This study identified key instructional practices for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lessons for students with disabilities (SWD) based on the perceptions of teachers. Barriers to STEM lessons for SWD were identified, as well as the professional development desired by teachers. SWD can benefit from participation in STEM lessons. STEM is an acronym that is often defined as an interdisciplinary approach to learning by incorporating at least two of the disciplines with real-world applications through problem-solving projects. STEM lessons can offer opportunities for K–12 students to engage in 21st-century skills and the 5 C's (citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking), which are skills that are desired for college and career readiness and for competition in a global economy. This basic qualitative study consisted of 13 interviews (5 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high school) with teachers from 12 schools. Results were analyzed using deductive coding to identify instructional practices, barriers, and recommended professional development. Findings suggest that knowledge of the SWD, building relationships, use of support staff and others, intentional grouping, assigned group roles, hands-on learning, and classroom modifications helped SWD gain access to STEM lessons. In addition, student ability level, lack of adult support, and time limitations were identified as barriers for SWD's participation in STEM lessons. Finally, teachers believe that professional development is needed in teacher collaboration and student disability knowledge. Teachers want the opportunity to work together during STEM lesson development and also during implementation of STEM lessons. Teachers also want to learn more about specific strategies for each disability category. The information gained should support teachers and school leaders with inclusivity of SWD in STEM lessons. / Doctor of Philosophy / Implementation of key instructional practices for STEM lessons can improve inclusivity for SWD. Knowledge of barriers and desired professional development can also increase inclusiveness. STEM is an acronym that is often defined as an interdisciplinary approach to learning that incorporates at least two of the disciplines with real-world applications through problem-solving projects. STEM lessons can offer opportunities for K–12 students to engage in 21st-century skills and the 5 C's (citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking), which are skills that are desired for college and career readiness and for competition in a global economy. Through a basic qualitative study involving 13 teachers (5 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high school) from 12 schools, information about SWD's participation in STEM lessons was gained. Findings suggest that knowledge of the SWD, building relationships, use of support staff and others, intentional grouping, assigned group roles, hands-on learning, and classroom modifications helped SWD gain access to STEM lessons. In addition, student ability level, lack of adult support, and time limitations were identified as barriers for SWD's participation in STEM lessons. Finally, the results revealed that teachers believe that more professional development is needed in teacher collaboration and student disability knowledge. Teachers want the opportunity to work together during STEM lesson development and also during implementation of STEM lessons. Teachers also want to learn more about specific strategies for each disability category.

This study examines selected variables as they relate to the performance of sixth-grade learning disabled (LD) and behaviorally-emotionally handicapped (BEH) students on minimum competency tests administered by the North Carolina public schools. The sample consisted of 313 LD and 79 BEH subjects who attended the 1988 Basic Education Program Summer School in 38 selected school districts. Data were collected describing the independent variables including students’ race, sex, handicapping condition, parent education level, and school and teacher characteristics including instructional time, class size, teacher training, and teacher certification. The dependent variables for the study included language, reading, and mathematics performance scores on the Minimum Skills Diagnostic Tests (MSDT). Data were analyzed by utilizing a multiple regression model to describe the relationships between selected demographic and school variables and language, math, and reading gain scores on the MSDT and by utilizing dependent t tests for differences between the means for pre- and post-test performances. Although gains were made by LD and BEH students on the MSDT, it was concluded that the student and school variables used in the study were not predictive of achievement. / Ed. D.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this mini-thesis I share the action research that I undertook at the school where I teach. This research was an attempt to improve my practice in career guidance, a sub-division of Life Orientation. The need for a study of this nature was developed out of my experiences with matriculants who appear to be confused about their future careers they intent pursuing. It appeared that they lacked the capacity to do self-planning and did not really comprehend how to plan their future careers. In reflection on career guidance, in general, and my own teaching practice in particular, I came to the conclusion that there is a real problem in terms of the effectiveness of career guidance and that I, in my technicist attitude towards policies of the education department, perhaps unconsciously, became part of the maintenance of a fruitless practice. Although I dutifully carry out the curriculum according to the required education policies, there remain an uncertainty and a concern regarding the practicality surrounding career guidance and more so when it comes to disadvantaged students from rural areas. This compelled me to do some introspection about the way I was teaching and involving the learners in my career guidance classes. This introspection lead me to the realisation that the instrumentalist and technicist way of teaching (‘talk and chalk’ method of teaching) and my endeavour to finish my content and assessment tasks within a certain prescribed timeframe, were at odds with creative career guidance teaching. My classroom practice was trapped in the old methods, and I was caught up in the old traditional ways while teaching a 21st-century learner. In an effort to address the above-mentioned issues of concern, I address the following critical questions, namely: - How can career guidance be used as a tool to improve the life skills of learners from a poor rural school? - How can I improve my classroom practice? In Chapter one I explore my background and provide reasons why I got involved in this project. In my literature review, I suggest that the principles of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R–12 (2012) and the outcomes that the learners have to achieve have certain implications for classroom practice. This is in line with Cuseo’s (1996) view that basic education is guaranteed by not only giving form to the structure of the curriculum, but also to what happens between learners and teachers in the classroom. A detailed description of the two action research projects that were undertaken with Grade eleven learners at my school is given in Chapters four and five. In the final chapter of this thesis, I reflect on the research engaged in the classroom and I also reflect on the future of teachers as researchers. I believe that any attempt to improve the education and conditions of our rural and disadvantaged schools would go a long way in addressing the inequities prevalent in our society. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie mini-tesis deel ek die aksienavorsing wat ek by die skool waar ek onderrig, onderneem het. Hierdie navorsing was ʼn poging om my praktyk in beroepsvoorligting, ʼn onderafdeling van Lewensoriëntering, te verbeter. Die noodsaaklikheid van ʼn studie van hierdie aard het voortgespruit uit my ervaringe met matrikulante wat totaal verward voorkom oor hul toekoms en ʼn kommerwekkende gebrek aan kapasiteit toon om selfbeplanning te doen en nie regtig weet hoe om hul toekoms te beplan nie. Tydens refleksie oor beroepsvoorligting in die algemeen en my eie onderrigpraktyk in die besonder het ek tot die slotsom gekom dat daar ’n wesenlike probleem ten opsigte van die effektiwiteit van beroepsvoorligting bestaan en dat ek, deur my tegnisistiese ingesteldheid teenoor beleide van die onderwysdepartement, dalk onbewustelik deel geword het van die instandhouding van ’n vrugtelose praktyk. Alhoewel ek pligsgetrou die kurrikulum en gepaardgaande onderwysbeleide uitvoer, stem hierdie onsekerheid en onbekwaamheid van ons leerders my tot kommer. Dit het my genoodsaak om terug te staan en my eie praktyk in heroorweging te neem en te bevraagteken. Hierdie introspeksie het my gelei tot die bewuswording dat my instrumentele en tegnisistiese ingesteldheid ook in my klaskamerpraktyk gemanifesteer word deurdat ek, in my strewe om inhoud en assesseringstake binne ʼn voorgestelde tydsraamwerk te voltooi, in my klaskamerpraktyk na die ‘talk’ en ‘chalk’-metode geneig het. My onderrigpraktyk was dus van ʼn ou, tradisionele aard en het nie tred gehou met die moderne eeu waarin ons onsself bevind nie. In ʼn poging om bogenoemde aspekte aan te spreek, bespreek ek die volgende kritiese vrae: - Hoe kan beroepsvoorligting gebruik word as ʼn hulpmiddel om die lewensvaardighede van leerders van ʼn arm landelike skool te verbeter? - Hoe kan ek my praktyk in die klaskamer verbeter? Ek suggesteer ook in my literatuuroorsig dat die beginsels waarop die Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring grade R–12 (2012) rus en die uitkomstes wat deur die leerders bereik moet word ʼn sekere klaskamerpraktyk impliseer. Hierdie aanname is in ooreenstemming met Cuseo (1996) se siening dat algemene onderwys verseker word deur nie net aan die struktuur van die kurrikulum vorm te gee nie, maar deur ook aan wat tussen leerders en onderwysers in die klaskamer gebeur, vorm te gee. ʼn Gedetailleerde beskrywing van my twee aksienavorsingsprojekte, wat ek met graad elf-leerders by my skool onderneem het, word in hoofstukke vier en vyf gegee. In die laaste hoofstuk van hierdie tesis reflekteer ek oor my navorsing in die klaskamer en die toekoms vir die onderwyser-navorser. Ek glo dat enige poging om die onderwys en toestande van ons landelike en minder-bevoorregte skole te verbeter ‘n lang pad sal gaan om die ongelykhede wat teenwoordig is in ons gemeenskappe aan te spreek. In Hoofstuk een verskaf ek inligting met betrekking tot my agtergrond en gee ook redes waarom ek by hierdie projek betrokke geraak het. In my literatuuroorsig fokus ek op aspekte wat direk en indirek aan die onderwerp van hierdie aksienavorsingstesis gekoppel word.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Since 1994 the South African government has been committed to the transformation of the education system, including higher education. Higher education institutions have been encouraged to include individuals representing groups that had been excluded on the grounds of age, race, gender and, more specifically, students with disabilities. Within this transformation process, some of the biggest challenges higher education institutions face are policy changes, flexible curriculum delivery, alternative assessment procedures, the physical accessibility of the campus and the provision of support services for students with disabilities or special needs. Although policy development is an important stepping-stone, the reality is that proper practice, adequate awareness, and positive attitudes are required to effectively support and accommodate the diverse needs of students with disabilities. The primary objective of this study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of how students with disabilities experience support and barriers to their development at Stellenbosch University. The study was also based upon the assumption that it is important to hear the voices of students with disabilities before any recommendations in terms of the existing strategy can be suggested. This study was conducted by means of qualitative research, and the methods of data collection consisted of individual and focus group interviews as well as a literature review. The research findings may be described as follows: · Students with disabilities experienced both internal and external support and barrier factors and processes that impacted on their development. · Internal support and barrier factors and processes include emotional, behavioural, beliefs, physical and cognitive aspects. · External support and barrier factors and processes include peers, the faculty and department, university accommodation, the classroom and the university. · Four overarching themes that emerged from the data of the participants, namely attitudes and awareness, communication, level of inclusion, and advocacy, were outlined. The findings of the study have important implications for the support practices and training of academic staff and all role players at Stellenbosch University. Recommendations are also made to improve support services and the campus climate at Stellenbosch University to ultimately embrace diversity in order to offer an inclusive environment where the principles of equal opportunities, full participation and non-discrimination are dear to the heart of all the relevant role players involved in teaching, learning, service provision and policy making at Stellenbosch University.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation. / Department of Special Education

The purpose of this study was to explore the current practices used by secondary educators (special education teachers and guidance counselors) and stand alone career and technical education (CTE) center teachers when working with students with disabilities from home high schools participating in secondary CTE programming. In addition, this study looked at the perceptions that each educational system (high school and secondary CTE) had in regards to need and responsibility when working with these shared students. Participants for this study included CTE teachers and administrators from stand alone CTE centers in the state of Indiana and secondary special education teachers and guidance counselors from high schools feeding into those centers. Study participants were provided a paper/pencil survey and asked to respond to survey questions using both Likert-type scale and forced choice questions. Demographic data were gathered that included gender, age, position, years in position, years in education, and current classroom/service delivery setting. Participants were asked to rate statements regarding the level and types of communication and collaboration that were taking place between CTE teachers and their respective high schools (special education teachers and guidance counselors). The study found that there was inconsistency in the methods that were used to share information about students with disabilities and who was responsible for providing that information. A relatively high percentage of respondents did not have any knowledge about how information was shared. The study also found that many respondents (CTE and secondary educators) did not feel regular communication took place between the two systems in regards to students with disabilities. Overall, this study found that the responses provided by CTE and secondary education (special education teachers and guidance counselors) were varied based upon respondents personal involvement or responsibility. Recommendations are made for both local and state follow-up to investigate how CTE and special education are communicating and collaborating on behalf of students with disabilities. Further research is needed in order to establish and implement more consistent practice and process related to communication and collaboration between CTE and high school personnel (special education). This study was exploratory, designed with a targeted sample (n = 131) that provides important results and useful insight that can be instructive for further conversation and research. / Department of Special Education

This thesis identifies what disability resources are currently accessible and needed by the educator in order to service the disabled student in the classroom. It is a compilation of medical, academic, financial and equipment resources currently available to the educator.

This study utilized a quality of life framework of psychosocial adaptation to explore relationships among college stress, functional limitations, coping strategies, and perceived social support in adjustment to college among first-year and second-year undergraduate students with disabilities, based on specific hypothesized relations. College adjustment outcomes included: life satisfaction, academic performance, and psychosocial-emotional adjustment to college. A nonprobability sample of 103 first-year and second-year undergraduate college students with disabilities participated in the study. Respondents were registered with an office of support services for students with disabilities at a public, four-year university, located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Respondents were recruited by responding to an e-mail requesting participation in an online, web-based survey. Eight self-report measures included: (a) Participant Survey (developed by the researcher to collect socio-demographic information, (b) College Stress Inventory (CSI; Solberg, Hale, Villarreal, & Kavanagh, 1993), (c) Disability Functional Limitations Scale (DFLS) (developed by the researcher), (d) Brief COPE; Carver, 1997, (e) Social Support Appraisals-Revised (SSA-R) scale; Vaux et al., 1986), (f) Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985), (g) Grade Point Average-Scale (GPA-S; adapted by the researcher from a self-reported grading scale), and (h) Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ; Baker & Siryk, 1999). Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational procedures. Bivariate analysis suggested that all predictor variables (i.e., college stress, functional limitations, engagement coping, and perceived social support) were significantly associated with student adjustment to college. Hierarchical multiple regression suggested mostly direct (i.e., main) effects for engagement coping and perceived social support. No interacting role for either engagement-type coping or perceived social support was suggested, except for the following: Engagement-type coping moderated the relationship between disability-related functional limitations (as measured by increased restrictions in the ability to perform daily routines, activities, and life roles) and adaptation to college, as measured by life satisfaction. Analyses of socio-demographic variables revealed significant associations between chronological age, gender, hours employed, and adjustment to college. Lastly, hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed disengagement coping accounting for as much as 53% of the variance in adjustment scores. This result suggested disengagement coping adding significant predictive utility for adaptation-associated college adjustment. In light of these findings, counseling professionals may wish to consider the beneficial role of engagement coping in promoting optimal adjustment to college for lower-division undergraduate students with disabilities.

Most students with hearing loss attend community college, yet very little research on this population of students exists in higher education. This dissertation is one of the first to explore the experiences of mainstreamed d/Deaf students in community college. This research was conducted in order to gain a better understanding of how students who are d/Deaf interact navigate the mainstream postsecondary environment. Purposeful sampling was used to gather data from 19 individuals who attended postsecondary institutions not designed specifically for d/Deaf students. These participants were enrolled in an urban community college district in the southwestern U.S. and were receiving accommodations from their campus accessibility office. The sample included six Black females, one Black male, five Latinos, three Latinas, two White males, one White female, and two females who identified as multiracial. Data were collected through 30-60 minute semi-structured interviews in American Sign Language or spoken English, and a brief demographic survey. The interviews conducted in American Sign Language were then interpreted into English; one participant did not know ASL, and relied on oral communication. The theoretical framework of this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory. Individual development does not occur inside a vacuum; utilizing this theory allows for the analysis of how a student interacts with his or her environment, and how the environment affects the student. Findings from this study provide insight on participants’ reasons for enrolling in college, their perception of academic rigor as compared to high school, and familial support during their college experience. Participants reported financial difficulty, despite their utilization of the state’s tuition waiver program for students with hearing loss. The need for communication access, and especially the quality and quantity of sign language interpreters featured prominently in participant responses. Participants also expressed a desire for more interaction between students with hearing loss and the general college population. Finally, participants shared their perceptions of the campus accessibility office and the individuals within it, campus administrative support, and their experiences with teachers and classmates. The results from this study help shed light on the experience of d/Deaf students in community college and provide insight on how to facilitate their success in postsecondary education. The author provides recommended practices for campus accessibility offices to adopt in order to effectively serve this student population, including specialized orientation for students and instructors, specialized advising, utilization of student feedback, and increasing campus and community awareness of services offered.

This study, The Privatization of Special Education, addresses a shift in the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Students with disabilities are being publicly placed in private day and residential schools at public expense. In Virginia, 125 private schools are licensed by the Virginia Department of Education to serve students with Disabilities. The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of programs, services, and interventions offered in private education schools. This nonexperimental design study focused on a secondary data source: the Virginia Department of Education, Private Schools for Students With Disabilities 2010 Annual Survey. Completed surveys were returned by all 125 schools. Results indicated that the majority of private schools licensed to serve students with disabilities are day schools. Students with an Emotional Disability, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, and Autism are the most frequently reported disability classifications. Schools tend to be run by corporations and report being accredited by the Virginia Association of Special Education Facilities. Schools offer varying curricula, programs, and services in a variety of settings. This comprehensive profile adds to the body of knowledge or private schools serving students with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.