The pathway for post-diagnostic services for autism tends to be complex, heterogeneous, and fraught with delays. This situation has repercussions for families' experience with care systems, the quality of early interventions, and family adjustment. To date, studies of parents' point of view on autism services have predominantly focused on the…

The response-to-intervention (RtI) model is widely used to support students with special educational needs and their teachers. However, little is known about how educational and health care professionals support the implementation of this model in specific contexts. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of educational and health…

This study examined the scoring errors across three widely used achievement tests (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement--Second Edition [KTEA-2], Woodcock--Johnson Tests of Achievement--Third Edition [WJ-III], and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test--Third Edition [WIAT-III]) by novice examiners. A total of 114 protocols were evaluated for…

Many special education (SPED) students are failing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) despite writing instruction provided by SPED teachers. The purpose of this study was to understand teachers' perceptions about why students were failing the literacy/writing test and document whether evidence-based assessment and writing practices…

The purpose of this project was to examine programs and services for students with emotional/behavioural disorders (E/BD) across Canada. It is a replication of a survey undertaken a decade prior intended to examine similarities and differences in Canada's provinces and territories, as well as exploring overall changes to policy and process in this…

The purpose of this study was to explore the social-emotional experience of teachers working with students with exceptionalities in the general education classroom. Individual interviews were conducted with five participants with in-service teaching experience. While these teachers highlighted experiencing burnout, the breadth and depth of their…

Inclusive education (IE) is widely adopted in Canadian educational systems. However, few Canadian universities require students in undergraduate teacher preparation programs to complete coursework on the topic of IE, and the few courses on this topic do not adequately prepare future teachers to work in inclusive classrooms with students with…

As the field of education of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/Dhh) continues to diversify, postsecondary institutions must pay close attention not only to the changing needs of d/Dhh students but to the practitioners they are preparing to serve this population. Students who are d/Dhh and come from homes where a language other than English or…

When school systems and administrations provide educators with opportunities to engage in transformative learning through reflective practice and provide opportunities to challenge their beliefs, educator pedagogy for inclusive education can be enhanced (Evans, 1997; Pyha¨lto¨ et al., 2012; Richardson, 1998). Our research examined the experiences…

Collaborative consultation has been widely adopted in school-based occupational therapy practice; however, limited research has examined how collaboration between educators and occupational therapists contributes to students' outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of collaborative working in two cases of school-based…

This paper provides a synthesis of educational reforms in Canadian schools over the past century to present times. The unique emphasis is to document the broad movements of change in both special and regular education. We begin our analysis with a detailed discussion on the many meanings of school restructuring and highlight the ongoing nature of…

Using a realist grounded theory method, this study resulted in a theoretical model and 4 propositions. As displayed in the LINK model, the labeling practice is situated in and endorsed by a social context that carries explicit theory about and educational policies regarding the labels. Taking a developmental perspective, the labeling practice…

Studies have shown teacher attitudes to be an important factor in the success of integrative practices in special education. In particular, many teachers feel that their efforts at integration are not supported by their administrators. In this research paper, interviews with both principals and teachers have confirmed this assumption. While…

Analyzes the potential impact of recent Canadian legislation increasing special education certification requirements upon teachers of American Indians in isolated areas of Canada. Describes recent special education/distance education programs designed to meet both the new requirements and the needs of the northern and native communities. (SK)

Examines recent changes in teacher special education certification requirements in Manitoba (Canada), the short- and long-term impact of these changes, and Brandon University's (Manitoba) attempt to support northern residents through a distance education program. Discusses the needs of northern residents and proposals to accommodate them. (GEA)