Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'EDUCATION / Special Education / Communicative Disorders'

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to identify and understand the cultural and linguistic barriers encountered by Latino parents of children with communicative disorders. A second purpose was to identify the common themes that arise across Latino families regarding their transition to life in the United States and the quest for available and affordable services for their children. The general principles of phenomenological in-depth qualitative interviewing will be described. Linguistic themes regarding the parents' perceptions of their own linguistic abilities and the abilities of their children were identified. Cultural themes were also identified and included differences in lifestyle, knowledge and cultural views of disability, as well as educational roles and responsibilities. Information is provided regarding the role of speech-language pathologists, especially those who are Spanish-speaking. Finally, the importance of the development of cultural competence for all speech-language pathologists is discussed.

The purpose of this study was to survey special education teachers and speech therapists in eleven school districts in Northeast Tennessee regarding their knowledge level (etiology and educational programming) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The primary focus of the study was to identify effective programs and methods used by special educators in this region, comparing them to the latest techniques and teaching methods prescribed by recent research. In addition, identified weaknesses were used to recommend future training and staff development to enable educators to provide the best possible programs for children with autism. Five hundred fifty-two surveys were disseminated to special education teachers and speech therapists in eleven school districts in Northeast Tennessee. Two hundred ninety-two professionals responded to the survey, resulting in a return rate of 52.9%. Educators were asked to respond to a total of 44 questions (28 true/false items and 16 multiple choice items). The multiple choice items were designed to obtain demographic information, job related characteristics, preparation and experience teaching students with ASD, and professional needs of special educators in this region. The 16 multiple choice items were categorized into knowledge of ASD etiology and ASD educational programming. The results of the study indicate that there were no marked deficits in special educators' knowledge levels (etiology and educational programming) of ASD. However, the scores on educational programming were consistently higher than scores on etiology. There is a need for further training because very few special educators have been trained in research based methods currently used with students diagnosed as ASD.

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have challenges with communication, social interactions, and behavior, which can limit their functioning in school settings. They need to have functional communication skills to access the curriculum and have their needs met across all social environments. Special education teachers often experience barriers to successful implementation of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions appropriate for these students. The purpose of this case study was to understand how special education teachers experience AAC intervention processes, and illuminate the conditions for effective AAC implementation. A qualitative case study was conducted using interviews from 6 credentialed special education teachers who worked with ASD students for a minimum of 2 years in a school district in a western state. Coding and thematic analysis of data from interviews and work journals was conducted using Ely's condition of change theory as a framework. Findings for teachers' perspectives of conditions needed to successfully implement an AAC intervention reflected the need for more time, resources, knowledge and skills, and investment from stakeholders. Recommendations included provision of resources to special education teachers for autism specific materials, on-going autism specific training and assistance, additional time for preparation and related duties necessary for working with these students. Future research on overall strengthening of AAC interventions and overcoming challenges for change is needed. Results of this study might assist schools in empowering ASD students by facilitating their functional communication skills, involvement, learning and academic opportunities across social environments.

This dissertation, employing a social constructivist orientation, investigated the socialization behaviors employed by school age children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the context of meaning-based writing activities. A qualitative investigation, this study used ethnographic methods to describe and interpret the social behaviors of the individual participants throughout the writing events. Data in the form of audio and video recordings, participant observations, artifacts, and parent interviews for three participants with ASD were collected over the course of one academic semester during group social, literacy-based intervention. The manifestations of socialization evidenced during micro analysis of a primary data set were described in detail and triangulated via multiple secondary data sources. Findings demonstrate that all three participants oriented uniquely to socialization within the writing events.

Though the participants all evidenced unique manifestations of socialization, their behaviors could be conceptualized into broad patterns. Results of this study describe five patterns of the manifestations of socialization across all three participants; these included employment of social compensatory strategies, conceptualization of shared writing process as a social interaction, social monitoring behaviors, conceptualization of writing as something to be shared, and using writing as an opportunity to socialize/affiliate. Three additional patterns noted include participants being more successful with clinicians than peers, clinician mediation of peer-peer interactions, and breakdowns in coherence.

Clinical research implications drawn from the results include the importance of a strengths-based, contextualized approach to assessment and intervention and the value of the peer group, and the unique opportunities meaning-based writing intervention s can provide for addressing socialization. Research implications address the notion of social impairment as a distinct category of impairment as problematic.

Research has identified language impairment as a pervasive disability (Bishop & Edmundson, 1987; Greenhalgh & Strong, 2001). Classroom communication behaviors have a role in the maintenance of special education eligibility and functional communication difficulties for young children with language impairment. This paper reviews the theoretical and experimental literature on narrative skills and language impairment as well as empirical support for understanding language delays as part of a group of risk factors that affect child development. The present study describes patterns in the communication skills of a small group of young children with a predetermined diagnosis of language impairment using a case and field mixed methods research design. The study contributes to our conceptual understanding of the pervasive nature of language impairment by focusing on patterns in oral narrative skills and their relationship to communication at school, at home, and in the community. Study results differentiate participants by the severity of utterance formulation difficulties as well as social communication differences and emotional health symptoms to identify patterns.

This study was unique in that information from classroom teachers and parents in addition to an analysis of multiple language samples created a thick description of patterns across participants. Discussion elaborates upon patterns in the data and implications for assessment and practice implications for school based services from a speech-language pathologist.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of West Florida, 2009.
Submitted to the School of Education. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 121 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

There is concern about the recently increasing number of infants born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), yet little is known about its long-term neurodevelopmental effects. School-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are in a unique position to comment on potential long-term consequences of NAS because their caseloads include children with a variety of communication disorders and comorbidities. School-based SLPs across the United States (N = 258) responded to a survey about the presence of children with NAS on their caseloads and their perceptions of the children’s communication disorders and comorbidities. Results revealed that children with NAS currently are being treated by SLPs. They primarily present with receptive/expressive language and literacy disorders, and comorbid Broad Developmental Delay, ADD, and ADHD. Furthermore, documentation of NAS is often not available to SLPs, hindering creation of protocols for identification and treatment. The results of this study indicate that investment in future research is warranted.

Graduate students in Communication Disorders were found to become enculturated in the use of a specific literacy strategy to help struggling young readers. Supervisors used four transmission modes: modeling, feedback, collaboration and humor as symbolic channels to transmit knowledge and actions (defined as mechanisms) that were needed for the enculturation process. Mechanisms included negotiating power, linking classroom to the clinic, employing reflection, planning, extending thinking, using contrastiveness, verification, affiliating, making positive acknowledgements, employing cognitive dissonance, highlighting, using recurrency, explicit contextualizing, and employing independence. Situated learning experience was also identified as a necessary aspect of enculturation. Powerful mechanisms for struggling students were identified as reflection, employing cognitive dissonance and peer sharing (employing independence).

Mokiniai, turintys kalbėjimo, kalbos ir komunikacijos sutrikimų, mokydamiesi bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose, susiduria su specifiniais sunkumais, kuriuos lemia sutrikę ar nepakankamai išlavinti kalbiniai gebėjimai. Jiems turi būti teikiama individualizuota, mokinių poreikius atitinkanti pagalba. O vienas iš svarbių pagalbos teikėjų – mokytojas. Iškelta hipotezė, kad pedagogai bendradarbiaudami su mokyklos logopedais, kitų institucijų specialistais aktyviai dalyvauja vaikų, turinčių kalbėjimo, kalbos ir komunikacijos sutrikimų, ugdymo procese bei teikiant jiems pagalbą įveikiant šiuos sutrikimus. Atliktas empirinis tyrimas, kurio tikslas – išsiaiškinti pedagogų požiūrį į mokinius, turinčius kalbėjimo, kalbos ir komunikacijos sutrikimų bei jų taikomus ugdymo metodus, bendradarbiavimo su kitais specialistais aspektus. Siekiant užsibrėžto tikslo tyrimui naudota anketa bei interviu. Tyrime dalyvavo 100 pradinių klasių pedagogų iš įvairių miesto pradinių bei vidurinių mokyklų.
Pupils with speech, language and communication disorders in secondary schools face specific difficulties caused by impaired or underdevelopped language skills. Students must be given individualized support. And one of the major donors is the teacher. The hypothesis shows that teachers in collaboration with the school speech therapists and other specialists from different institutions actively participate in children‘s with language and communication disorders educational process and assist them in dealing with these problems. An empirical study is made to find out teachers' approach to students with speech, language and communication disorders. In order to achieve the objective study a questionnaire and an interview are used. The study involved 100 primary school teachers from various primary and secondary schools in town.

In this study, the author examined the effects of training four parents from low-socioeconomic environments to use Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) with their young children with language impairment. The investigator used a modified Teach-Model-Coach-Review method to teach parents to use the following EMT strategies during 8-10 individualized, home-based sessions: matched turns, expansions, time delays and milieu teaching prompts. A single-case multiple-baseline design across-behaviors replicated across four parent/child dyads was used to evaluate the parents' use of the EMT strategies. Child language outcomes were also assessed using pre- and post-intervention language samples. All parents learned and demonstrated use of each language support strategy to set criterion levels. Results from this study indicated a functional relation between the brief parent-implemented language intervention training and parents’ use of language support strategies. Additionally, all four children demonstrated gains in expressive language. Additional research is needed to assess fidelity and dosage of parents’ use of strategies on specific child language outcomes and to determine how to facilitate maintenance of parents’ use of strategies over time.

The present study used a multiple probe across participants design with an embedded generalization measure to examine the effect of systematic and explicit instruction of text-based listening comprehension strategy instruction through the implementation of two concurrent dependent variables: listening comprehension responses to wh- questions and communicative turn-taking during a discussion of those texts. Participants were four high school students with moderate to severe disabilities and commThe present study used a multiple probe across participants design with an embedded generalization measure to examine the effect of systematic and explicit instruction of text-based listening comprehension strategy instruction through the implementation of two concurrent dependent variables: listening comprehension responses to wh- questions and communicative turn-taking during a discussion of those texts. Participants were four high school students with moderate to severe disabilities and communication needs supported by augmentative and alternative communication. Additional analyses included the generalization of these effects to a special education classroom group discussion, the target student’s view of the intervention, and the classroom staff’s view of the changes observed between baseline and intervention communicative turn-taking by target participants with disabilities.unication needs supported by augmentative and alternative communication. Additional analyses included the generalization of these effects to a special education classroom group discussion, the target student’s view of the intervention, and the classroom staff’s view of the changes observed between baseline and intervention communicative turn-taking by target participants with disabilities.

The research demonstrates that music therapy is an effective tool in the area of communication and behavior with children with autism and children with other learning disabilities. The hypothesis of this thesis predicted that music would enhance communication and decrease inappropriate behaviors. Qualitative data were gathered from interviews with music therapists and observations of students diagnosed with autism and other disabilities including attention deficit disorder, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and other levels of mental retardation. Results supported the hypothesis and also supported the research in the literature that music lowered the anxiety levels in all individuals, resulting in increased learning.

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With congenital deafblindness and multiple disabilities need help to understand the world around them and have access to information. In many cases, they do not use speech as their main form of communication, and may use non-verbal ways of communication. These ways are sometimes unknown to professionals or family members. Aim: to analyze attention behaviors and communication behaviors between a teacher and deafblind and multiple disabilities children and to analyze this same teacher s perception about the attention and communication strategies she developed, in caring for these children. Method: this qualitative research, supported by a case-study method, is composed by two different studies. The first is a description of attention behaviors (attention to people, attention to objects and joint attention) and of communication behaviors (communication forms used by the students, communication forms used by the teacher and moments when turn taking occurs), conducted by participative observation and audio-visual recordings of interaction during classroom activities of two sets of partners: the first, a specialized teacher and a child with congenital deafblindness (S1), and, the second, the same teacher and a child with multiple disabilities (S2). The data were transcribed, the interaction moments were registered in field notes; the potential situations corresponding to attention behaviors were quantified and categorized; the potential situations corresponding to each form of communication by the children were transcribed and identified, as well as the teacher s form of communication and, in the end, turn takings were counted. The second study consisted of the analysis of the same teacher s perception about the communication and attention strategies she developed while caring for S1 and S2, as described in the first study. For this purpose, an individual, semi-structured interview was conducted, composed by three questions, made after the teacher watched the recorded material of her actions. This interview was transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Results: on the first study, regarding the number of attention behavior occurrences, S1 had attention to people and S2 attention to the object, during activities involving music and rhythm. As potential forms of non-verbal communication, S1 showed vocalizations, touching, body contact, body movements, facial expressions and crying, while S2 showed looking, body movements and vocalization. The teacher s communication forms were verbal, touching (contact and vibration), visual, auditory (rhythm) and Brazilian Sign Language signs. S1 and S2 had potential turn takings only when the teacher began the action, possibly due to difficulties in initiating, maintaining or extending interaction. On the second study, regarding the teacher s perception, she showed satisfaction with her work in realizing the student s development, respect for the individual characteristics in the use of strategies, importance of family involvement and using audio-visual records as a contribution to her work. However, she mentioned certain situations where she lost communication opportunities and did not provide enough time for the students to answer. Final remarks: the importance of a significant communication partner is essential in order to identify, interpret and respond to the child s behavior of attention and communication. The use of other communication forms should happen according to individual characteristics, since activities that will stimulate touch, sight, hearing and other senses should be offered, as a communication form, as part of the process of development stimulation. This should happen so that the child can receive, whenever possible, information about the environment and ensuring access to the world. Still, little is known about these children s learning skills and about attention and communication behaviors. Thus, it is imperative for both the teacher and Speech-Language Pathologist, to know each child s characteristics and to understand how they communicate
Crianças com surdocegueira congênita e com deficiência múltipla necessitam de apoio para a compreensão do mundo ao seu redor e acesso à informação. Em muitos casos, não utilizam a fala como principal forma de comunicação e poderão utilizar formas não verbais para se comunicarem. Essas são, por vezes, desconhecidas, seja por profissionais ou familiares. Objetivo: analisar os comportamentos de atenção e os comportamentos comunicativos entre uma professora e crianças com surdocegueira e com deficiência múltipla e analisar a percepção da mesma professora sobre as estratégias de atenção e comunicação, desenvolvidas por ela, no atendimento a essas crianças. Método: esta pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, com suporte metodológico de estudo de caso, é composta por dois estudos distintos. O primeiro é uma descrição dos comportamentos de atenção (atenção à pessoa, atenção ao objeto e atenção conjunta) e dos comportamentos comunicativos (as formas de comunicação utilizadas pelos alunos, as formas de comunicação utilizadas pela professora e os momentos em que ocorreram as trocas de turnos), por meio da observação participante e de gravações audiovisuais da interação, durante atividades em sala de aula, de duas díades: na primeira, uma professora especializada e uma criança com surdocegueira congênita (S1), e, na segunda, a mesma professora e uma criança com deficiência múltipla (S2). Os dados foram transcritos, os momentos de interação registrados por notas de campo; quantificadas e categorizadas as potenciais situações correspondentes aos comportamentos de atenção; transcritas e identificadas as potenciais situações correspondentes a cada forma de comunicação das crianças, forma de comunicação da professora; e, ao final, contabilizadas as trocas de turnos. O segundo estudo constou da análise da percepção da mesma professora especializada sobre as estratégias de atenção e comunicação, desenvolvidas por ela, no atendimento a S1 e S2, descritos no primeiro estudo. Para tal, foi realizada uma entrevista individual, semi-estruturada, composta por três perguntas, apresentadas após a professora ter assistido ao material audiovisual referente ao seu atendimento. Essa foi transcrita e analisada por meio de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: no primeiro estudo, em relação ao número de ocorrências dos comportamentos de atenção, S1 apresentou atenção à pessoa e S2 atenção ao objeto, em atividades que envolveram música e ritmo. Como potenciais formas de comunicação não verbal, S1 apresentou vocalização, toque, contato corporal, movimentos corporais, expressões faciais e choro, e no caso de S2, olhar, movimentos corporais e vocalização. As formas de comunicação da professora foram verbal, toque (contato e vibração), visual, auditiva (ritmo) e sinais de Libras. S1 e S2 apresentaram potenciais trocas de turnos apenas quando a ação foi iniciada pela professora, provavelmente por dificuldades em iniciar, manter ou estender uma interação. No segundo estudo, quanto à percepção da professora, essa apresentou satisfação pelo seu trabalho ao perceber o desenvolvimento dos alunos, respeito às características individuais para o uso das estratégias de atendimento, importância da participação da família e da utilização dos registros audiovisuais para contribuição de seu trabalho. Fez referência, porém, a determinadas situações, em que perdeu oportunidades de comunicação e não forneceu tempo necessário para resposta dos alunos. Considerações finais: a importância de um parceiro significativo de comunicação é essencial para identificar, interpretar e responder aos comportamentos de atenção e comunicativos da criança. A utilização de outras formas de comunicação deve estar de acordo com as características individuais, uma vez que atividades que estimulem o tato, a visão, a audição e outros sentidos, devem ser oferecidas como parte do processo de estimulação para o desenvolvimento, como forma de comunicação, para que a criança receba, quando possível, informações do ambiente por esses sentidos e garanta o acesso ao mundo. Pouco ainda se sabe sobre as habilidades de aprendizagem dessas crianças e sobre os comportamentos de atenção e de comunicação. Assim, conhecer a forma como cada criança se comunica e suas características são fundamentais para o atendimento tanto do professor quanto do fonoaudiólogo

This study examined the effects of a 2-day professional development for special education teachers of students who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The professional development included general knowledge of ASDs and teaching strategies that could be used in the classroom to assist children with ASDs. This study also ascertained teachers’ perceptions and knowledge gains as a result of participating in professional development opportunities on ASD.

The overarching research question addressed in this study was: Does a professional development on ASDs for special education teachers increase their knowledge of ASD and their knowledge and ability to implement strategies in the classroom? The specific research questions were: 1. Does the professional development change teachers’ perceptions of students with ASD? 2. Does the professional development increase the special education teachers’ knowledge of ASD? 3. Does the professional development provide specific teaching strategies directly related to students with ASDs’ success?

The researcher employed a mixed methods approach for this research study. The researcher collected data using the ASD Inventory (pre and post assessment). The study measured participants’ perceptions and knowledge of ASD, provided evidence-based practices to the participants, and assessed the participants’ comfort levels teaching students with ASD. The inventory assessments were analyzed using paired-samples t-test to obtain the final results.

The overall goal of this study was to learn about how to create effective professional development experiences for special education teachers in the area of ASDs. The goal was to enhance teachers’ perceptions of teaching students with ASD, increase their technical knowledge of ASD, and improve their knowledge of strategies to use when teaching students with ASD, as assessed by the ASD Inventory.

The major findings in this study were that after a 2-day professional development on ASD, there was a significant change in teachers’ perceptions of students with ASD, as well as a significant increase in teachers’ knowledge of ASD. Evidence of teaching strategies provided by the professional development was indicated through the assessment and teacher participation. Therefore, teachers learned strategies to meet the needs of students with ASDs.

Video modeling interventions have been mostly effective for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in teaching social communication skills. However, differences in the effectiveness of these interventions have been noted. Participant motivation was suggested as one of the factors that can influence the effectiveness of video modeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of participant motivation on video modeling for teaching social communication skills to individuals with ASD. A combined multiple probe across participants and adapted alternating treatments design was used to examine the differential effects of two video modeling conditions (i.e., motivated and non-motivated) on social communication skills of four adults with ASD. Of the four participants, three participants responded to the intervention and performed more of target behavior during the motivated video modeling condition than the non-motivated video modeling condition, while one did not respond to the intervention. In addition, the three participants engaged in a higher percentage of the target behavior during motivated generalization sessions than non-motivated generalization sessions. The results demonstrated that participant motivation influenced the effectiveness of video modeling.

This study utilized a qualitative case study interview methodology to explore the transition to postsecondary education and first-year postsecondary educational experiences of four students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This research provided a comprehensive understanding of the first-year postsecondary educational experience of the students who were enrolled in a private, selective four-year postsecondary educational institution. It explored the ecological factors that impacted the students' first-year postsecondary experiences through analyzing the perspective of the students, the students' parents, and the students' disability resource and service (D/RS) provider. It also investigated how students' prior experience and perception of ASD influenced their first-year postsecondary experience.

Reviewed literature found that research focusing on postsecondary educational experiences was scarce and mainly consisted of anecdotal accounts of students with ASD and limited research on the experiences of students with ASD after their first year. There was no prior research focusing on the first-year postsecondary experiences of students with ASD.

The study's findings provide an analysis of each student's prior experience and first-year postsecondary educational experience and then present a cross-case analysis. The study revealed that the students' academic and transition services in high school and parental support were the most notable prior experiences that influenced the students' transition to postsecondary education. It also found that the students experienced academic and social successes and challenges. Internal attributes, including students' persistence and stress impacted their experience. Parental support and D/RS support were perceived to have positively impacted the students' experience. The study also found that the students perceived their diagnosis of ASD as both a positive asset and a hindrance to their experience.

The discussion provides an analysis of the factors within the postsecondary environment and from the students' prior experience that impacted their first-year and how these four students' experiences related to the previous literature. It also discusses the importance of implementing effective support services. Recommendations for policy, practice, and further research are also provided.

Students with emotional behavioral disorders (EBD) are educated in restrictive placements at higher rates than students in other disability categories due to their challenging behavior and inability to function in the general educational environment (Bullock & Gable, 2006). The increasing utilization of alternative programming to educate students with EBD has prompted scholars to more closely examine and identify critical intervention components of these programs (Simpson et al., 2011). Although outcomes associated with restrictive placements have been investigated, there has not been any systematic investigation of whether the recommended elements of comprehensive programming are in place in these settings, whether they are being implemented with integrity and whether they, in turn, lead to improved outcomes. Therefore, a review of the literature aimed at examining studies of restrictive settings for the existence of the eight critical elements for effective EBD programs (Simpson et al., 2011) and the associated academic, behavioral, and social outcomes was conducted. The review revealed that none of the studies described the existence of supports in all eight areas. Examination of the outcomes across the studies indicated that students with EBD made some progress academically, behaviorally, and socially, but the extent and practical significance of that progress varied. A descriptive study was also conducted. Administrators and teachers from Board of Cooperative Educations Services (BOCES) specialized programs and approved day treatment programs in New York State were surveyed about the intensity and fidelity of implementation of evidence-based academic practices, effective behavior management and treatment plans, and social skills instruction. Means and standard deviations were used to summarize the levels of intensity and implementation fidelity across the sample. Two-way multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) were conducted to determine the effect of type of program and the respondents' professional position on the three elements. Overall, the results suggest that the three critical elements are present in some capacity and implemented with at least medium fidelity across the two restrictive settings. Significant differences were found between programs and positions in regards to the perceived levels of intensity and fidelity of implementation of the practices. Implications for future research, practice, and limitations are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of listening to music as an intervention to improve disruptive behavior in middle school age children with emotional/behavioral disabilities. Five middle-school students participated in a single-subject design, which involved a multiple baseline across subjects and settings. Students listened to an eight-minute recording of classical music on an iPod before engaging in an independent math or reading assignment while seated at their desk. The researcher used fixed rate recording to collect data over a five-minute session. No significant differences were found between pre-treatment and post-treatment for the targeted behaviors observed during the study. The small sample size of the study is cited as the possible reason for the negative results. Limitations as well as directions for future research are also discussed.

This study explored the perceptions of six teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in one school district. In individual interviews, the teachers shared their perceptions of the qualities, knowledge, and skills necessary for EBD teachers to be effective. Five of the teachers gathered for a focus group to discuss the findings from the analysis of the interview data.

An analysis of the data yielded three themes. First, effective EBD teachers develop unconditional teacher-student relationships. No matter how many setbacks a student with EBD may experience, the effective EBD teacher relentlessly affirms his or her belief in the student’s ability to succeed. When it seems like others have dismissed a student, the student can always count on the effective EBD teacher for support.

Second, effective EBD teachers create positive classroom environments. When students with EBD are removed from the general education setting or experience a crisis at school, the effective EBD teacher provides a safe, consistent, and nonjudgmental haven.

Finally, effective EBD teachers individualize instruction. Having knowledge of behavior disorders and effective strategies is insufficient. The effective EBD teacher identifies the particular needs of each student and designs instruction that meets those individual academic and behavioral needs.

A significant rise in the number of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) served in today's schools requires special education administrators to possess knowledge in this area. The purpose of this study was to determine the general knowledge of special education administrators concerning ASD and knowledge of educational programming, to explore their educational training and professional development experiences in ASD, to identify the training needs of special education administrators in ASD, and to determine if knowledge, training and experience in ASD predict litigation. Using survey methods, data were collected from a sample of 106 special education administrators in Texas. Data revealed special education administrators were most knowledgeable of general characteristics, common myths, and instructional strategies, and less knowledgeable of eligibility criteria. Knowledge regarding educational programming for learners with ASD produced mixed results. Logistic regression analysis revealed general autism knowledge, knowledge of educational programming, training, and experience in ASD were not factors predicting litigation. Although results indicated none of the factors explored in this study were predictors of litigation, areas of need regarding professional development were identified. Implications for future research are also discussed.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how educators describe their lived experiences with regard to addressing social skills challenges for children with ASD and what meaning can be derived from the experiences of those educators. Digitally recorded semistructured interviews were conducted with twelve educators working in school settings in Southern California. The participants held a variety of titles and all participants had at least six years of experience teaching social skills to children with ASD. Findings from this study resulted in five major thematic groups: (a) defining social skills; (b) how social skills are assessed; (c) program characteristics; (d) instructional and standardization challenges; and (e) critical factors. Study findings primarily indicated a need for a more structured approach to research due to the diversity within the ASD diagnosis and the complexity and broad nature of social skills. Two major recommendations for future research evolved from this study. First, future research should systematically explore the varying characteristics within the ASD population and how intervention strategies or intervention types impact the subpopulations within the ASD diagnosis. Finally, research should explore social motivation as a possible pivotal characteristic for successful social skills development and whether it is possible to cultivate motivation.

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RTS) is a rare congenital neurodevelopmental disorder that often presents with corresponding speech and language delays. However, the available literature on communicative development in RTS is currently very limited. The purpose of this retrospective single-case research study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), an aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system developed to teach functional communication to children with limited communication, on communicative abilities in RTS by providing a detailed profile of the intervention procedures utilized for a 6-year-old child with RTS. The aim of this investigation was both to contribute to the existing literature on the syndrome, as well as to document the success of the PECS system in children with RTS. Specifically, the current study explored the participant’s communicative progression and development in the areas of (a) communication initiation, (b) vocalization, and (c) eye contact after Phases 1-4 of the PECS protocol were implemented. Data records from 26 evaluation and intervention sessions completed during the participant’s Spring 2014 attendance at the CSULB Department of Speech-Language Pathology’s Speech and Language Clinic were analyzed in order to evaluate the effects of the PECS protocol on the participant’s communicative abilities. Results indicated that the PECS treatment significantly improved the participant’s communicative abilities, namely, by increasing her initiation of communicative exchanges, increasing use of vocalizations and word/phrase approximations, and increasing eye contact with communication partners. The current study supports the use of the PECS protocol in children with RTS as a functional communication system.

Male African American students with disabilities in a South Carolina school district have received a greater proportion of discipline referrals and exclusionary consequences than have other demographic groups. The purpose of this sequential mixed methods study was to explore classroom management strategies that may reduce this disproportionality. The conceptual framework was Skinner's applied behavior theory, which states that to change behavior, the environment must be changed. The qualitative guiding question investigated teacher beliefs about best classroom management practices. The quantitative research questions were intended to provide a description of discipline preferences. Quantitative data were collected through the Behavior and Instructional Management Scale (BIMS) survey (n = 20). Qualitative data were gathered from interviews with and observations of teachers of male African American students with behavioral disorders. Descriptive statistics of 20 BIMS responses indicated that participants' self -reported preferences were instructional management strategies and approaches that emphasized organizing the learning environment. Qualitative interview and observation data were analyzed using axial coding and a matrix. Findings indicated that although participants could identify disciplinary best practices, they lacked confidence to implement them. Based on these results, a professional development workshop for teachers was developed to implement research-based classroom management practices. This project will introduce social change for teachers by improving their efficacy in managing challenging behaviors and increasing instructional time. Students will also benefit from improved productivity in the learning environment.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Anthropology, 2008.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 11, 2009). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-08, Section: A, page: 3192. Adviser: Sarah D. Phillips.

The social interactions between children with special needs, learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorder (ADHD), were investigated. The children were observed in groups of three/four while creating a cooperative art project. During this activity, their interactions were recorded and coded for patterns of verbal communication. Verbal communication was evaluated through statements reflecting requests for information and materials; helping/cooperation/giving; consideration/positive reinforcement; competitiveness; intrusiveness; rejection; self-image; neutral statements; and persuasiveness. Results indicated that children with special needs tended to engage in a greater frequency of helping/cooperative/giving statements as opposed to any other verbal statements. Specifically, positive statements as opposed to negative statements classified their verbal interactions. These children also appeared to demonstrate more internalizing behaviors than externalizing behaviors. The influence of children's behaviors on children's verbal statements was examined. Results indicated that children who evidenced a disability in reading or language appeared to engage in a greater frequency of cooperative or helping statements than their non-disabled peers. Intrusive tendencies may be associated with the following: presence of a reading disability, absence of ADHD, and absence of a disability in written expression. Additionally, the conversations of children with a disability in mixed receptive language tended to evidence a greater frequency of neutral statements when compared to their peers without a disability. Externalizing behaviors also appeared to be associated with increased use of considerate and encouraging statements. Findings also suggested that intellectual ability may be related to children's verbalizations, but unrelated to children's behaviors. Intellectual functioning appeared to be directly related to children's use of rejecting statements. Upon comparing these findings to previous literature on the social communication between children with and without special needs, it is unclear whether children with special needs evidence a shared communicative culture or ability to interpret communication patterns, which results in more positive communicative interactions. This study has implications for appropriate educational placement, the formation of children's friendships, and the social communication of children with special needs.

A well-prepared and qualified special education teacher is crucial to the performance of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The prominent educators and federal government encourage the use of extended field experiences in preparing qualified special education teachers. The study examined the strengths and weaknesses of extended field experience in terms of the perceptions of the prospective teachers and teachers of students with EBD. Both individual interviews and a focus group were used to collect data. The results revealed that extended field experience benefits prospective teachers in showing the reality of the teachers' world, self-motivation assessment, and professional development. However, there were some improvements that could be made, including more placement selections and more practical knowledge.

In this study, I explored motivation and burnout of novice (1-3 years of teaching experience) and veteran (10 or more years of teaching experience) teachers of students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD). The educators who participated in the study work in a regional public day school that serves school districts across a large metropolitan area in the southeastern United States. The study focused on one program within the public day school, which serves students with EBD in self-contained classrooms. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews of teachers who met the experience level of either novice or veteran status. Similar themes emerged throughout the data collected. The most prominent similarities included a perception of unrealistic expectations set by administration, need for increased support, and importance of establishing a routine to effectively disconnect from work. Additionally, there were differences between the groups of teachers interviewed. Novice teachers indicated a need to develop a stronger sense of self-efficacy and direct support from their administrators. Veteran teachers sought more emotional support from their administrators. These findings present an opportunity for the organization to explore ways to address these commonalities and differences being experienced by novice and veteran teachers and to reduce the experience of burnout among teachers of students with EBD.

Creating effective education programs for students with autism spectrum disorder is challenging for schools for a variety of reasons, most notably because of the increase in population, a widespread lack of expertise, and the variability in the presentation of the disorder itself. This study takes a systems approach to understanding how to meet the needs of students with autism. It examines the reliability and validity of an observational tool that was designed to analyze the quality of an educational program for students with autism spectrum disorders. The Best Practice Measures for Educating Students with Autism: Lesson Observation and Document Audit Matrix (Autism LODAM) was created by synthesizing the relevant research on those program elements that are essential to an appropriate education for all students with autism. It is a tool created specifically for school systems and is designed to assist program administrators in analyzing their specific needs and creating steps for change. The study examined content validity, interrater reliability and predictive validity. Overall, the Autism LODAM was determined to be a reliable and valid measure of program quality for students with autism spectrum disorders. It can be used by schools to help them more systematically understand the present state of their educational program for this population, and more importantly can be used to outline specific areas for improvement. It is hoped that this study and the Autism LODAM can help generate real change in the quality of education for students with autism on a broad scale by providing a comprehensive tool that will measure all elements of program quality for this unique population.

Using language as a tool to engage in social activity and mediate learning is a human experience. For some, that experience is limited as a result of language/learning problems or by experiences in environments that have not fostered language development. Language minority students who have learning disabilities are also challenged to create meaning in a language that is not native and that may be limited, particularly as it relates to academic learning. This study examined the influence of three learning environments on the communicative competencies of bilingual students with learning disabilities and the influence of those environments on the students' learning. Students were at least two years below expected grade level in reading. During the study, they used their grade level textbooks as they engaged in learning Social Studies content. Results indicate that dialogic, interactive learning environments influence the communicative competencies students demonstrate as well as their content learning.

This qualitative phenomenological interview study investigated the barriers faced by Latino Spanish speakers with limited English proficiency (LEP) when seeking to obtain a diagnosis and special education resources for their children. This minority population faces several barriers that may be linked to a later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among Latino children; however, limited research has focused on the identification of these barriers and factors that contribute to a later ASD diagnosis in Latino families. Five Latina Spanish-speaking mothers with LEP were included in this study. Two 1-hour interviews were conducted per participant. The results showed barriers associated with the health care system, culture beliefs, cultural differences in the view of disability, limited health literacy, LEP, lack of ASD knowledge, and lack of competent interpreters.

Programmatic change related to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) training in special education teacher education programs across the U.S. and institutional variables that influenced change were examined. Variables included institutions’ current coverage of autism content in coursework and institution enrollment. One faculty member from each identified institution was invited to participate in the study. Data were collected from 136 special education faculty using an exploratory survey instrument, the National Survey on ASD Preparation in Undergraduate Special Education Teacher Training Programs (NSAP). This study was designed around themes which emerged from empirical and pragmatic research findings conceptualizing prevalent issues in personnel preparation for ASD including critical knowledge and skills needed by teachers to effectively serve students with ASD. Results indicated a significant number of programmatic changes (66%) remain to be implemented in undergraduate special education programs at institutions participating in the study.

Adolescent students with psychiatric disorders who are educated in day treatment school classrooms manifest cognitive limitations, maladaptive behaviors, and social functioning deficits that often lead to academic failure, impeding their productivity when they become adults and causing them to run afoul of the criminal justice system. Informed by their students' interests and perspectives, day treatment schoolteachers can individualize existing curricular and behavioral interventions, or develop alternatives so that unwanted classroom behaviors decrease and academic performance improves. This qualitative case study used Roland Barthes' (1981, 1985) theory of semiotics as a conceptual framework for answering how an analysis of photographs taken by adolescent day treatment school students who have psychiatric disorders provide insight into the students' interests and perspectives. The photography of seven adolescent participants, who were placed in a day treatment school and involved in its photography elective, was found to have communicated their interests and perspectives. A semiotic analysis was conducted of the photographs they took, observation notes made at the time the photographs were taken, and questionnaires collecting their reflections on taking the photographs. Should school-wide photography programs be implemented in day treatment schools and in schools with similar student populations nationwide, those programs could generate more effective curricula informed by their students' interests and perspectives. This could lead to a larger percentage of their graduates becoming productive members of society, thus prompting positive social change.

Much research and media attention in recent years has focused on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a pervasive developmental disorder that impacts children in multiple areas of their lives. Early identification and intervention, as well as access to mental health, behavioral, and pediatric services for this population are crucial to their later outcomes and quality of life (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001; Blane & Borden, 2008; Jacobson & Mulick, 2000; Rogers & Vismara, 2008). Unfortunately, research suggests that access to educational services may be complicated for individuals living in rural areas (Applequist, 2009; Collins et al., 2005, Ludlow, Conner, & Schechter 2005; Pennington, Horn & Berrong, 2009). Therefore, the purpose of this project was to investigate education services for children with ASD in rural areas. Education services were assessed via a survey of 42 parents of children with ASD and a review of educational records. Contrary to previous research, results from this study indicated that parents in more rural areas reported more satisfaction with educational counseling services and a lower age of diagnosis when compared to parents in more urban areas. Similarly, parents in more rural areas reported a higher number of services and more frequent educational counseling services (i.e., more direct service hours) compared to parents in more urban areas. Results of this study were interpreted from an adapted version of Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Access to Care. Possible explanations for these findings, as well as limitations, directions for future research, and implications are discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Counseling & Educational Psychology, 2007.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 5, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-09, Section: A, page: 3730.