The journey to support people with disabilities began nearly 70 years ago when federal laws began to inform educational practices and ensured accountability that people with disabilities should be able to live a full life. Transportation is one skill that people with disabilities need in order to reach their goals. Transportation impacts nearly…

The SUGAR Program Manual was designed based on an extensive literature review on bullying, adolescent development, resilience and protective factors, and anti-bullying programs. Literature on anti-bullying programs showed a deficit for older adolescents, particularly high school students. A whole-school approach is proposed by incorporating…

This study examined the experiences of Hmong American parents who navigate the U.S. public school system through Hmong American charter schools. The purpose of this study was to determine the successes and challenges, as defined and described by Hmong American parents, in the hope of creating a positive and effective educational experience for…

Society often holds strongly biased and stigmatized opinions when it comes to what is deemed appropriate or inappropriate for the sexual behavior of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) or developmental disabilities (DD). This is typically due to the beliefs that the ID/DD population are either only capable of having child-like…

Children living in poverty are in high need of mental health services, yet do not receive them (Allegria et al., 2010; Hodgkinson et al., 2017) due to barriers including cost of services, inaccessible location, and transportation issues (Allegria et al., 2015). Additionally, primary caregivers are important gatekeepers for children receiving…

This quantitative correlational study investigates caregivers' attitudes toward sexual behavior and sex education for children with Down syndrome, drawing upon the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 112 caregivers. The analysis revealed significant positive associations between…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore caregiver experiences at a community elementary school in suburban Wisconsin. The community school strategy aims to ensure all students flourish in thriving school communities, establishing partnerships among school staff, caregivers, and the community (Community Schools Forward, 2023). Given…

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the experiences of caregivers who advocate for a child with social anxiety. Parents of a child diagnosed with social anxiety describe similar experiences and challenges. Often parents adopt the role of advocate in order to obtain the necessary school services for their child. This…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology design was to describe the experiences of caregivers to adults with I/DD in the State of Texas. The theory guiding this study was the social constructivism framework which focused on how language and culture frame how individuals communicate, experience, and understand reality. In this study, the…

Navigation of the state and federal child welfare and special education systems in the U.S. presents significant challenges for caregivers, particularly those of children with disabilities. This dissertation explores the experiences of caregivers who were involved in these two systems, discussing the challenges they faced and analyzing the…

Sub-proficient reading affects students' academic achievement and has impacts beyond the classroom. Use of online reading programs to support reading skills has been demonstrated, yet little research related to middle school students and the barriers they face exists. The problem addressed in this study is 66% of U.S. middle school students read…

This study examined the effectiveness of caregiver consultations in caregiver's child's play therapy process through a program evaluation lens. Archival data was used from a counseling clinic located in the central southwestern United States. Quantitative data was collected from caregiver who filled out assessments (PSI-4 and CBCL) about their…

This qualitative case study is situated in the area of educational leadership. It aims to explore possible strategies for increasing community-integrated employment for graduates of a Job Training Coordination Program at OakVeil High School. It is important to consider the lived experiences, hopes, fears, and barriers experienced from a…

Special education knowledge may be a key factor for caregivers when accessing services at school however, few studies have compared linguistic differences while highlighting Spanish-speaking families' experiences (Burke et al, 2021; Trainor, 2010), A quasi-experimental survey design was selected to quantitatively answer the following research…

The Sonoran Desert is a magical place full of beauty and wonder. With an increase each year in the number of new families calling Arizona their home, so also comes an increase in pre-conceived notions of the dangers of the Sonoran Desert. Dangers such as plants, animals, and weather conditions can cause fears in families. Though these fears are…