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Effective practices in student data collection and implementation of data-based instructional decisions are needed for all educators, but are especially important when students have severe intellectual and develop- mental disabilities. Although research in the area of data-based instructional decisions for students with severe disabilities shows benefits for using data, there is limited research to demonstrate teachers in applied settings can acquire the decision-making skills required. The purpose of this research was to demonstrate how teachers from five states acquired a set of data-based decisions implementation guidelines through online professional development. Recommendations for practice and future research are included.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a modified system of least intrusive prompts on text-dependent listening comprehension for four middle-school-aged students with intellectual disability and autism during read-alouds of adapted grade-level biographies. A system of least intrusive prompts was modified by inserting a rule for answering questions and an opportunity to hear sections of the biography again. The procedure was evaluated via a multiple probe design across students. Outcomes indicate that all students improved listening comprehension after intervention and all students maintained high levels of correct responding 2 weeks after intervention. In addition, three students generalized skills to new biographies. The need for future research and implications for practice are discussed.

This pilot study sought to develop and evaluate the use of a treatment package that included systematic and direct instruction on acquisition of literacy skills aligned with middle school English/Language Arts standards for students with moderate to severe disabilities, including autism. Participants included five teachers and 15 middle school students with moderate to severe disabilities who were primarily served in a self-contained setting. A one-group, nonrandomized, pre-posttest design was implemented to measure vocabulary, comprehen- sion of familiar text and unfamiliar text, poetry, research, and writing skills. Results indicated significant gains in vocabulary and comprehension of familiar text. Limitations, implications, and the need for future research are discussed.

In order to better assist practitioners and better serve persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families, it is vital for professionals to systematically evaluate the existing body of literature and synthesize its scientific evidence, so that the efficacy of research can be translated to evidence-based practices (EBPs) (Wheeler, 2007; Zhang & Wheeler, 2011). This research synthesis evaluated adherence to EBP standards and analyzed the effectiveness of gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diets for individuals with ASD. Four hundred and seventy articles were screened among peer-reviewed journals in English language published through 2010 using the Academic Search Complete search database. Twenty-three studies were selected, and the researchers used a systematic analysis model developed by Mayton, Wheeler, Menendez, and Zhang (2010) to investigate the degree of adherence to specific evidence-based practice standards. In addition, the study utilized quality indicators proposed by (a) Horner et al. (2005) for single-subject design studies and (b) Gersten et al. (2005) for group experimental design, to evaluate the efficacy of GFCF diet interventions. Results of this synthesis indicated that the efficacy of GFCF diet interventions for individuals with ASD is inconclusive, and the field needs better controlled studies to provide the scientific evidence base for the intervention.

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

Dans le contexte actuel de l’éducation, l’enfant est davantage placé au cœur des relations entre la famille, l’école et la communauté, et les parents sont invités à accompagner leur enfant tout au long de son parcours scolaire. Quant aux enseignants, ils sont conviés à collaborer de façon systématique avec les familles. La collaboration entre les enseignants et les parents devient donc une condition essentielle à la réussite scolaire des élèves, notamment avec ceux qui éprouvent des difficultés d’apprentissage. Actuellement, dans nos écoles, la collaboration se situe principalement au niveau des communications obligatoires de base prescrites par le Régime pédagogique. En ce sens, Kalubi et Lesieux (2006) soulignent que le partenariat tant souhaité dans les documents officiels des ministères concernés ne transparaît pas toujours dans les pratiques quotidiennes. D’ailleurs, la littérature scientifique montre qu’il existe de nombreux obstacles liés à la collaboration école-famille-communauté, tout particulièrement lorsqu’il s’agit d’entretenir des relations harmonieuses avec les parents d’élèves à risque. À cet égard, une plus grande participation parentale est sollicitée en vue d’intensifier la collaboration entre l’école et la famille. Effectivement, les enseignants désirent que les parents s’impliquent davantage auprès de leur enfant dans les travaux et les devoirs à la maison et, du côté des parents, ils se demandent souvent comment agir pour aider encore mieux leurs enfants dans leur apprentissage (Gouvernement du Québec, 2000). Le plan d’intervention est un outil reconnu par les milieux scolaires pour aider l’élève à risque dans son cheminement scolaire puisqu’il sollicite la participation des parents et encourage la collaboration école-famille-communauté. De fait, il s’inscrit dans une démarche dynamique et prend appui sur une vision systémique de la situation de l’élève, ce qui permet de mieux identifier les besoins de l’élève à risque et d’y répondre adéquatement (Gouvernement du Québec, 2004). En prolongement à ce que l’on connaît déjà sur la participation parentale et la collaboration école-famille-communauté, nous orientons cette recherche sur les perceptions et les attentes d’enseignants au primaire en classe ordinaire et de parents d’élèves à risque à l’égard de la participation parentale et de la collaboration école-famille dans le cadre de l’élaboration et du suivi du plan d’intervention. Cette étude emprunte une approche de recherche qualitative de type exploratoire et elle est menée auprès de huit enseignants au primaire et de sept parents d’élèves à risque. Les participants ont délibérément été choisis pour leur représentativité par rapport à l’objet d’étude (Mongeau, 2009). Une procédure d’échantillonnage par volontariat a été appliquée et les données ont été recueillies par le biais d’entrevues semi-dirigées. L’analyse des entrevues révèle que les parents participent au plan d’intervention parce qu’ils veulent soutenir et aider leur enfant dans leur cheminement scolaire. Il existe cependant de multiples façons pour les parents de participer à la réussite scolaire de leur enfant, celles-ci variant particulièrement selon leurs intérêts, leurs compétences et leurs disponibilités. En ce qui concerne les enseignants, les entrevues nous dévoilent qu’ils ont globalement des perceptions positives à l’égard des parents, ce qui favorise grandement l’établissement de relations harmonieuses. Par contre, ils s’attendent à une plus grande participation parentale dans le suivi scolaire de l’enfant à la maison. Tant d’un côté que de l’autre, les résultats indiquent qu’il faut favoriser davantage la participation des parents à l’élaboration et au suivi du plan d’intervention de l’élève à risque. Idéalement, les enseignants et les parents devraient s’enrichir mutuellement de leurs ressources et de leurs expertises complémentaires en créant des relations collaboratives plutôt que hiérarchiques. Ce niveau de collaboration est sans aucun doute celui qui favoriserait avantageusement la réussite scolaire des élèves à risque. / In today’s education context, the student is placed in the center of the relations between the family, the school and the community. Parents are invited to help their children all along their schooling and teachers are asked to systematically collaborate with families. The collaboration between teachers and parents is therefore an essential condition of the student achievement and it is even more important for students with learning disabilities. Currently in our schools, the collaboration is being mainly maintained at the obligatory basic communications level which is prescribed by the Pedagogic System. Kalubi and Lesieux (2006) indicate that the so desired partnership in official documentation from concerned ministries does not transpire in day to day school practices. Furthermore, scientific literature as shown that there are obstacles to family-school-community partnership especially in regards to keeping harmonious relations with parents of special needs students. Furthermore, even greater parent participation is sought in order to intensify the collaboration between the school and the family. Teachers wish for parents to get more involved with their children in order to accompany them in their school projects and homework. Parents are often asking themselves how to act in order to help even more their children in their homework and learning activities (Government of Quebec, 2000). The individualized education plan is a tool recognized by schooling communities to help the special needs student in their learning activities as it involves parent participation and promotes the family-school-community partnership. The individualized education plan is at the core of a dynamic plan of action which is based on a systemic vision of the student situation in order to better identify the specific needs of the special needs student and to respond to these adequately (Government of Quebec, 2004). In the continuation of what we already know about parent participation and family-school-community partnership, this research is about both perceptions and expectations of teachers and parents of special needs students in elementary school in regards to parent participation and family-school-community partnership in the preparation and follow-up of the individualized education plan. This study is using a qualitative approach of the exploration type with eight teachers in elementary school and seven parents of special needs students. These participants were deliberately chosen for their representativeness in regards to the study (Mongeau, 2009). A process of voluntary sampling was put in place and the data was collected via semi-directed interviews. Data analysis extracted from these voluntary interviews reveals that parent participate in the individualized education plan because they want to help and support and their child in their learning activities. It appears that there are many different ways and levels of engagement for parents to participate in their child’s student achievement. These different ways and level of engagement varies depending on parent’s interests, skills and availability. In regards to teachers, the data extracted from their interviews shows that they have a global positive perception in regards to parents which greatly helps to establish harmonious relationships between them. On the other hand, teachers are expecting greater involvement of parents in their child learning activities at home. On both teacher and parent side, results indicate that parent participation must be facilitated in the preparation, execution and follow-up of the individualized education plan. Ideally teachers and parents should mutually benefit from each other resources and knowledge based on a collaborative relationship instead of a hierarchical one. Such collaborative relationship between teachers and parents would be, without a doubt, the best approach to help special needs students in their school success.

Thesis (Ph.D) -- The College of Saint Elizabeth, 2010. / Typescript. Available at The College of Saint Elizabeth - Office of Graduate Programs. "May 2010"

The intent of the review, and the list of programs appended to this paper, is to compile examples of successful programs that may serve as models for those in California who have been charged with the development and implementation of programs that will bring the California Department of Education/Office of Special Education and its local education agencies into substantial compliance with the requirements of IDEA.

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