The problem identified in this research was that the most-to-least (MTL) prompting strategies used for individuals with intellectual disability (ID) had not been consistently demonstrated in research for personal hygiene, specifically tooth brushing. It has been well known that people with ID acquire skills differently than typically developing…

The number of direct support professionals (DSPs) needed to support the increasing numbers of adults diagnosed with autism within the United States continues to grow exponentially. DSPs receive minimal training and often fail to generalize the training they have received, which can directly lead to poor learning outcomes for the adults they serve.…

In the last two decades, mindfulness has permeated sport, exercise, and performance psychology (SEPP). Mindfulness research in SEPP primarily focuses on the efficacy of manualized protocols on various outcomes related to performance and wellbeing; how athletes understand this complex construct, though, is largely unexplored in the literature.…

The present study employed an alternating treatment design to examine the use of a socially assistive robot on the educational outcomes of children with severe symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Participants included three children, ages 5-7 years old, recruited from a public elementary school in the Northeastern United States. The study…

The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that a transition plan be in place for students with disabilities by the time they turn 16. This plan aims to facilitate the child's movement from high school "to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including…

Psychology doctoral students face high demands with academics and clinical work, while balancing responsibilities with relationships, finances, and health concerns (Myers et al., 2012). Psychologists in training experienced heightened anxiety and are at greater risk for burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic (Norcross & Phillips, 2020). Research…

The needs of a school community following the death of a student or staff member are not something every educator and/or school administrator may be prepared to address. Multidisciplinary crisis response teams, particularly those operating at the district level, are equipped to respond to such situations rapidly and effectively. School…

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties with learning age-appropriate daily living skills (DLS) at their homes, schools, and in the community. Such skills are significant for independent life, post-school education, employment, and overall quality of life. Video prompting (VP) is a teaching practice that has…

Nurses experience academic, clinical, and personal stressors and often do not combat these stressors with effective coping strategies. Increased exposure to long-term and uncontrollable stress coupled with a lack of self-care techniques produce negative effects on nurses' health, academic achievement, and professional performance. The purpose of…

Children with visual impairments have unique learning needs because visual impairment impacts a child's ability to learn incidentally though observation (Lowenfeld, 1952, 1973). Literature suggests children with visual impairments do not perform independent living skills at the same level as their peers with typical vision (e.g., Lewis &…

Adolescent substance abuse can lead to detrimental long-term outcomes; thus, many schools have implemented programs to reduce both the incidence and prevalence of these issues. The "Botvin LifeSkills Training" (LST) program has demonstrated promising results in randomized controlled trials, but program results outside randomized trials…

This dissertation addresses several contemporary health challenges affecting the US population, drawing on methods and perspectives from health services research, social demography, and medical sociology. Paper 1 examines the pathways from educational attainment to difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of…

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary, pre-post, interventional project was to (1) explore the pervasiveness of compassion fatigue & (2) promote self-care activities & evaluate the effectiveness of compassion fatigue education on reducing hospice nursing staffs' compassion fatigue symptoms in a single hospice care unit. Background and…

Despite recent advancements in the field of Autism, young adults with a diagnosis of ASD continue to struggle working and living independently (Thompson, 2013). Competitive employment is a quality of life indicator (Garcia-Villamisar & Hughes, 2007; Garcia-Villamisar, Wehman, & Navarro, 2002; Hendricks, 2010; Hurlbutt & Chalmers, 2010;…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of participation in the LifeSkills Training (LST) program on student outcomes regarding attendance, discipline, and mental health referrals. Four middle schools located in Western and Central Pennsylvania participated in the study. A total number of 231 participants from three schools…