Background: Childcare providers' work demands have been associated with high rates of stress and health conditions. Physical activity (PA) may help to alleviate some of these issues, yet few studies have explored this topic. The purpose of the study was to assess childcare providers' PA levels and to explore their perceived barriers and…

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…

Background: Despite humanistic declarations regarding the rights of people with intellectual disability to live a full, meaningful life, in practice, resulting from dilemmas experienced by direct support provides, support is often limited to a focus on functional independence. The aim of this research was to define the theoretical principles by…

Although researchers have investigated special educators' and clinicians' knowledge and use of evidence-based practices (EBPs), there is very little research on caregivers' perception of the importance of EBPs for their autistic children. Moreover, there is even less research on how EBPs have been translated or disseminated in international…

Background: This study explores the perceptions of supported accommodation staff and their managers of the support needs of residents ageing with intellectual disabilities, and their experiences of adjusting services for this group in the context of individualised funding. Method: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 staff working in…

Caregiver coaching is an evidence-based practice for autistic children that is poorly implemented in community-based early intervention. Previous studies have identified factors that influence implementation of caregiver coaching in early intervention; however, multi-informant (e.g., caregiver, provider, leadership) qualitative research is…

The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the challenges Ugandan parents of children with autism face. Caring for a child with autism poses unique challenges to families and deserves tailor-made remedies. Autism is understudied in Uganda and Africa. This qualitative study reports on results from focus group discussions…

For caregivers of people living with major neurocognitive disorders (MNCD), adapting and applying methods optimizing learning (MOL) to a specific situation, based on preserved cognitive skills, can be challenging. This study aimed to 1) co-develop workshops, a web application and accompanying materials to support the operationalization of MOL; 2)…

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…

Caregiver coaching is an evidence-based practice for young autistic children, but it is not widely used in community-based early intervention services. Previous research has explored why caregiver coaching is not widespread in early intervention, but only from the perspective of early intervention providers. Caregivers, providers, and…

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…

Understanding caregivers' needs is crucial for service planning and empowering caregivers around the world. Although research on autism from Arab countries is emerging, many countries are still unrepresented. Moreover, within-country disparities are understudied. This study investigated differences in needs, service use, and satisfaction between…

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…

The present study explored the role race-related barriers and practical barriers to treatment participation play in treatment effectiveness and satisfaction among Black families with autistic youth using a mixed-method approach. In a sample of Black caregivers with autistic youth (N = 101), multiple regressions were conducted to examine the impact…