The institution of schooling can be an anxiety provoking space for some students (Reda, 2009; White, 2011). One in every five children has mental health illnesses, and anxiety disorders are the most frequent condition (Merikangas, Nakamura, & Kessler, 2009). Teachers are in the unique position of being able to observe students' variations in…

This three-article dissertation analyzes the question of how to best prepare students transitioning from secondary education to post-secondary life. The first article examines the theories of self-determination, the self-advocacy skills needed for its success, and how the two relate to students with learning disabilities. The second article…

Students with learning disabilities continue to make advancements in their preparation for post-secondary studies and are one of the largest growing populations to enter colleges and universities. However, it is estimated that only forty percent of students with a learning disability report it to their post-secondary schools, creating difficulties…

This qualitative study investigated the academic, community, and family experiences of adults who are profoundly deaf. The deaf adults were categorized as high-achieving by having attended college post-high school. The intent of this study is to give teachers, parents, and other deaf students, insight into the factors responsible for contributing…

This qualitative study identified four educators' perceptions and their implementation of teaching advocacy to students with disabilities within a public secondary educational setting. Federal mandates, such as Public Law 94-142, requested educators including administrators, counselors, special educators, and general educators to help…

This research project utilized a collective case study approach to explore the lived experiences of nontraditional postsecondary students with impairments. Through the lenses of resilience theory and thriving as well as the social model of disability, it explored the challenges faced by successful nontraditional college students with impairments…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how adults with mild intellectual disabilities live out their social-sexual lives. Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often assumed to be asexual or incapable of having sexual lives, resulting in a paucity of research-based knowledge. Research and educational efforts with this…

Emancipated foster youth must have real world opportunities to learn to become participating citizens through self-advocacy to create educational justice. Emancipation for foster youth occurs between the ages of 18-22 and it is a state's responsibility to provide continuous support through direct instruction in self-advocacy. The aim of states and…

Reintegrating students with emotional and behavioral disorders from alternative school settings to the mainstream school environment presents significant challenges. Students are frequently unsuccessful when they return to home districts. Most researchers address the problem in a variable-centric manner, and explore specific student, teacher,…