Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Examining Parental Engagement In Early Intervention, Part C Special Education, Through The Parents’ Perception, Zach Selnes

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This study, employing a qualitative research approach within an interpretivist paradigm, aimed to explore the diverse experiences of parental engagement among 25 families with children receiving early intervention (i.e., Part C special education services) in a rural southeast MN educational district. While there has been a plethora of research on parental engagement, that research is often limited to how teachers perceive parental engagement or interactions in school activities or curriculum (Ansari & Markowitz, 2021; Gross et al., 2020; Hackworth et al., 2018). When parents actively, and intentionally, engage with their child outside of intervention services, it significantly enhances the child's …

Communication Environment For Students With Disabilities At Dhofar University (Reality And Hopes) بيئة الاتصال لدى الطلبة ذوي الإعاقة في جامعة ظفار (الواقع والمأمول), Mohamed Mohamed Fouda Assistant Professor Of Social Work

Association of Arab Universities Journal for Education and Psychology

A person's senses and physical abilities play an important and fundamental role in the communication process in general and in the process of learning and acquiring knowledge and skills in particular. A person learns through what he sees, hears, smells, tastes and touches. When these senses become limited in their work, the person faces a challenge in accessing information. Accordingly, the communication environment for students with disabilities within university institutions, regardless of their disabilities (visual, hearing, or motor), needs constant attention by everyone, specialists and non-specialists because it is important in building this category cognitively and skillfully. Accordingly, the current …

Examining The Effectiveness Of The Parent Implemented Functional Communication Training Through The Use Of Zoom In Children With Developmental Disabilities At Home Setting In Ksa, Abdulrhman Ashgar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies showed that children with Developmental Disabilities (DD) have communication and social difficulties; consequently, they are more likely to display disruptive behaviors. During daily interactions, disruptive behaviors can pose difficulties for individuals such as siblings, peers, parents, and educators. In KSA, parental involvement in school-related activities is overall insufficient. Also, parents were dissatisfied with their children's progress in academic and life skills. Those factors evoked the importance of having parents implement evidence-based practice to increase their competence, knowledge, and independence. Furthermore, teaching children meaningful communication ways through FCT may benefit school readiness and the development of social relationships and overall …

Perceptions Of K-12 Public Administrators To Improve Self-Efficacy And Work Conditions For Special Education Teachers: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, William Troy Traylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to explore the lived experiences of K-12 public-school administrators in special education, specifically what administrators believe is necessary to improve self-efficacy and working conditions for special education teachers. The theory that guided this research was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy which is grounded in social cognitive theory. The theory of self-efficacy explains how individuals are agents of their own goals, actions, and destiny. The central research question that guided this study was what do K-12 public-school administrators perceive will improve self-efficacy and working conditions for special education teachers? A hermeneutic phenomenology was used to …

Examining The Lived Experiences Of Educators Using Different Levels Of Support For Teaching Math To Students With Learning Disabilities In Math Computation And Problem-Solving For Teachers At Public Cyber Charter High Schools In The Northeastern United States: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Leeann E. Mccullough

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of educators using different levels of support for teaching math to students with learning disabilities in math computation and problem-solving for teachers at public cyber charter high schools in the Northeastern United States. The theory guiding this study was Sweller’s cognitive load theory, as it explained the learning process of students with learning disabilities and how educators developed instructional methods that complement the learner’s needs. The central research question was, “What is the lived experience of 9-12th-grade mathematics teachers in supporting students with differing learning abilities in …

The Experience Of Middle School Special Education Teachers In New Jersey Teaching Virtually During Covid-19, Yolanda Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of middle school special education teachers working remotely in New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conceptual framework that guided this study was Schlossberg’s Transition Theory. Schlossberg's Transition Theory refers to events that result in a change of relationships, routines, assumptions, or roles. This theory allowed me to see the various phases such as moving in, through, and out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing how the pandemic affected the relationships, routines, and roles of teachers made it easy to understand how this theory related directly to the pandemic. …

Examining The Perspectives Of General Education Teachers In Implementing A Multi-Tiered System Of Support: A Qualitative Study, Kristina Nelsen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to discover the perceptions of implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), which included the roles that collaboration, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and professional development played in implementation for elementary general education teachers at rural public school districts in northeast Nebraska. The theory guiding this study was Chrislip and Larson's theory on collaborative leadership, as it supported the vitality of understanding the success of implementing MTSS from a collaborative lens. The central research question was: What are elementary general education teachers' perceptions of implementing MTSS in rural public school districts in northeast …

The Inclusive Movement: An Examination Of High-Poverty And Low-Poverty School Districts In Arkansas, Latrenda Miller-Mills

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Since the inception of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as the national educational policy in 2015 (U.S. Department of Education, 2023), the Arkansas Department of Education has planned and implemented different initiatives to increase inclusive education in schools across the state. This quantitative research sought to examine the progress of public school districts in the state of Arkansas by determining if there were differences, particularly among high-poverty school districts across the state of Arkansas, that meet or exceed the state target percentage (58.07%) of students with disabilities being taught in general education classrooms for 80% or more of the …

Reading Comprehension Interventions For Students With Autism, Mary Andrews

Dissertations

Research focused on reading comprehension interventions for students with autism is limited. Available research focuses primarily on the impact of single intervention methods, whether teacher-led or technology-based. Research on intervention methods paired with technology is limited. The researcher conducted a survey of 51 special education teachers to identify what interventions, whether teacher-led or technology-based, are most frequently and effectively utilized within the classroom, as well as what methods teachers prefer to utilize within the classroom. The researcher also interviewed a sample of 5 teachers and conducted a thematic analysis to identify factors that teachers identify as most important in teaching …

Review Of Transition Programs For Autistic Students From Pre-K To Elementary School And Elementary School To Middle School In A Midwest Suburban School District, John J. Harrington Iii

Dissertations

This study is in place to identify what needs to be outlined within an IEP transition plan, so that students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can experience success during their educational careers. The study will review results based on teacher-provided surveys to identify how high-quality transition plans impact the student’s educational success when transitioning from early childhood education to elementary and elementary to middle school. The transition process plan is designed to provide the needed student information from one educational entity to another. The goal is to reduce the amount of time to get the student what the student needs …

Quality Of Life Domains For Students Living With A Severe Disability And Their Families, Eden Withers

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Background and Purpose

From the latter half of the 20th century to now, the United States has dramatically focused its efforts on increasing life longevity and quality of life for people with disabilities, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Federal legislation has taken steps to increase quality of life for people with IDD. Quality of life can be assessed through a variety of questionnaires, including the familial perspective of quality of life. Although quality of life can be assessed and it is supported by federal legislation, people with IDD broadly have yet to experience an enviable quality of …

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 …

An Exploration Of The Lived Experiences And Decision-Making Processes Of Alternative Education Teachers Using An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Ashley Irene Zehner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with behavioral challenges and mental health concerns have unique academic, behavioral, and emotional needs. Due to high student to teacher ratio and lack of mental health and behavioral resources, some students may not have their needs met in a public school general education setting. An option that can be a better solution for these students due to lower student to teacher ratio, mental health resources, and behavioral support is schooling in alternative schools. This study explored the daily routines and the decision-making process of alternative educators as they work to meet the multifaceted needs of their students. Using an …

Consultation Versus Direct Special Education Services And Postschool Outcomes For Individuals With Disabilities As Assessed By Indicator 14 Data, Callie Welch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is abundant research relating to transition supports and services for students with disabilities as they move out of high school into adulthood; however, relatively little is known about the relationship between the type of special education services they received and their postschool outcomes. Guided by the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and Tennessee’s Indicator 14 survey, I sought to better understand the relationship between the type of special education services received in high school and student further schooling or employability after graduation. Data were drawn from Indicator 14 surveys from 2021 and 2024 conducted by a rural school district …

Using Mixed-Reality Simulation To Teach Job Interview Skills To Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Alex Carlson

All Dissertations

Job interviews are a critical step to obtaining employment, however, the social demands of job interviews are often difficult for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Both the use of technology (e.g., mixed-reality simulation, video modeling, virtual reality) and attending inclusive postsecondary education programs that teach independent living skills and employment skills have been effective in improving job interview skills and employment outcomes. Using an underpowered randomized-control trial research design, the researcher examined whether using mixed-reality simulation technology to practice job interview skills improved job interview skill acquisition for young adults with ID compared to face-to-face practice that is typically conducted …

Take A Seat: The Impact Of Three Classroom Seating Arrangements On Individual Student Performance, Mikayla Camacho

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study tested three common classroom seating arrangements: rows and columns, groups, and semicircle. It tested various seating arrangements to determine which one works best for young students who struggle with staying on task and tend to be disruptive. Researchers also studied if students did their work correctly and finished on time and what both students and teachers thought about the seating arrangements. Four students were observed in the different seating arrangements, and 10 students and one teacher were asked to answer questions about the different types of seating arrangements. The students' focus and behavior improved with semicircle seating; whereas, …

The Effects Of The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services Non-Indicated Intervention On Improving Documentation Notes, Leigha Thorum

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services (PDC-HS) is an assessment used in human service settings to determine effective interventions to improve employee performance. In this study, we used the PDC-HS assessment to help find a type of training that would best improve the quality of session note documentation completed by RBTs® in an autism clinical setting. The participating RBTs® all showed an increase in documentation quality during the non-indicated intervention phase. The results suggest that the PDC-HS non-indicated intervention was effective in improving RBT® performance in completing session note documentation and further research should be conducted to study the impact of …

Applying Implementation Supports To Professional Development To Improve Implementation Of The Caught Being Good Game, Dylan Zimmerman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Disruptive behavior in the classroom can cause challenges for both teachers and students, creating high levels of teacher stress and preventing students from accessing academic instruction. Training on evidence-based classroom management is often resource-intensive and has inconsistent impact on teacher behavior in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of professional development on paraprofessionals' treatment fidelity of the Caught Being Good Game. We used a multiple baseline design to provide a tiered model of professional development to provide the least intensive level necessary to support implementation. Results indicate that all four teachers successfully implemented most …

Reactivity On Student On-Task Behavior: An Analysis Of On-Task Operational Definitions And Observer Presence On Student Behavior, Daria G. Fuell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study examines student engagement during academic tasks, specifically investigating how the presence and type of observer affect student performance. The objective was to understand the influence of different observer conditions—no observer, an observer behind an observation window, a researcher in the session room, and a caregiver in the session room—on student behavior. Using a multi-element design, the study assessed three measures: active on-task behavior, passive on-task behavior, and academic work completion. The literature review identified a lack of recent research on how students respond to adult observers during academic tasks and highlighted the variability in definitions of engagement. To …

Predicting Individual Hiking Trail Intensity Using Statistical Learning, Kelci Hannan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Hiking is an increasingly popular choice for people wanting to engage in recreation and physical activity. It not only offers the many benefits of exercise but also the opportunity to explore nature and to socialize. To ensure that new hikers are prepared to hike and remain safe while on the trail, knowledge of a hiking trail's difficulty is important. Trail difficulty information is sometimes available at the trailhead if the trail is well-trafficked and maintained but is nearly always available online or through a hiking-specific mobile application, such as AllTrails. Both trailhead and online sources provide only one difficulty rating …

Evaluating Social Interactions As A Byproduct Of The Good Behavior Game Within An Elementary Small Group Classroom, Emma Walton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Children with Autism exhibit significantly fewer social interaction behaviors than their neurotypical peers. Much of the research around this deficit focuses on early intervention, and specialty services such as ABA intervention. The Good Behavior Game is an interdependent group contingency that has been shown to improve academic, social and appropriate behaviors in a variety of settings. This study explored the effects of the GBG on the social interactions of elementary students within special education without specifically targeting social interactions with peers through the game's rules. This study found negative (null) results, indicating that the GBG did not affect the social …

Early Childhood Teacher Knowledge: Distinguishing Between Developmentally Appropriate Behavior And Maladaptive Behavior, Michela Carattini

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation investigates the effectiveness of a professional development program aimed at enhancing early childhood education (ECE) teachers' abilities to identify and address developmentally appropriate versus maladaptive behaviors in young children. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, the study involves pre- and post-intervention surveys, a post-intervention focus group, and the implementation of four asynchronous learning modules. The participants, pre-service teachers from a large urban university, were evaluated on their knowledge and application of distinguishing between behaviors in early childhood settings.The literature review highlights the struggles ECE teachers face in identifying maladaptive behaviors and the need for targeted professional development. …

Combined Academic And Behavioral Supports For Struggling Readers With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Danika Helen Lang

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The present study aims to examine the effects of a combination of academic and behavioral supports on students with emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD) who are also struggling readers. A multiple baseline across participants single case design was used to measure the impact of an evidence-based systematic phonics program, in combination with instruction in self-monitoring and self-evaluation via goal setting, on students’ word identification/decoding skills, oral reading fluency, and on-task behavior. Curriculum-based progress monitoring measures in nonsense word fluency and oral reading fluency were used to assess participants’ progress in reading. Momentary time sampling was the behavior recording method used to measure …

Effects Of An Interdependent Group Contingency On Classroom Behavior And Teacher-Student Relationships For Students With Behavioral Support Needs: An Initial Investigation Of Cw-Fit Ms Tier 1 In Inclusive Secondary Settings, Nancy Ruth Young

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A wide body of literature has documented the disproportionality in exclusionary discipline rates (Gregory et al., 2010; Losen et al., 2015; Office of Special Education Programs, 2020; Skiba, 2014; Welsh & Little, 2018). Students with disabilities or other minority backgrounds are removed from their classrooms at higher rates than their peers (Losen & Gillespie, 2012; Office of Special Education Programs, 2020). Such punitive practices have been associated with negative outcomes for the most at-risk youth. Thus, educational stakeholders have begun to move away from these punitive practices toward more positive behavior management methods. This study sought to examine the impact …

Longitudinal Investigation Of Early Mathematical Achievement And Classroom Strategic Diversity: A Replication And Extension Study, Douglas H. Clements, Yixiao Dong, Crystal A. Day-Hess, Julie Sarama

Early Childhood Special Education: Faculty Scholarship

Developing solution strategies, effortful procedures that students employ to solve a specific problem, is an important mathematical goal. Studies have documented intraindividual strategy variability and its significance for learning, but only some have addressed the interindividual strategic diversity across students within a classroom. This study analyzed classroom strategy diversity using assessments of 527 kindergartens to 2nd-grade students. Latent growth modeling analysis revealed that the best fit was a spline model featuring two phases of linear growth with different growth rates (i.e., one in Kindergarten, the other from Kindergarten spring to second grade). A growth mixture modeling analysis demonstrated that only …

Experiences Of Educators In Implementing Mindfulness In K-6 Special Education Transition Settings: A Case Study, Matthew David Bilchak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study will be to understand the perspectives of implementing mindfulness-based interventions for special education teachers in elementary special education transition settings. The theory guiding this study involves experiential learning, which requires students and educators to acquire skills to promote self-regulation actively. A qualitative case study approach provides insight into the advantages and challenges of implementing mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) to understand elementary special education teachers' perceptions. Ten educators from rural Pennsylvania school districts compromise the sample pool. Collection methods include interviews, lesson plan analysis, and surveys. Triangulation of data reveals how educators in special education transition …

The Lived Experiences Of Active-Duty Military Parents Caring For A Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Grades 6 - 12: A Phenomenological Study, Anna Marie Douglas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard military parents concerning their efforts to cultivate an environment of academic success for their children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Bowlby and Ainsworth's theory on attachment guided this study, explaining the correlation between insecure attachments and the display of worsening ADHD symptoms when breaking or not adequately establishing a secure attachment. The method this research study used was phenomenological hermeneutic. The sample for this study included 10 active-duty and Reserve military parents with at least one child diagnosed with ADHD and …

A Phenomenological Study Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy In Special Education Classrooms, Ashley Deluccia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe experiences of dialectical behavior therapy for special education teachers at a large, suburban school district in the Southeast United States. The theory guiding this study was Bandura's social cognitive theory (SCT), as it explains how new behaviors are learned and acquired. The central research question was: What are special education teachers' experiences of dialectical behavior therapy at a suburban school district in the Southeast United States? This qualitative design utilizes a phenomenological method. The sample included 12 special education teachers in behavior classrooms receiving dialectical behavior therapy. The setting was …

Performance Feedback Influence On Special Education Teacher Self-Efficacy, Margaret Stout

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative true experimental pretest posttest design research study was conducted to determine the effect two types of performance feedback had on overall special education teacher efficacy and instructional strategies efficacy. Determining the effect is important because teacher efficacy positively impacts student academic outcomes. In-service public school special education teachers who teach students with low incidence disabilities from Virginia were randomly assigned to two different virtual trainings where the Teachers Sense of Efficacy Scale was used as both the pre-training and post-training instrument. An ANCOVA was performed on the data resulting in the first null hypothesis being rejected and the …