Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Welcome, Patricia R. Renick Ph.D.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

WELCOME, to the third edition of the Electronic Journal of Inclusive Education. As you can see this is a work in progress. Articles are being revised and will go on-line when we receive them. So continue to stop in and read how the journal is taking shape.

In the mean time, please take a look at the article concerning creating laboratory access for students with disabilities (C.L.A.S.S.). This project has been chosen by the National Science Foundation as a model for teacher preparation and is an ongoing project here at Wright State University. One of the graduate students involved in …

Integration: Being Realistic Isn't Realistic, Norman Kunc

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

An increasing amount of pressure is being put on school boards to integrate students with physical, mental, and learning disabilities into regular classrooms, and thus teachers, principals, and those within the educational hierarchy are facing a dilemma to which there seem to be no easy answers. The primary concern confronting these educators is which students should be placed within the regular classroom and which students should be placed in segregated settings - whether in segregated schools or in segregated classes within a regular school. Even within the field of Special Education, there is a wide range of ideologies as to …

Special Education Discipline: A Procedural Manual, Barbara Townsend

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project is to create a systematic procedural manual for the disciplining of students protected under the mandates of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Research on the IDEA Amendments of 1997, as it pertained to the disciplining of students with disabilities was studied. A procedural manual, for administrators, and teachers was created. The manual includes case histories, which helped develop the discipline changes in IDEA Amendments of 1997. It also includes information and sample forms, which can be used to help navigate the discipline process.

Strategies For Maintaining Positive Behavior Change Stemming From Functional Behavioral Assessment In Schools, Robert A. Gable, Jo M. Hendrickson

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Nationwide, schools are struggling to prepare IEP teams and other school personnel to conduct functional behavioral assessment and develop positive behavioral intervention plans and supports. While there is a growing evidence that functional behavioral assessment is effective in identifying the reason(s) behind student misbehavior, less is known about producing positive, long-term changes that are both functionally and socially relevant. Drawing upon the available research, we explore an emerging technology for promoting maintenance and generalization of behavior change. We discuss various strategies and procedures and offer recommendations to IEP teams regarding maintaining positive changes in student behavior that stem from functional …

The Effects Of The Provision Of An Interactive Teaching Program And Word Processors On The Writing Of Year 9 Students With Learning Disabilities, Cecily Cropley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Three male year nine students with learning disabilities were given an intervention program that involved use of a word processor to write science fiction stories. The program was conducted over a five-week period. The effects of the use of the word processor alone were compared to the effects of the provision of an interactive teaching course program in conjunction with a word processor. The treatment program was a single subject treatment design. One participant's writing improved to an equal extent whether or not an interactive teaching program was provided. A second participant's fluency, spelling and the number of unique words …

Best Practices In Transition: A Descriptive Study Of A Rural High School Grades 9 Through 12, Michelle A. Messerli Bolander

Masters Theses

This study examined and determined the practices in transition that were currently being implemented, what transition opportunities were available, and which practices could be utilized at Litchfield High School during Fall 2000 to support a smoother transition from middle school to high school for ninth grade students with and without special needs. The study did not establish a relationship of cause and effect, but rather compared cases (administrators, special educators, and regular educators) through qualitative data that were supported by quantitative measures. The population surveyed consisted of the 33 teachers and 2 administrators at the high school level, with different …

A Third Grade Special Education Pre-Referral Assessment Tool For Inner City African American Students, Richard Dean Newton

All Graduate Projects

A disproportional high number of African Ametican students are referred by regular education teachers for placement in special education programs and services. Recent implications of state wide uniformed student testing has intensified special education placement trends. The purpose of this project was to develop an alternative third grade special education pre-referral intelligence assessment tool, which would be used to provide alternative placement other than special education programs and services.

A Living Skills Curriculum For Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Patricia Merz Ubelaker

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a living skills curriculum for adults with developmental disabilities. It will present many of the necessary skills for succeeding at living independently in the community. This curriculum was designed to be taught in a community college setting, using the ten week quarter system. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current literature and research was conducted. The review found few curricula available for teaching living skills and none on the postsecondary level. The research established a need for a curriculum ofliving skills for adults and this project is offered in partial fulfillment …

Graduate Bulletin, 2000-2002 (2000), Minnesota State University Moorhead

Graduate Bulletins (Catalogs)

No abstract provided.

June Moon, Catherine Vance

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

A poem written by Catherine Vance.

Augmentative Communication Devices In The Classroom And Community, Matthew Sableski

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Assistive technologies may be defined as "any item, device, or piece of equipment that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional abilities of persons with disabilities"(Holder-Brown & Parette, 1992, p.73). Devices such as automatic door openers, chair lifts, large print books, customized cars, hearing aids, and wheelchair ramps enhance the independence and productivity of persons with disabilities and increase their ability to participate in the mainstream of society. In a school setting, this technology is not an end in itself; rather it is a means to provide increased experiences, opportunities, and independence for children who have disabilities. Assistive …

Achievement, Locus Of Control, Self-Concept, Social Problem Solving Training And The Acquisition Of Prosocial Skills In Children, Laura Russomano

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Effects Of Prereferral Intervention Through The Connecticut Early Intervention Project On Special Education Prevalence Rates In Connecticut Schools, Marianne Eike Kirner

Dissertations

Problem. Prereferral intervention has been implemented in many schools across the country as one systemic solution to concerns about special education prevalence rates. This study analyzed change in special education prevalence rates in Connecticut schools participating in the Early Intervention Project (EIP) as compared to Connecticut schools not participating in the project. The project incorporates a building-based team using a problem-solving approach to provide prompt and sustained support to classroom teachers who request assistance in working with students who are at risk of referral for special education.

Method. The research design consisted of a comparison of special education prevalence change …

Curricular And Instructional Adaptations For Special Needs Students In The General Education Setting, Kelly Bohning

Graduate Research Papers

The primary focus of this article is to address when regular education teachers should make adaptations for students in the general education setting and to determine the kinds of adaptations that general education teachers can make for their students. This article also links curricular and instructional adaptations to the research on effective schools. Steps for setting up an inclusive science classroom are presented. Various adaptations in the science classroom are discussed. The findings of this research report indicate that there are a variety of instances where it is appropriate for teachers to make adaptations for students in the general education …

The Impact Of Technology Integration On The Elementary Classroom With Reading Disabled Students, Donna Heying

Graduate Research Papers

The content of this paper will discuss and review the current literature in the area of technology integration in the elementary classroom, especially those classrooms with learning disabled students. The areas to be covered in this paper include technology's impact on student learning, legal reasons to use technology in the classroom, effective integration principles for technology integration, software and equipment for learning disabled students, Internet integration, and web-based instruction. All of these areas have an influence on how technology is integrated into the elementary classrooms and how effective that technology can be.

The Effects Of Use Of A Metacognitive Strategy On The Language Anxiety Of Missionaries At The Missionary Training Center, Laura Millet Bichon

Theses and Dissertations

Language anxiety is a form of anxiety that can negatively affect language learners by disrupting their cognitive processing, by rendering their learning experience unpleasant, and by reducing the quantity and quality of their language production. The language anxiety research contains many suggestions for anxiety reduction, one of these being the use of metacognitive language learning strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-monitoring, metacognitive strategy called ASWE on the language anxiety levels of young male and female missionaries in the intensive language learning program at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. The ASWE …

Penghasilan Dan Penilaian Formatif Modul Pembelajaran Kendiri Hukum Tajwid Nun Sakinah (Nun Mati) Dan Tanwin Dan Mim Sakinah (Mim Mati) Di Dalam Pendidikan Islam Kbsm, Sharipah Zainah Syed Abdul Rahman

Student Works (2000-2009)

The design and formative evaluation of self instructed module for the tajwid rule Nun Saklnah (Nun Mali) and Tanwin and Mim Saklnah (Mim Mati) in Pendidikan Islam KllSM 111e purpose of the research is to produce a self instructed module, which will act s a guidance for both teacher, and learners in the teaching and learning process. This module re!atcd to the Arabic Linguistic (tajwid), the rnle for Nun Sakinah (Nun Mati) and Tanwin and Mim Sakinah (Mim Mati). "This is in due to the fact that there is no specific method used teaching those rules. Generally, the proedure of …

Satu Kajian Perbandingan Pelaksanaan Kelas Khas Bermasalah Pembelajaran Di Sebuah Sekolah Menengah Di Kuala Lumpur Dan Di Sebuah Sekolah Khas Di Tokyo, Kamaliah Muhammad

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study is a comparative study of the implementation of the special education programmes for the children with learning disabilities In Malaysia and in Japan. The study is based on observations carried out by the researcher both in Malaysia and in Japan.  In brief this study touches on three major fields, that is, the curriculum of the programme for children with learning duties, and the roles of both professionals and parents in the implementation of the programmes.

Resilience In Couples With Hearing Impaired Children, Nirmala Devi Naidu R. Rajah

Student Works (2000-2009)

My encounter with a parent who was facing problems in coping with her sensorineural deaf child, prompted me to write about resilience in couples with hearing impaired children. The research questions are: I) Do the couples employ resiliency mechanisms that are effective in dealing with the problem of having a hearing impaired child? 2) What kind of resiliency mechanisms do the couples employ when they encounter the problem of having a hearing impaired child? 3) Does the couples· character indicate that they have the resiliency to deal with stress or adversity together'? The method of this research is conducted using …

Helping Hearing-Impaired Pupils Attain Reading Skills Through Cued Speech : A Case Study, Mee Fong Liew

Student Works (2000-2009)

The main problem with hearing-impaired children with profound hearing losses is severe retardation in their acquisition of the primary language. Due to their hearing losses, they face problems in reading and writing and their academic achievements is often low as compared to their peers. However, they would also like to acquire a competence in language learning just like their hearing counterparts. They need to possess good literacy skills for academic success. The level of success attainable varies widely in their ability to use spoken language which enable them to read and write. Therefore, it is of prime concern to both …

Kesan Latihan Kemahiran Sosial Terhadap Kendiri Pelajar Akademik : Satu Kajian Kualitatif, Nor Rul Azlifah Zulkafali

Student Works (2000-2009)

This set of pre-test and post-test experimental design was aimed to examine the effect of basic social training skills on the behaviour, academic and self-concept among students. This would include live dimensional aspects such as family-self, personal-self: physical-sell: social-self and ethical moral-self. The research was carried out at one of the Government Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur. Ten form tree students were chosen as subjects on their low achievement in the middle of the Year Examination. Using the Group Counselling Method, subjects were assigned to undergo basic social training skills which was molded to the designed module. Due to the …

Strategies For Preventing Disruptive Behaviors Among Students With Autism, Tina Taylor

Faculty Publications

Help! What should I do with Michael? I can't control him! I often hear pleas of help similar to this one. What can a teacher do to help a student with autism learn and demonstrate appropriate behavior? The purpose of this article is provide a framework by which we can view behavior, and a description of a few strategies to help prevent challenging behaviors among students with autism. When I was a fresh out of college working under a provisional certificate, I was educated in the "current" methods of "behavior management." That is, I learned how to observe, count, graph …

Caregivers Locus Of Control For Child Improvement, Timothy B. Smith

Faculty Publications

A potentially important variable that has received little attention in the disabilities literature is the caregiver's locus of control beliefs for child improvement as they relate to treatment compliance and actual child improvement. To evaluate the construct's utility in a practice setting, 131 caregiver-child dyads were assessed twice, twelve months apart. Children were an average of approximately four years old at the first assessment, and all of them had mild to severe developmental disabilities. Aspects of caregiver compliance to treatment were rated, and measures of child development status, family functioning, and caregiver locus of control were administered. Results indicated that …

A World Wide Web Site Of Special Education Law For Educators In Illinois, Roger L. Epperson

Masters Theses

Any educational decision regarding evaluation, placement, or instruction of special education students involves legal liability and accountability for a school district. Without the special education legal knowledge from primary legal sources needed to make prudent education decisions, school districts are vulnerable to legal challenges. Too often, educators provide services to special education students without critical knowledge of the educators' role in the special education legal process.

In this study, just the preliminary phase of constructing a special education law World Wide Web (W3) site for Illinois educators was considered. There were two objectives in this study. The first objective was …

Tinker, Tailor, Seller, Sailor: Assisting Youth To Select Preferred Job Placements Using Video And Cd Rom, Robert L. Morgan, D. A. Ellerd, B. P. Gerity

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Education : Working Together Toward Accommodating All Learners In The Regular Classroom, Anita A. Quirk

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this article is to inform readers about the efficacy of collaborative teaching. A review of pull-out resource room structure is presented, focusing on the amount of time students miss from the regular classroom. Scheduling is mentioned as a concern, as pull-out students are away from their regular classroom peers and environment for extended periods of time. Its effective and appropriate links to PL 94-142, PL 101-476, and the IDEA are presented.

Collaborative teaching is then defined as an alternative to students being pulled out to receive resource room services. The premises of collaborative teaching are shared. Included …

Regular Teachers' Attitudes To The Need For Additional Classroom Support For Integrated Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Rory Mcnally

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to examine regular classroom teachers' attitudes to additional classroom support, both physical and personnel, for students with mild and severe intellectual disabilities who may be integrated into regular classrooms. The concerns of the regular classroom teachers with regard to the successful inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities are certainly merit addressing. As the regular classroom teachers are largely responsible for the education of these integrated students, it is worthwhile to examine their perceived support levels in relation to integrated students with intellectual disabilities. It is anticipated that the results of this study will prove …

Development Of Writing Through Journaling With Senior Educable Mentally Handicapped, Bonita M. Custer

Graduate Research Papers

Recognizing that many senior high school students who are labeled Educable Mentally Handicapped (the term used in Nebraska) have had few opportunities to have fulfilling experiences in school, a rich literature-based language arts program was developed for a class. This group had many opportunities to respond with their ideas and feelings, one of which was journaling.

As the school year progressed, I, as their teacher, found that I was modifying and changing my daily instructional plans because their reading and writing generated ideas and instructional needs. In their journals, they began to write more freely with more skill and creativity. …

Home Visits : Building A Team Approach With Families With Children With Special Needs, Linda S. Jacoby

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of the literature concerning home visits as a means of team building with families with children who have special needs. The primary focus is to consider the needs, problems, and guidelines for conducting home visits. Home visits have a lengthy history in early childhood education. They offer some unique insights and opportunities for educators and families. Careful planning and follow-up is necessary for a successful program.

Criticisms of home visits concern primarily the issues of limited financial resources and time constraints. Planning, scheduling, and conducting the visit are discussed in this paper; also, a discussion …

A Review Of Empirically Based Preference Assessments' Ability To Identify Reinforcers For Individuals With Disabilities, Jennifer A. Sellers

Graduate Research Papers

Research on empirically based preference assessments has been conducted to determine their effectiveness in identifying reinforcers. This paper reviews the effectiveness of five empirically based preference assessment procedures in identifying reinforcers for individuals with disabilities. The procedures are discussed in relationship to reinforcer-based treatments. The five preference assessment procedures reviewed are: 1) single stimulus, 2) paired choice, 3) multiple stimulus, 4) triad, and 5) verbal. The preference assessments differed in the number of highly reinforcing stimuli they identified, whether or not they provided rank orders of reinforcers, and the amount of time it took to conduct them. All of the …