Reading comprehension is a critical academic skill that permeates all academic subjects. Students with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to struggle with reading comprehension, especially as they enter secondary education. Therefore, evidence-based interventions to support middle school students with autism in developing reading…

The US Catholic school system is the largest non-public school system. Teachers in US Catholic schools support students with diverse learning needs in significant numbers without the legal and policy support and funding found in the public school system. In placing a Catholic school general education teacher in the role of primary inclusive…

Changes in education laws have left special education teachers to determine how to provide equitable access to the general education curriculum for their students with significant disabilities. Legislation has established the need for equitable access yet has provided little guidance as to how this is to be achieved. It has been stated that…

This dissertation study aimed to examine the relationship between Tier 1 Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) implementation fidelity and the academic (e.g., MAP Growth scores) and behavioral outcomes (e.g., major office discipline referrals, suspensions). High quality PBIS implementation fidelity has been linked with improved…

Although school administrators have tried to find interventions for students with varying amounts of absenteeism, students with disabilities (SwD) continue to be a subgroup of students who struggle with chronic absenteeism. The purpose of this study was to determine local administrators' perspectives on why SwD are more prone to chronic…

While applying a qualitative phenomenological approach, this study determines the perspectives of college freshmen students with disabilities as to what reasons can make them at high risk for early departure. This study demonstrates that respondents acknowledge the reasons that can make them drop out of college are: performance pressure; stress…

Co-teaching requires collaboration between the general and special education teachers. Researchers such as Murawski and Deiker (2008) stress the importance of co-planning, co-instructing, and co-assessing students. With intentional time to co-plan and training, general education and special education teachers can implement a variety of co-teaching…

Managing a caseload of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) is a demanding working condition for special education teachers (SETs). Large and unmanageable caseloads are important because of the connections to the instability of the SET workforce, including the longstanding SET shortage. Researchers have recommended hiring more…

This study aimed to understand how the identities of a group of nine Black boys labeled dis/abled mattered in the context of their schooling experiences. I used DisCrit, Waitoller and Kozleski's (2013) notion of inclusive education, and CHAT in tandem to design the study and analyze what was said and done within it. With help from the…

Neurodiverse individuals often struggle to successfully transition into young adulthood. The social, cognitive, and organizational requirements of college, employment, and independent living can be challenging for these adolescents as they strive to adapt to new environments. Their diversity presents unique abilities to see the world differently…

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was passed in 1975 in an effort to ensure that children with disabilities were provided with an equitable education when compared to their nondisabled peers. IDEA requires schools throughout the country to educate students with disabilities in the most appropriate setting. Despite this federal law,…

Students with disabilities are entering higher education at higher rates than ever before. However, the retention rates of these students are disproportionately low compared to peers without disabilities. More so, students with learning disabilities are less likely to be retained compared to those with other types of disabilities. This study…

The purpose of this explanatory sequential, mixed methods research study was to identify the perceptions of school resource officers (SROs) regarding high school students with disabilities and their preparedness to work with this population, as a result of their SRO training. This study involved a national quantitative survey of SROs working in…

With nearly 20% of college students reporting having a disability, disability services play a critical role in supporting students' access to higher education. Disability services has been critiqued for practicing from a reactive mode and may benefit from the collaborative partnerships with campus disability studies and disability culture…

Though there are a number of practices identified by researchers and other professionals as inclusive, the question remains about whether the students themselves truly "feel" included. There has been limited research surrounding specific experiences in inclusive classrooms that students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perceive to be…