Assistive technology (AT), a major source of adapted educational services, has been accepted as a valuable tool for students with disabilities in schools. Teacher readiness is a key factor in determining a student's successful inclusion, but many general and special education teachers are not fully prepared to implement AT in schools. In this…

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (2019) mandates that educators provide students with free appropriate public education, resulting in inclusion opportunities for students with disabilities (SWD). Despite this progress, there remains a gap in preparing teachers adequately for the challenges of serving SWD in inclusive classrooms. The…

Although co-teaching is increasingly recognized as a valuable approach in inclusive education, comprehensive studies that examine the impact of targeted professional development on enhancing teachers' capabilities in this area are lacking. The limited research on this topic fails to provide clear evidence of the effectiveness of such training…

For this case study (Yin, 2018) dissertation, I used mixed methods (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2017; Guetterman & Fetters, 2018) to investigate how an elementary school special education teacher, who used a direct instruction (di) reading curriculum, incorporated culturally informed practices (CIP) in her small group reading instruction. In…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore novice special education teachers experiences and perceptions, and subsequent training needs, of implementing beneficial trauma-informed support structures in their classroom environments with students with mild or moderate disabilities who may have experienced trauma after the completion…

The use of substance has risen in America over the years so much so that the last few years America has been battling an opioid crisis. The age of reported first use of substances has been as early as 10 years of age. Many prevention programs have developed over the years to reduce the risk of substance use and misuse, and later addiction. Few…

Research has identified the importance of teaching practice in student teachers' professional development. Supervising teachers are crucial in this process. While the focus previously has mostly been on student teachers' pedagogical development, it is equally important to understand how supervisors enable development processes through their…

Although special education legal knowledge is central to educating students with disabilities, how two critical school professionals--special educators and school principals--garner such knowledge is unclear. This study identified gaps in the professional training for special educators and school principals by examining professional standards and…

The students with learning disabilities at a school in the Southeastern United States were not meeting the academic targets on the reading assessment set by the state Department of Education. Moreover, most new standards-based reform initiatives require that students with learning disabilities meet local and state competency requirements.…

After more than 20 years of a critical shortage in special education teachers, this mid-Atlantic state expedited program development for undergraduate-level teacher preparation programs. To meet the accelerated timeline, one program at a large public university used its graduate-level coursework as a model for the undergraduate level program.…

Exploring what practices early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers have been exposed to and use may highlight the need for improved dissemination and implementation supports. In this survey study, 312 U.S. ECSE teachers reported exposure (familiarity, training) and use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and low-value practices (LVPs) for…

Our national survey of the early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) workforce highlights key strengths and concerns. Workers find their roles rewarding, appreciate making a difference for children and families, and are well-qualified, with most holding at least a bachelor's degree. However, the workforce lacks…

Special educators are considered essential in schools, both in the regular system and in the separate special needs system. It is important to understand how special education is envisioned among teachers who choose further study in this field. The aim of this study is to gain more knowledge about what motivates teachers to gain further…

Practical and forward-thinking, "Developing Teacher Leaders in Special Education" is the administrator's essential guide to growing special educator leadership in any school, district, or program. Special educators need to be flexible, proactive, and collaborative -- qualities that make them uniquely suited to roles in school leadership…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how high school special education teachers describe the influence of their training in social-emotional learning (SEL) when working with students with disabilities in their classrooms. The overarching research question was: How do high school special education teachers describe the…