Students with disabilities have traditionally achieved to a lesser degree than have their nondisabled peers. Since the 1950s the federal government has enacted laws to provide free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities. In the first decade of the 21st Century the government has produced legislation requiring schools to be responsible for improving instruction for students with disabilities. One of the major trends in accomplishing this task is a move toward inclusive education. This study determined the relationships of assessment type (Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments versus Virginia Grade Level Alternative (VGLA) assessments) and models of service delivery (general education inclusion classes versus special education pullout classes) for students with disabilities in grades 3 through 8 on student achievement in 4 counties in Southwest Virginia. Similar studies have been conducted with varying results noted. The review of the literature includes 18 studies that compared the achievement of students with disabilities who were instructed in the general education classroom with the achievement of students with disabilities who were instructed in the special education classroom. Significant differences were noted in 11 of the reviewed studies. The data were analyzed using chi-square analysis and pairwise comparisons. The findings indicate that there is a relationship between instructional delivery method (inclusion or pullout) and proficiency in reading and math. Students who were educated in the inclusion classrooms tended to have a higher incidence of pass proficient ratings and students in the pullout classrooms tended to have a higher incidence of pass advanced ratings. The findings also indicate that there is a relationship between assessment method (SOL assessment or VGLA) and proficiency in reading and math. Students who were assessed via the SOL assessment tended to have a higher incidence of pass proficient ratings and students who were assessed via the VGLA assessment tended to have a higher incidence of pass advanced ratings.

Current knowledge, strategies, and instructional approaches designed to understand and meet the learning needs of all students in general education settings are addressed in this current, research-based resource. Teaching Students with Special Needs in General Education Classroom gives teacher candidates the knowledge and skills they need to work effectively with the broad array of learning needs found in today’s classrooms. Included is specific information about students with special needs, including students with various disabilities, students identified as gifted and talented, culturally diverse students, and students who are English learners. The book details state-of-the-art practices, like response to intervention (RTI), to help readers develop essential professional knowledge and skills of today’s educators. Part I. Introduction to inclusive classrooms -- part II. Skills for the general education teacher -- part III. Strategies for teaching students with disabilities -- Glossary -- References -- Indexes. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1119/thumbnail.jpg

One useful strategy to support students with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) to promote appropriate behaviors across environments and gain the social skills is using social stories. In addition, experts have recognized iPads and apps were associated with less challenging behavior and more academic engagement over traditional materials (Lee, Lang, Davenport, Moore, Rispoli, Meer, & Chung, 2013). The focus this study was to examine the effectiveness of an intervention package featuring social stories delivered via an iPad and simultaneous prompting on frequency of targeted challenging behavior and comprehension of the social story of a student with IDD. A single-subject multiple probe across behaviors (Kennedy, 2005) design was used to investigate the effectiveness of this intervention on the student's ability to correctly match pictures to steps in social stories as well as the targeted challenging behaviors. The results, future research, and the limitations of the study are discussed.

This presentation highlights teachers', who were chosen for an Office of Special Education Programs Teacher preparation grant, experiences in implementing evidence based practices. Specifically, the presenters share their experiences of applying evidence based practices in their classrooms with the goal to increase inclusion for students with significant disabilities. The presenters will share the strategies that they have found most successful and discuss how to implement these strategies to promote inclusion. Learning Objectives: 1) Be able to identify 3-5 evidence based practices that address a variety of learning needs of students with significant disabilities. 2) Generate 2-3 ideas to increase inclusive practices by implementing evidence based practices for people with significant disabilities. 3) Share their own experiences in implementing evidence based practices in the classroom to improve inclusive practices for persons with significant disabilities. To do this, the presenters, who are teachers selected as part of an OSEP funded teacher preparation grant, will discuss how they have applied their knowledge of evidenced based practices to improve the inclusive practices for persons with significant disabilities at their schools. Under the guidance of their faculty mentors, several teachers will provide information about a variety of evidence based practices, how they implemented the practices within their school setting (pre-k to 21) and any obstacles they faced as well as how they overcame each obstacle. Topics may include the following: (a) self-determination, (b) family involvement, (c) person centered planning, (d) teaching academic skills (e) positive behavioral supports, and (f) data based decision making (Browder, Wakeman, et al., 2007; Jimenez, Mims, Browder, 2012; McDonnell; Copeland, 2011; Westling & Fox, 2009; Wood, Fowler, Uphold, Test, 2005). The presenters will also share the outcomes of their implementation of strategies. This session is unique as it encourages engagement between attendees and several practitioners with demonstrated leadership skills who are passionate about increasing evidenced based inclusive practices to promote change within their school setting for students with significant disabilities. The teachers who will be presenting work with students from culturally, linguistically and economically diverse backgrounds. Individualized attendee needs will be considered throughout the presentation to ensure full participation by all. Information will be presented through visual and auditory means.

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Increasingly, technology has been used to provide access to academic curricula for students with moderate to severe intellectual disability. In the current pilot study, we used a multiple probe across participants design to evaluate the effectiveness of a technology-based instructional package on the opinion writing skills of three middle school students with moderate and severe intellectual disability. Findings suggest that the intervention resulted in improved performance across all three participants and that all participants maintained performance at levels greater than baseline. Limitations and implications for practice and future research are discussed.

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The current study examined treatment intrusiveness within behavior intervention programs developed for adults with intellectual disability (ID). Behavior analysts provided demographic information about themselves, their adult clients with ID, and their clients’ behavior intervention plans, and they completed an online version of the Treatment Intrusiveness Measure (Carter et al., 2009), an instrument that provides a Base Level Intrusiveness Score (BLIS; a score computed across five areas of categorization, such as, Health and Safety) and a Modified Level of Intrusiveness Score (MLIS), which assesses the presence or absence of intrusiveness-reducing practices. Among other findings, various statistical analyses revealed (a) a significant difference between BLIS and modified (BLIS minus MLIS) intrusiveness scores, (b) the practices within which most of the intrusiveness was concentrated within behavioral treatment programs, and (c) the least- and most-utilized intrusiveness-reducing practices. Implications are provided to assist professionals working with adults with ID who engage in challenging behavior and are supported through behavior intervention services.

A Survival Guide for New Special Educators provides relevant, practical information for new special education teachers across a broad range of topic areas. Drawing on the latest research on special educator effectiveness and retention, this comprehensive, go-to resource addresses the most pressing needs of novice instructors, resource teachers, and inclusion specialists. Offers research-based, classroom-tested strategies for working with a variety of special needs students Covers everything from preparing for the new school year to behavior management, customizing curriculum, creating effective IEPs, and more Billingsley and Brownell are noted experts in special educator training and support This highly practical book is filled with checklists, forms, and tools that special educators can use every day to help ensure that all special needs students get the rich, rewarding education they deserve.