When young adults with disabilities (YAWD) age out of the system, they face what has colloquially been termed "the cliff," which symbolizes the sudden drop in services that occur as they transition out of high school; needs previously met at school are left unaddressed. Multiple options have been suggested to meet these needs, including…

The problem that was addressed in this study was that local high school students with intellectual disabilities exit their high school community-based vocational program without sufficient skills required to attain meaningful employment. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine local high school educators' perceptions about the…

Federal legislation for students with disabilities mandates that all students receive appropriate and relevant instruction across environments to improve postsecondary outcomes across domains. Teachers and parents alike have found that one way to meet individual student needs and increase instructional opportunities for students with disabilities…

The present study investigated the effects of online Community-based Instruction (CBI) training for pre-service special education teachers in Turkey. The training consisted of three knowledge modules and skill application assignments designed to be completed in four weeks. Results demonstrated statistically significant difference between control…

The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore the professional learning outcomes of teachers as they implement community-based instruction programs for students with disabilities in a New Jersey school district. The study was viewed through the theoretical lens of disabilities studies in education, which posits that the…

The goal of secondary education is to prepare students for greater levels of independence, especially in the areas of continued education and community employment. However, despite underlying potential, young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid intellectual disability (ID) are vastly underrepresented in the area of…

Students with significant developmental disabilities who engage in activities outside the classroom appear to have better post-school outcomes in the areas of employability, living skills, and independence. No research has examined whether functional independence was significantly different in graduates with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have…

Three student employees with intellectual disabilities and autism used an iPod touch with video prompts to increase their level of independence at work. Using the iPod, they each experienced an increase in correct task completion across three work tasks. In addition, I conducted a social validation study to determine if employers and job coaches…

The purpose of this mixed methods action research study was to collect data in order to expand the current transition program in place for students with cognitive impairments. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from district stakeholders regarding the current transition program in place for students with cognitive impairments. In…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using video modeling delivered through a Portable media player (video iPod) as a means of teaching three job-related tasks to four young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a community-based employment setting. The videos used in the study were enhanced by adding written…

In schools that serve students with varying disabilities, community-based education has become an important element in preparing students for competitive and supported employment. Because of the constant change in demographics and the overall competitiveness of the job market, it is essential that schools are prepared to find ways of infusing…

Web-based self-management interventions (W-SMIs) are designed to help a large number of chronically ill people become more actively engaged in their health care. Despite the potential to engage more patients in self-managing their health, the use of W-SMIs by patients and their clinicians is low. Using a self-management conceptual model based on…

The field of special education has begun to concentrate its efforts on developing objectives and procedural strategies that promote a positive quality of life for students with profound multiple disabilities, while determining which educational strategies are the most appropriate. A multi-element design was used to compare the effects of two…

Youth with disabilities are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system (Crosse, Kaye, & Ratnofsky, 1992; Sullivan & Knutson, 2000). Although research on this topic is limited, youth with disabilities who are emancipating from foster care are at risk for particularly poor outcomes, experiencing even lower rates of employment,…