The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to gain a deep understanding of the lived experiences of four special education technology integrators from personal, cultural, and institutional perspectives. Two semi-structured, recorded interviews were conducted with each participant, followed by a focus group with all participants. Data analysis…

In this research, robot training was conducted with teacher candidates in the department of special education, and the effectiveness of robot training was analyzed at the end of the training program. The design of the study is phenomenology. The study has been carried out with 44 teacher candidates from special education, selected by a purposeful…

Special Education brings special education to life with a multi-dimensional view of the field. Each chapter features real stories of individuals with disabilities, their parents, and professionals. A just-right blend of up-to-date, research-based information is presented in an easy-to-understand way. In addition to contemporary issues, this text…

Mixed-reality simulation (MRS) is an innovative and promising approach in teacher preparation programs. While the use of MRS as a practice-based learning opportunity (PLO) in special education teacher preparation and professional development continues to grow, integrating this novel technology can be daunting for faculty members and school…

As society has gotten increasingly digitalized, schools have made extensive efforts to accommodate to that development. With the digitalization of school, the special education practice and the roles of special education needs coordinators (SENCOs) and special education teachers (SETs) change. However, there is a lack of research examining this…

The outcomes presented in this dissertation were motivated by a scarcity of research that explores self-determination practices explicitly within inclusive classrooms. Three overarching goals motivated my research. The first was to understand what inclusion teachers know and do in relation to self-determination (Chapter 2). The second was to…

Existing literature about special education professionals outlines an inherent challenge, especially in professional leadership and development. The problem was that school leadership and administrators might lack the necessary preparation and training to support special education teachers. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore…

There are evident shortages with increased demands for qualified special education teachers (SETs) nationwide (Peyton et al., 2021). Although efforts have been made to reduce SET attrition and increase retention, it is still unknown what job factors influence SETs' intent to stay, transfer, migrate, pursue administrative positions, pursue…

Research focusing on retention is vital for addressing the shortage of qualified special educators. In this phenomenological study, therefore, 21 early career special educators in Wisconsin were interviewed to investigate what factors most motivated them to continue in their profession. The study also examined how early career special educators…

This article examines the role of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in primary schools in Ireland, an area that is under researched with little or no empirical data available. The current qualitative study, congruent with an interpretivist paradigm, provides narratives from four SENCOs offering insight into both the operational and…

Background: Through their leadership, principals have an important, yet typically indirect, effect on pupils' learning. This article focuses attention on principals' influences on teaching and assessment in special education in Sweden: specifically, in special schools for pupils with intellectual disabilities (SID). Whilst SID principals are…

Chronic and pervasive special education teacher (SET) shortages have interfered with state, district, and school efforts to recruit and retain effective teachers for students with disabilities. Unfortunately, these shortages have worsened post-pandemic due to early retirements, low unemployment rates, and career changes. The purpose of this…

Down syndrome is the most common form of intellectual disability. However, there is a paucity of educational research focused on this vulnerable segment of learners especially in the present novel situation. This paper aimed to explore how teachers tailor remote special education for children with down syndrome amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the…

Little is known about differences in dosage or feedback that make teacher coaching effective in relation to teacher and student outcomes. This study builds upon previous research on the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success (COMPASS) to understand the impact of different types (face-to-face coaching vs. emailed feedback) and…

Researchers in special education have been developing a knowledge base of evidence-based practices that improve the outcomes of students with disabilities. Unfortunately, filtering that knowledge into classrooms implemented by special education teachers has been a challenge. In "The Essentials of Special Education Research," Andrew M.…