No Abstract Avaliable.

This study was designed to examine the utility of the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT; Bracken & McCallum, 1998) for use with children who have been diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder (e.g., autistic disorder, asperger’s disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified). The goal was to determine whether distinct cognitive profiles on the UNIT exist within this population and between those with and without a pervasive developmental disorder: a) Do children with a pervasive developmental disorder earn significantly lower mean scores than a demographically matched control group on the UNIT Full Scale Intelligence quotient? b) Do children with a pervasive developmental disorder earn a significantly higher mean score on the UNIT Nonsymbolic quotient versus the Symbolic quotient? c) Do children with a pervasive developmental disorder earn significantly different mean scores on the UNIT Reasoning and Memory quotients? Examiners administered the UNIT to 43 children with a pervasive developmental disorder. Data from 31 children who received raw scores of at least 1 on every subtest were used for statistical analyses. Data from an additional 31 children who participated in the UNIT standardization process were also included as the control group. The group with a pervasive developmental disorder had significantly lower scores (p<.001) on every quotient of the UNIT when compared to the control group. When the mean Full Scale Intelligence quotients were compared, the difference of approximately 22 points was significant, t(26) = 4.46, p = .000. Within the group with a pervasive developmental disorder, the mean score of the Nonsymbolic quotient was approximately 4 points higher than the Symbolic quotient; this difference was not significant, t(30) = 1.59, p > .05 (onetailed). When the Memory and Reasoning quotients were compared, the mean difference of .19 was not significant, t(30) = .068, p = .947. Based on mean difference analysis of this sample, there does not seem to be a unique cognitive profile for this population on the UNIT.

This qualitative case study collection followed 4 self-identified college-bound Mexican immigrants as they moved from their senior year of high school through their first semester of college. The purpose of this study was to learn about the young women’s aspirations and expectations and how their aspirations and expectations were or were not in harmony with the actuality of their lives. To meet this goal, the researcher interviewed the female participants three times. These interviews took place in high school and the first semester of college. The researcher began each interview with a predetermined list of questions, and added additional questions that were generated by the participant’s responses. Next, the researcher reviewed the participants’ transcripts and cumulative files and the transcripts of the interviews in order to conduct qualitative data analysis to find themes that were salient to the participants’ lives. The researcher described the salient themes for each of the individual participants by telling their individual stories. After writing the participant’s individual story, the researcher again met with the participant, so she could read the story and provide additional insights. Using the same data analysis process as with the individual cases, the researcher found themes that were germane across the case studies. The effectiveness of support from significant others, the value of helping people, the effects of racism, the development and maintenance of a Mexican identity, and the importance of marriage emerged as themes that were relevant across the four cases. This study adds to the body of literature that details the aspirations that are held by Mexican students, and it adds to the corpus of research that attempts to provide reasons for why this particular population may encounter more or different types of obstacles than the typical high school senior or first-year college student. All 4 of the participants saw themselves as college-bound during their senior year of high school, and all had utilized various strategies (i.e. maintaining a high GPA, taking college entrance exams, attending college workshops targeted for the Hispanic population, and applying to several colleges) to make this goal a reality. While all 4 of the participants began college immediately following high school, financial difficulties stemming from current or previous undocumented status proved to be an obstacle that was quite difficult to circumvent.

The inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom has changed over time. Teachers in inclusive classrooms need the skills to teach all students, including students with disabilities. The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD; 2019) reported in a survey of over 1500 general education teachers, only 17% noted they were well prepared to teach students with disabilities. A gap of in content knowledge exists between general and special education teacher preparation (Fonte et al., 2017) and the outcomes of students depends on the knowledge of the teacher (Burroughs et al, 2019). Lack of preparation of general education teachers' attributes to this current gap in meeting the needs of students with disabilities as seven states have specific requirements for meeting the needs of this population and only two states require clinical experiences in this targeted area (NCLD, 2019). One potential way to address this gap is through coaching. Currently, limited empirical evidence exists to determine the effectiveness of coaching as a professional development model and its impact on teacher practice (Desimone & Pak, 2017). The researcher in this study implemented the Classroom Strategies Coaching (Reddy & Dudek, 2016) model by collecting observation data using the Classroom Strategies Assessment System of teachers in their first five years in inclusive classrooms. The researcher compared three teachers' ratings who received coaching to three other teachers in business as usual. Teachers in the coaching group completed surveys to assess the social validity of the model. The comparison of the two groups showed increased implementation of the three teachers in the coaching groups' use of evidence-based practices.

The purpose of this ethnographic study was to examine the culture of students who are deaf and hard of hearing within the broader context of an inclusive high school, specifically as demonstrated though their learning experiences, socialization, and identity. The researcher gathered qualitative data in the form of observations, in-depth interviews, and participant video diary entries to gain insight into the shared cultural model of students who are deaf and hard of hearing. The data provided a holistic picture of cultural phenomena through the points of view of the subjects of the study. The description of the culture of this group of students may prove useful in shaping effective inclusive environments for students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The purposes of the study were to determine the level of priority of importance of administrative problem areas and specific problem items preventing the implementation of special programs for the educable mentally retarded in Utah. The study was conducted using a survey of twenty-seven school districts in the state of Utah lacking a sequential program for the educable mentally retarded in grades one through six. A questionnaire was sent to 184 selected respondents, including school board chairmen, superintendents, and elementary principals. Responses were received from 92 percent of the original selection. The respondent was asked to rank each of the problem items according to one of five choices, major, moderate, average, minor, or no problem to implementation. Results were evaluated on the basis of agreement among the rankings of the respondents, the relationship of the rankings, priority of the administrative areas, priority of the problem items, and individual group rankings. Statistical treatment revealed significance at the .01 level for the level of agreement and relationship among the rankings of the administrative problem areas. Further treatment revealed the priority of administrative problem categories in order of major importance to be: (1) professional personnel, (2) pupil personnel; (3) supervision , (4) communications, (5) research, (6) finance, and (7) policy. Individual problem items used in the questionnaire were ranked by priority of importance as perceived by the respondents as a combined group as well as by individual groups. There were sixty-two problem items ranked in order of priority. The conclusions arrived at as a result of the analysis of the data included: (1) there was a high level of agreement among the perceptions of the administrators in ranking the importance of the problem areas and specific items , (2) the respondents as individual and combined groups perceived the category of obtaining and retaining qualified professional personnel as the major problem to implementation of the special program, (3) the individual problem of greatest concern was the obtaining of a qualified classroom teacher for the educable mentally retarded, (4) communications are needed to inform the parents, public, and school faculty to gain support for t he educational needs of the educable mentally retarded, (5) administrators recognize the need for early identification of the potential retardate, accurate diagnosis and educational placement as important to program implementation, and (6) it appeared that present school policies are adequate in meeting the needs of program implementation of the educable mentally retarded.

The Neurological Impress Method is a system of unison reading in which the student and the instructor read orally together. The theory underlying the method is that the auditory feedback from the reader's own voice and from someone else's voice accurately reading the same material establishes a new learning process. The effectiveness of the impress method with students identified as having a specific learning disability was examined. The subjects were 16 sixth through ninth graders, ranging in age from 13 to 16, and assigned to a special school setting. Each student had been receiving special education services for at least two years and was reading at least two years below grade level as indicated by a standardized reading achievement test. The experimental group received tutoring in the impress method 15 minutes daily, four days a week, to comprise a total of 10 hours of training in the technique. Pre- and posttesting were done to assess reading instructional levels and attitudes toward reading. Scores in both achievement and attitude were compiled,and a statistical analysis was performed that determined the results to be significant. It was concluded that the Neurological Impress Method is an effective remedial procedure for use with learning disabled students. The procedure produced significant results which were manifested by improvements in reading achievement and development of improved attitudes toward the reading process.

The availability of online college and university courses have continued to grow, offering opportunities for education to students that may find attending in a regular classroom difficult, if not impossible. The number of students with disabilities enrolling in online courses is also growing. However, because of the mode of delivery (via computer/internet), blind and low vision college and university students can find it difficult to participate fully in an online course if it is not designed with accessibility in mind. Education is directly related to blind and low vision individuals becoming fully employed and independent. Blind and low vision college and university students who have previously taken an online course and used assistive technology devices to access the computer are aware of the issues of accessibility to online courses. The current study began by asking a group of blind and low-vision students to answer seven open-ended questions regarding their experiences accessing online courses at their college or university. The group responses generated 25 survey items and participants were asked to rate each item. Survey items were evaluated and participants were given the opportunity to re-rate their answers based on the group’s responses. The final results were evaluated and ranked in importance according to participant responses. Results were discussed along with the implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research.

Employees in the field of human services can influence the health and rate of progress of the clients they serve. A human service supervisor’s responsibilities include identifying why an employee may be performing poorly and provide an effective intervention to ensure improved performance. The Performance Diagnostic Checklist for Human Services (PDC-HS) has been used in treatment clinics to identify the variables that can contribute to poor employee performance, and subsequently recommend an intervention to improve performance. The special education classroom is a human service setting in which special education teachers supervise paraeducator’s skills and performance. A paraeducator’s role includes providing instruction to students. Discrete trial instruction is an effective method for students requiring specialized instruction to acquire new skills and concepts. Poor instruction can have an adverse impact on a student’s performance resulting in a slow rate of progress or regression. Special education teachers are trained in specialized instruction, behavior management and classroom organization, but are rarely prepared to supervise and train other adults. Additional challenges are time to provide professional development and training preparation, given the background and experience of paraeducators. Research has demonstrated that a systematic approach for training and performance evaluation is required in order to provide quality instruction. This research evaluated the effectiveness of the PDC-HS, as completed by classroom teachers, in a public school special education setting to improve the performance of paraeducators for discrete trial instruction. Three teachers first identified which paraeducators were not correctly implementing the steps for discrete trial instruction. They then used the PDC-HS to determine why their paraeducators were performing poorly and which interventions could improve their performance. The results indicated that a lack of training was contributing to poor performance and a Behavior Skills Training (BST) package would most likely increase their performance. The BST package began with defining the steps for discrete trial instruction, modeling the steps, practicing the steps and providing feedback on progress. Once the paraeducator was able to correctly demonstrate the steps with an adult, they were able to continue instruction with their students. The data demonstrated that their performance significantly increased after they were provided BST. The social validity results indicated that the teachers had a positive experience using the PDC-HS. All teachers reported that this was the first time they had consistently taken data on a paraeducator’s performance and were appreciative of the training and pleased with the results. The results also indicated that all were unaware of their paraeducator’s skill in discrete trial instruction and saw the value and outcomes of using data analysis for both the paraeducators and the students they were working with.

Through The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and The Workforce Innovative Opportunity Act of 2014, legislators have created opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to participate in postsecondary education with their typically developing peers. This study utilized the results of web-based survey data from public universities and colleges in the state of Florida to explore the varying options available for students with intellectual disabilities. This study applied a quantitative approach to the survey of 12 state university system (SUS) and 28 college system (CS) institutions in Florida to explore current program options and services afforded students with intellectual disabilities desiring postsecondary education in Florida. The web based survey yielded a 48% response rate. Findings indicate in 2016 there are 10 postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities within the public university and college system of Florida. Implications of the findings and recommendations for the future are discussed. Notably, future research should consider exploring national postsecondary programs and explore outcomes for students with intellectual disabilities.