessions, and all 12 participants participated in the guided writing approach. All transcription were analyzed and coded, which led to the to identification of common …

Teaching And Normalizing Digital Accessibility For Students In The Chemical Sciences, Stefano C G Biagini

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Digital accessibility is the inclusive practice of ensuring that all people can equally access digital information. However, this good practice has yet to be fully embraced by practitioners and educators in the chemical sciences. This article will describe and explain the key requirements of digital accessibility and how they apply to educators in the chemical sciences, with the emphasis on supporting visually impaired students; it will illustrate a case study of training students in adopting digital accessibility good practices in order to enable a culture change of greater inclusivity for the next generation; and finally illustrate low cost laboratory adaptations …

Parents’ Perceptions Of Outcomes Of A College Program For Students With Intellectual Disabilities: Beyond The Classroom, Gavin W. Watts, Mariya T. Davis, Eric J. Lopez, Megan A. Reynolds

All Faculty Scholarship (Archived)

Background

As the number of postsecondary education programs offering opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to attend college increases, so does the investigation into the outcomes of these programs. Gaps in the literature are apparent, especially related to programming at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI).

Method

The study explored parents' observations of their children's outcomes outside of the classroom (e.g., at home, in the community, related to their participation in an inclusive university program. Fourteen parents of currently enrolled students participated in in-depth exit interviews. Applied thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data.

Results

Participant responses revealed three major themes: …

Feeding And Swallowing Disorders In Children With Autism: What Caregivers Need To Know, Olivia Hopkins

Undergraduate Publications

This study investigates the complex topic of feeding and swallowing disorders in children with autism, highlighting the significant challenges they pose, particularly related to sensory sensitivities and oral motor difficulties, and the persistent lack of understanding. We examine diagnostic criteria, risks, familial impacts, cultural nuances, and evidence-based intervention strategies, with a focus on practical guidance for caregivers, to equip them with resources for navigating these challenges (Schulz & Eden, 2016). Despite the prevalence of these disorders, many remain unaware of the struggles, underscoring the urgent need for targeted investigations and supportive measures. Specifically, this paper aims to provide Speech Language …

The Unremarked: A Cultural Analysis On Access To Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy For Autism By Ethnic-Minority And Immigrant Children, Yamel C. Herrera

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

No abstract provided.

The Everyday Heroism Of A Neurodiverse Teacher In Aotearoa New Zealand, Lindsay Fish, Therese Eberhard

Heroism Science

This article works to demonstrate the utility of everyday heroism as a construct to understand the work of teachers as heroic. The first part of the article makes connections across literature that establish the everyday work of teachers as heroic. This is done by connecting banal heroism, bureaucratic heroism as it is explored in academic literature and film, and the notion of the hero as companion. Teaching as everyday heroism is then demonstrated through a case study of one neurodiverse teacher’s inquiry into her practice. Using three critical moments from an autoethnographic case study, the teacher is shown to be …

Public Elementary School Administrators' Perceptions Of The Systemic Factors That Relate To The Implementation Of Inclusive Education Within Their Schools, Sarah L. Mitchell

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of public elementary school administrators in Washington state and their perceptions of the systemic factors that relate to the implementation of inclusive education within their schools. Inclusive education was defined as the placement of students with and without disabilities into general education classes to create inclusive communities, in which no differentiation is made between students with and without disabilities (Heyder et al., 2020). Systems theory was used as a theoretical framework to examine existing literature on factors that relate to inclusive education as well as to analyze data from semi-structured interviews …

Identifying Research-Based Practices For Increasing Peer Interaction In Children With Hearing Impairment: A Review Of The Literature, Amal Aldawoud

International Journal for Research in Education

Establishing peer interaction is critical for all childhood development, especially for children with hearing impairment (HI), who tend to experience a lot of difficulties in interaction. Practices aiming to promote peer interaction in children with HI need to be informed by evidence from quality research. This paper aims to review and evaluate research studies that focus on interaction between children with HI and their peers (with or without HI) in self-contained and inclusive classrooms. Seven empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals from 1990 to 2023 were examined and evaluated, using the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC, 2014) quality indicators. Several …

Training Parents To Implement Communication Intervention Package In Naturalistic Context Via Telehealth, Nouf Mohammed Alzrayer

International Journal for Research in Education

This study evaluated the effects of behavioral skills training (BST) in training parents to implement communication intervention packages in naturalistic contexts via telehealth. Three parent-child dyads participated in the study. All participants were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their age ranged between four and six years. Parents were trained to teach their children augmented and non-augmented requesting skills in a natural context via internet-based service delivery. The findings of the study revealed that parents were successful in implementing communication intervention packages in teaching communication skills to their children with ASD during snack time.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder …

The Level Of Special And General Education Teachers’ Knowledge And Practice Of Mnemonic Strategies And Its Impact On Educating Kuwaiti Students With Special Needs, Zaid Al-Shammari

International Journal for Research in Education

This study seeks to assess the level of special and general education teachers’ knowledge and practice of mnemonic strategies, and its impact on educating students with special needs in public education schools in Kuwait; and whether it differs according to the demographic variables. A sample of 161 female teachers from the public elementary education schools selected. A questionnaire of 18 items distributed into three categories (Special and general education teachers’ knowledge of mnemonic strategies, practice of mnemonic strategies, and its impact in improving the education of students with special education needs) was developed. Results showed the level of special and …

Rural Principals’ Perceptions Of Program Quality Indicators For Students With An Intellectual Disability, Jodee A. Prudente, Maryann Demchak

The Rural Educator

The use of program quality indicators (QIs) for teaching students with an intellectual disability (ID) is essential in meeting student needs and accessing curriculum. Principals who oversee and evaluate teachers of students with ID play a critical role in the implementation of QIs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate rural school district principals’ perceptions of the importance, teacher implementation, and principal ability to provide feedback on QIs for students with ID. Results indicate differences between principal perception of importance of indicators and reported confidence in ability to provide feedback on indicators. More specialized QIs received lower ratings of perception …

Teacher Retention And The Future Of Learning: Alarming Concerns About Preparing The Next Generation Of Citizens, Dejuanna M. Parker, Barbara D. Holmes

Journal of Research Initiatives

Research is robust in detailing the various reasons teachers leave the profession. There is scant literature on why teachers stay and what should be done to improve teacher retention. Teacher retention is a primary concern nationally and internationally. The inability to retain teachers has resulted in a teacher shortage and significantly affects student learning. Sorenson and Ladd (2020) This study yielded three emergent themes related to integral factors of teacher retention: changing attitudes on administrative support, workplace collegiality, and persistence of passion and purpose. Recommendations offered include encouraging administrators to leverage the passion and commitment of the educators to create …

Toward A Critical Pedagogy Of Assessment Integrating Social Studies Education: The Proposed Socio-Critical Assessment Integration Framework (Scaif), Caroline O. Alordiah, Regina Arisi

Journal of Research Initiatives

The Socio-Critical Assessment Integration Framework (SCAIF) and its consequences for social studies education are examined in this study. The results emphasize the advantages of developing inclusive learning environments, encouraging comprehensive evaluation procedures, encouraging applicability to the real world, and giving students agency by allowing participation in the evaluation process actively. Teachers can promote social justice, question prevailing narratives, and foster critical discourse in the classroom using a critical pedagogy lens. Student learning outcomes are improved by authentic assessment activities that reflect real-world problems and demand that students use their knowledge in meaningful ways. Inclusive learning settings respect student diversity, encourage …

Blind And Low-Vision Students As Surveyors Of In/Accessibility In Technology-Mediated Formal Education, Natalie Shaheen

Faculty Publications - College of Education

K-12 institutions are slowly realizing (a) that many of the instructional technologies they use are inaccessible and (b) that technical debt oppresses blind and low-vision (BLV) students. Herein, I report the findings from a qualitative exploration of how BLV students differentiate between accessible and inaccessible technology-mediated education. The findings suggest that in/accessible technology-mediated education is an assemblage of learning, access labor, teachers, technologies, temporalities, and affectivities. I argue that to construct technology-mediated education that is equitable and accessible to BLV students K-12 institutions must do more than pay off their technical debt. I conclude with recommendations for how K-12 institutions …

Addressing The "Isms" In Deaf Education: What Are The Views Of Teacher Candidates?, Michelle Gremp

Faculty Publications - College of Education

Teacher preparations programs are obligated to prepare teachers who understand biases and work toward fostering inclusivity for their students. This presentation will report on the teacher candidates’ knowledge around ableism and other impediments to inclusivity and suggest next steps for ensuring a more democratic approach to education for all.

This poster was presented at the Association of College Educators - Deaf & Hard of Hearing (ACEDHH) Conference 2025.

Making Science-Inquiry Learning Accessible For Students With Complex Support Needs, Sarah Koebley, Shawnee Wakeman, Lindsay Ruhter, David Pugalee, Meagan Karvonen

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Inquiry learning through engagement with scientific practices has proven to be an effective instructional practice for general education students. Although students with complex support needs (CSN) are required to have access to the same grade-appropriate academic content in science as their peers without CSN, it remains a challenge for special education teachers to design instruction around student inquiry and science conceptual understanding. The 5E Science Education for Special Educators (5E-SESE) Model combines three well-established conceptual constructs (three-dimensional science standards, Universal Design for Learning [UDL], and the 5E Model) to support special educators in delivering quality science instruction. With the 5E …

Identifying Underachiever Gifted Students In Jordan, Hadeel Al-Akkad, Ali M. Alodat, Eid Kanaan

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objectives: This study aimed to identify gifted students with low achievement in Jordan by studying the impact of a set of factors and variables and to provide a scale with acceptable psychometric properties to identify this category of students. Methodology: The Mixed Approach was used using the comparative descriptive approach in the quantitative part and semi-in-depth interviews in the qualitative part. (349) gifted students were selected intentionally from King Abdul Allah II Schools for Excellence from the eighth to twelfth grades, where the number of gifted students with high achievement (220) and the number of gifted students with low achievement …

Exploring The Role Of Teacher-Student Relationships In Inclusive Classrooms From The Lived Experiences Of High School Graduates With Disabilities, Mary D. Newman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of special education students from inclusive classrooms who graduated from high school in a metropolitan city in Georgia. Academic mediation theory guided this research. The academic mediation theory identifies teacher-student relationships as critical in encouraging students to stay in school. The central research question was as follows: What are the lived experiences of high school students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom? This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. The researcher used a purposeful and criterion sampling method to identify 12 high school graduates with disabilities. …

Wild Magic Farms: Increasing Student Engagement And Decreasing Academic Regression In Middle School Extended School Year Through Use Of A Role-Playing Game, Maryanne Cullinan

Educational Studies Dissertations

The Extended School Year (ESY) is a federal program that falls under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Law (2004) as part of Special Education in public schools in the United States. It is intended to help reduce regression in student progress towards Individualized Education Program goals. However, in New Hampshire, ESY struggles with a lack of clear goals, student buy-in and quality engagement. This study examined how a researcher designed role-playing game (RPG) could impact both summer academic regression and student engagement in a middle school ESY. Utilizing i-Ready testing (n=13) data and attendance data (n=9), this study compared …