As the prevalence of autistic children receiving special education continues to increase, educators are expected to identify and implement evidence-based interventions for autistic students. Unfortunately, there are numerous barriers to implementation of evidence-based interventions in schools and educators report a lack of adequate training…

This article discusses developing special education teacher candidates who have a solid knowledge of scientifically aligned reading practices. Challenges in preservice teacher education are presented, including alignment of course work and clinical experiences to the robust evidence base in reading science. Key questions and resources are…

Professionals and communication partners report experiencing challenges with regard to developing the knowledge and skills needed to support individuals with complex communication needs who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These challenges can be exacerbated in rural and remote areas where access to resources and training may…

Federal mandates require special education teachers to implement evidence-based practices (EBPs) to support student learning to the extent practical. There are 28 identified EBPs specifically designed for teaching students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Preparing special education teachers to implement EBPs with fidelity remains a challenge.…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have complex and unique needs that can impact their success. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) have been identified that are effective with this population, yet educators may not be adequately prepared to implement such EBPs. Special education administrators are frequently responsible for developing and…

We overview several key issues of the past, present, and near future of special education for students with severe disabilities. We contextualize the Telos of special education by briefly remarking on its historical roots in the United States, then delve into several issues we believe are critical for advancing toward better outcomes for students…

Students with chronic and complex medical conditions often require assistive technologies in order to accommodate both physical and cognitive needs. Survivors of childhood cancer who are eligible for special education offer a lens through which to examine barriers to assistive technology assessment, acquisition, use, and support for students with…

Students with disabilities are overrepresented in correctional settings in the United States and there is a dearth of information in the professional literature about the adequacy of instruction for these youth. Moreover, during the recent COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), access to education was abridged for many youth including those in juvenile…

Increasing numbers of students with disabilities (SWD) receive remote or online instruction in secondary mathematics. Unprecedented shifts in teaching modalities during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for effective remote instruction. The present study surveyed 31 general and special education teachers to identify features of remote…

"Augmentative and alternative communication" (AAC) refers to a wide variety of communication devices, systems, tools, and strategies that support or replace spoken language. Augmentative and alternative communication users represent a range of ages, abilities, and communication needs. Support for AAC often begins in the public school…

This manuscript highlights a major finding from a larger study conducted in the United States that used phenomenological interviews with adults with autism who typed to communicate. Participants shared their United States educational experiences before and after learning to type. This finding focused on how disability studies in education and the…

The paper examines the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in special education in Ghana. Taking the relevant literature as the guiding principle, the paper addresses the opportunities, barriers, and challenges posed by the integration of assistive technologies devices in schools for the blind and visually impaired in the…

Recent research has demonstrated that educators and students succeed when students are present, engaged, socially secure, and academically successful. These practice recommendations draw upon studies of whole-school or whole-class interventions that support prosocial behavior in elementary school students, including students who are identified as…

School policies are largely driven by perceptions and expectations for how students should behave academically and socially, yet these practices often lack the cultural relevance and sustainability required to support racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse (RELD) students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral dis/orders (EBD).…

The rationale, process, critical features, and lessons learned by faculty members during the redesign and implementation of our previously existing special education teacher education program into an innovative program integrating research-supported effective teacher education practices are described in this article. We begin with the rationale…