At Bethel, the Center for Access and Integration serves individuals with disabilities in a variety of ways. The BUILD program and the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services are both housed in the center. Additionally, we host workshops, seminars, and conferences related to serving the greater community impacted by individuals with disabilities.
The center sponsors important research related to the field of disabilities and includes the following publications to support access and integration in education:
- All Master's Theses from the Special Education program
- Doctoral Dissertations that are primarily focused on Special Education
- Faculty research in Special Education
Images from 2023
Institutional Impact of the BUILD Program: Postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities, Mary Lindell, Jessica Daniels, and Jodi Wolkerstorfer
The current higher education environment is plagued with declining enrollment (Eide, 2018) and shrinking budgets (Doyle, 2020) while historically under-represented and under-served students, including those with intellectual disabilities (I...
Institutional Impact of the BUILD Program: Postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities, Mary Lindell, Jessica Daniels, and Jodi Wolkerstorfer
The current higher education environment is plagued with declining enrollment (Eide, 2018) and shrinking budgets (Doyle, 2020) while historically under-represented and under-served students, including those with intellectual disabilities (I...
Theses/Dissertations from 2022
Strategies to Teach Grit and Perseverance to Students with Special Needs Through the Growth Mindset, Melissa J. Anderson
Recently, there has been increased attention on the importance of non-cognitive skills in achieving academic success. Grit and The Growth Mindset are two of the characteristics. Research has established a positive correlation between Grit a...
Teachers' Union's Collective Bargaining Agreements and Their Impact on School Functions, Chad Jonas Borseth
Teachers' unions have a vital role in public education. The collective bargaining agreements negotiated between them and school districts are viewed by many as the de facto rule book for how a school is organized and how it shall operate. D...
How Does Trauma Informed Teaching Impact Student Learning?, Keith Enstad
This literature review will explore the impact of a trauma-informed approach on students' ability to learn. The reader will learn about key terms and definitions that are used throughout the literature. The following literature review explo...
Trauma: How the Student Teacher Relationship Impacts Student Success, Eujeana Starr Hinkle
High behavioral and academic expectations are exceptionally challenging for students who have experienced trauma. With increasing numbers of students who have experienced significant trauma, it is essential that teachers create trauma-respo...
Factors Affecting the Academic Self-Concept of K-12 Students with Reading Disabilities, Jamie L. Kaihoi
The way students perceive themselves as learners is referred to as their academic self-concept (ASC). ASC is made up of the thoughts and feelings a student has about their experience in the classroom with learning tasks and research has sho...
The Impact of Trauma on Learning and Behaviors in the Classroom and how a Trauma-Informed Classroom Helps, Susanne W. Karris
As trauma is becoming more prevalent among our students, it is essential that districts, schools, and staff understand its impacts in the classroom. The American Psychological Association (2021) estimates that more than ⅔ of children experi...
The Influence of Restorative Practice on School Climate, Kay E. Lister
The impact of restorative practices on school climate is affirmed as the fostering of teacher-student relationship impacts connection, empathy, and social skills. Bullying decreased, self-advocacy increased, and school communities became bo...
The Effects of Mindfulness Interventions to Enhance Educational Experiences and Sense of Well Being, Madeline Ruth Luoma
More recently than ever, teachers are witnessing an uptick in aggressive behaviors and emotional dysregulation and decreased academic engagement within their classroom walls. This can impact the learning environments of all students and hin...
ASD Social Skills Development Using Immersive Virtual Environment Head-Mounted Display Interventions: A Review of Feasibility and Effectiveness, Kasey Lynn
This literature review determined the feasibility and effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Environment (IVE) virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD) interventions to develop social skills for children with ASD. Data summarized 11 research ...
The Female Autism Experience: A Literature Review, Megan Elizabeth Maas
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by communication challenges, difficulties in socialization, and the occurrence of restrictive, repetitive behaviors. Current data in the United States indicates that 1 in 44 children are diagn...
Self-Advocacy and Postsecondary Program Achievement in Students With High-Incidence Disabilities, Alyssa Nelson
This literature review examines studies that investigated and evaluated the relationship between self-advocacy and college program completion in postsecondary students with disabilities. Research was reviewed that used school-aged participa...
Parent Experience in Preschool Special Education Classroom Setting Decisions, Kaia Kathryn Nordtvedt
Early childhood is a crucial time in a child's development and is often the entry point for a child experiencing developmental delays in the special education process. Parents play an essential role in the special education process as the c...
The Impact of the Pandemic on Social Emotional Learning, Bryan Kilbourne Norman
The COVID-19 pandemic declared in March of 2020 disrupted the landscape of education and presented students and teachers with unforeseen impacts and obstacles. Notably, negative social and emotional issues arose as these changes drove stude...
The Effects of Poverty on Students' Mental Well-Being, Esther P. Nyagwencha-Nyamweya
Poverty is a global problem that has impacted the mental well-being of students. Research shows that in the US, one out of five children under the age of 18 live in poverty. This literature review sought to determine the effects of poverty ...
Training and Supporting Paraprofessionals Who Work with Students with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Brian P. Solum
The roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals in special education have increased over the years. Just as special education teachers see their caseloads, paperwork, and IEP responsibilities increase, the roles and responsibilities of ...
Educator Burnout Prevention, Anna Sophia Stroebel
Burnout is a universal experience that impacts many educators. Within the first five years of teaching, 40% of educators will leave the profession (Mielke, 2019). Teachers of high needs students, including special education teachers, are at...
How Can Educators Better Inform Parents about the Special Education Process So That They are Empowered to Increase Their Role as Active Participants in Their Students’ Education?, Beth Ann Thibodeau
The benefits of family involvement in students’ education range from academic and behavioral growth to better attendance and social skills. Parent involvement in the educational process for students with disabilities is a legal right, yet b...
Importance of Inclusion for Special Education Students in General Education Classrooms, Michelle L. Zidlicky
This literature review aims to inform inclusive education and why it is crucial for all students. Inclusion is based on students' academic and social-emotional success from learning with general education peers from both general education, ...
Theses/Dissertations from 2021
The Effects Poverty Has on Students in Special education, Morgan Marie Auge
Poverty is an issue around the world that affects children and their academic achievement. In the United States 21% of children are raised in poverty. Children from poverty have a higher risk of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders i...
Benefits of Physical Activity for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trey Lewis Benhart
Adolescents with autism live a more sedentary lifestyle than those without an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Lack of exercise results in increased health risks, obesity, and decreased quality of life, exercise, motor skills, and peer i...
Developing Collective Teacher Efficacy to Help Secondary Teachers Feel Confident in Their Positions, Katherine E. Cabieses
This study evaluates the resources available to develop the efficacy and the collective teacher efficacy of Secondary School Teachers in handling students’ misbehavior, resulting in effective teachers satisfied with their teaching positions...
Avoiding the Services Cliff: An Extensive Look at Effective Strategies to Prepare Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (asd) for Life and Work, Danielle Marie Carter
A fundamental objective of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is to safeguard that all students with disabilities have available to them a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) that affirms special education and related services d...
The Effect of Classroom Physical Activity Breaks on Students' Academic Performance and Executive Functioning Skills, Barb J. Diemer
Classroom-based Physical Activity (PA) has gained attention among teachers and schools due to the potential to enhance learning while also providing the opportunity for children to increase their physical activity level. Children are not me...
Impacts of Social and Emotional Learning Interventions in Special Education Students, Cassandra R. Drusch
Social and emotional learning is educational programming that can help the student learn to recognize emotions, set goals, perspectively think, maintain positive relationships, make decisions and learn conflict resolution (McCormick, 2019)....
Impacts and Strategies in Positive Student-teacher Relationships, Cassandra C. Eckart
Researchers, educational professionals, and classroom teachers consistently seek out ways to engage students in the classroom. For some students, engagement comes naturally. They connect easily with people and are by nature, curious and act...
Effects of social media on adolescents, Jeffrey Scott Erickson
Social media has a strong influence on adolescents. The effects of social media use can be both positive and negative for adolescents. Social media makes adolescents feel more connected to their friends, family, and interests. On the other ...
Special Education Teachers and Burnout: the Factors That Contribute to it and Effective Strategies That Combat it, Sydni M. Fancher
This thesis will explore the reasons behind teacher burnout in special education. The field of special education has increased dramatically throughout the years. As more research is being done to determine the various disabilities out there...
Restorative Justice in Schools - The Impact and Implementation, Chad Edward Felty
Are restorative practices producing fewer negative outcomes for students and improving relationships within schools? The following literature review and application looked at the effectiveness of restorative practices in schools. The eviden...
Impact of Relative Age on Need for Special Education Services, Leonie Giles
This thesis consists of a literature review of research on a potential correlation between a student's birthdate, age upon entry into kindergarten, and the potential need for special education services while in elementary school. Results we...
The Educational Impact That Social Media Has on School Age Children's Mental Health and Educational Experiences, Kasondra Janc
Studies have shown that school involvement and the policies that they have created can impact adolescents’ mental health. Social media is one of the most widely used online platforms and a reason why school-aged children want cell-phones, t...
Response to Intervention in Child Find, Eucabeth Kimaiga
This thesis highlights RTI and child-find under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) federal law, revised in the special edition of 2011. In 2011, the child find mandate was the focus of the IDEA regarding the ...
The Lived Experience of College Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Mary Lindell, Jessica Daniels, and Mary Schulze Michener
Within a private university in the United States, BUILD is a two-year program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. BUILD provides inclusive opportunities in coursework, employment, residential, and social activities with traditio...
Understanding the Needs of Children in Poverty to Improve Academic Achievement: A Literature Review, Christy Michele Lothrop
Poverty affects one in five children in the U.S., where 50% of public schools identify as mid-high or high-poverty schools. Decades of research confirms a significant and constant economic academic achievement gap. This literature review so...
The Impact of Visual Schedules for Students With Disabilities: A Literature Review, Kristine L. McDonald
The purpose of this empirical research literature with application emphasis was conducted so I could better understand the effects of visual schedules and video modeling. Visual schedules and video modeling showed an increase of independenc...
The Impact of Mindfulness Practice on Adolescents With Special Needs and Mental Health Diagnosis, Rebecca Jean McQuiston
Students with mental health diagnosis, trauma or special education labels such as emotional behavioral disorder or learning disabilities often show signs of distress, and/or dysregulation in the classroom. They are referred to providers and...
A Descriptive Study of the Accommodations, Assistive Technologies, and Supports Chosen by Students with an Intellectual Disability Attending a Post-Secondary Institution, Lori Olson
This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate the perceptions of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) attending a Transition Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID). This study explored wh...
Student Anxiety and Practical Strategies for the School Setting: A Literature Review, Cassie M. Ott
Since 2010, anxiety levels have risen worldwide. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to anxiety as they experience varied life challenges. Considering anxiety disorders most common in youth (generalized anxiety disorder (G...
Promoting Self-Management Skills Among Students with Disabilities Within the General Education Classroom, Elisabeth A. Pagel
The purpose of this action research project was to determine how educators can promote self-management skills among students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Previous studies were used to summarize the current state of ...
Students With Special Needs and Their Ability to Self-monitor Goals, Erin L. Schmitz
Self-monitoring behavior is one way students can be involved in their learning. Research shows that desired behaviors increase, and academic performance improves, when students monitor their behavior during class. This action research proje...
A Quantitative Study of Factors Influencing Special Education Teachers’ Attrition: The Relationships Between Burnout, Personality, and Organizational Factors, Erin Lavery Wanat
The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a relationship between independent variables—special education teachers’ emotional/interpersonal stressors, personality type, and worklife variables—and special education teachers’ burnou...
The Effects of Inclusive Classrooms on Students With Disabilities and Effective Inclusive Classroom Strategies, Erin Rose Welter
The purpose of this literature review was to research the effectiveness of inclusive classroom strategies pertaining to academic achievement and social/behavioral achievement in students with disabilities along with which inclusive classroo...
Using Arts to Improve Academic Outcomes for Students With Disabilities, Melissa Jean Briggs Wood
Theatre is often used as a tool in the classroom to target specific skills in language arts classes. More and more, it is being woven into curriculums outside of the language arts classroom to explore multi-disciplinary teaching. Theatre ar...
The Relationship between Inclusive Classroom Practice and Student Self-Perception Outcomes, Jenifer York
The majority of students with special education needs spend of 80% their time in general education classrooms (National Center for Education Statistics, 2019c). While participation in general education classes is linked to positive outcomes...
Theses/Dissertations from 2020
Inclusion Model Impact on Students with Disabilities in Academic Settings, Michael Anthony Adams
This study explored how the special education inclusion model impacted students with disabilities in several South Georgia counties. The researcher determined there were differences in perceptions and actual progression based on the finding...
Only you can prevent burnout?: Factors influencing job satisfaction among special education teachers, Alicia Michelle Alexander
Special education teacher (SET) burnout is a complex problem impacting teacher health, student outcomes, and job satisfaction. This review examined burnout literature with special education teachers as participants in US studies between 197...
Adding Movement to Enhance Learning in Special Education, Jennifer S. Ammermann
Academic achievements, standardized tests, and school accountability have resulted in children spending more time with seatwork and less time in recess and physical education. Recent brain research shows that cognitive skills develop with m...
Perspectives on the Quality of the Student-Teacher Relationship between Students with a Disability and Typically Developing Students and Developmental Outcomes, Hannah Rae Bast
Little research has compared the student-teacher relationship between students with a disability and students with typical development. More specifically, the quality of the relationship between the student and the teacher. Measuring the am...
Therapeutic Interventions that Increase Engagement for Students with Autism, Rachel B. Berndt
Students with autism require unique programming to increase engagement in the classroom setting. This literature review is a collection of research-based studies involving animal assisted interventions, music therapy, art therapy, speech-la...
Identifying the Best Practices for the Twice Exceptional Learner, Edison Boelter
The objective of this thesis is to find the best research-based practices available for the twice exceptional learner. Twice exceptional learners are a growing percentage of the population in the academic community, and yet educators are gr...
All Students Are Worthy: A Comparison of Special Education Within Countries, Makenna Brown
Dating back to the 1800’s, people with a disability have been thrown into mental institutions, beaten, abused, and underestimated. For those with a disability, having an opportunity to be educated was not thought possible. They have been de...
How Does Work-Based Learning Help Prepare Students For Life After High School, Frank A. Cacich
Work based learning is part of career and technical education that can help students to be better prepared for life after highschool. There are many different types of programs that make up a work based learning programming. These programs ...
Effective Social Emotional Lessons and Strategies for Center Based Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities, Kevin M. Collings
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a popular phrase in all aspects of the educational world of the last couple decades. Research shows the clear need for teaching students the skills they need to function socially and emotionally. T...
Teacher Burnout: Measuring, Contributing Factors, and Prevention, Lisa A. Dexter
One of the most stressful careers a person can chose to have is teaching. (Johnson et al., 2005; Travers, 2001). Teaching demands are high, and the emotional labor of teaching can leave teachers feeling emotionally exhausted, withdrawn, and...
Screen Time: Impacts on Physical Health, Sleep, and Psychological Health and Well-being, Shereen A. Eldeeb
With the rise of technology there has been an increase in screen technologies that are prevalent in everyday life. Technology and screens are used in employment, education, and leisure settings. The average person in the United States spend...
A Research-based Social Skills Curriculum for Middle School Students With Special Needs, Lynn Bruvold Ellis
Social skills instruction is an essential part of special education programming. There are many different approaches to social skills instruction, and there are studies that show the benefits to these different approaches. The research pres...
Autism and Environmental Influences, Jodi Ford
Autism is a neurobiological spectrum disorder manifesting with challenges in socialization, communication, and repetitive behaviors. The Center of Disease Control estimates that 1:54 children have autism. Autism includes extremely gifted in...
Restorative Practices in Schools – the Benefits and Challenges, Joel John Fredricks
Are restorative practices within schools an effective method for increasing student success? This literature review looks at the evidence available of restorative practices in reducing suspensions and expulsions, improving relationships, de...
Understanding Gender Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder to Better Identify Females With ASD, Betsy M. Galles
Males are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to females at a ratio of 4:1. When isolating for higher intellectual ability, the ratio increases to 10:1. Gender differences exist in restricted, repetitive behaviors and soc...
Using Peer-Mediation to Provide Inclusion for Students with Moderate to Severe Autism Spectrum Disorders, Shauna Marie Geffre
Students identified with low-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), in center-based programs, have minimal opportunities for inclusion in the general education setting and are often emotionally and socially excluded from their peers. ...
Dietary Alternatives in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Behavioral Symptoms and School Performance, Samantha R. Goers
Dietary alternatives for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are less commonly known and discussed, leaving some children untreated and vulnerable to negative consequences. However, numerous studies have examine...
Individualizing Instruction Using Work Systems and Other Assistive Technology for Students With Significant Developmental Disabilities, Maria LeeAnn Goff
Students with significant developmental disabilities demonstrate different strengths and needs than typically developing students. These students’ skills in the areas of academics, communication, fine and gross motor, daily living skills, a...
Adapting School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports to Meet the Needs of Students with Significant Disabilities, Amy Hazel Hansen
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a multi-tiered system of support for addressing discipline problems in schools through proactive and positive discipline procedures, guided by evidenced-based behavioral interventions a...
Do We Need More Male Teachers for an Increasing Population of Male Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders?, Bjorn Hanson
In the world of education there is a growing population of male students who struggle with emotional/behavioral disorders. There is also a decreasing population of male teachers in schools, and an even lower percentage of teachers who work ...
Music Education Benefits for Students with Disabilities, Tammy K. Hanson
Music is so many things! Music is enjoyable, fun, happy, calming, and unpredictable. Music is also sad, lonely, busy, unsettling, and disturbing. Students of any age can learn so much from music, such as: learning an instrument; playing i...
Bias and the Subsequent Implications on ADHD Diagnosis in School Aged Children, Ruth L. Hein
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often goes undiagnosed in girls and women. This phenomenon is due most prominently to the finding that girls and women tend to present primarily internalized symptoms of ADHD. Greater awarenes...
The Unique Characteristics of Trauma in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jana Laine Jonasen
Research has shown characteristics of individuals with ASD that have been exposed to trauma are difficult to determine. With more of trauma at an early age and the overshadowing of characteristics between trauma and ASD it will be difficult...
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Correlation of Student Success in School, Amy S. Kummrow
Student success is the goal for educators around the world. Implementing Choice Theory and Restitution can greatly increase a student’s chances of academic success. William Glasser's Choice Theory talks about the five basic needs all humans...
Effective and Ineffective Interventions for Students With Dyslexia, Jessica M. Lahti
The aim of this thesis is to explore effective and ineffective interventions for students with dyslexia in the areas of teacher knowledge, text readability, computers and technology, and academic interventions. The main findings show that s...
The Impact of School Start Times on Adolescent Sleep Duration and Academic Performance, Allison Leaf
In terms of sleep, adolescence is a tumultuous time. Biologically, adolescents are more inclined to have a later circadian rhythm and an evening chronotype, causing them to fall asleep later in the night and wake up later in the morning com...
How Teacher-student Rapport Impacts Student Academics and Achievement, Ashley D. Mellgren
In the last 50 years of education, student behaviors have become an increasingly important topic. Behaviors are an outward expression of how students feel about themselves, their classroom, or their teachers. Teachers have power in how they...
Facilitating Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), Emily A. Moulton
This literature review explored Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) with students who are not effective verbal communicators. AAC provides a means of communication for individuals who have disorders that impact communication. A...
The Connection Between Mental Health and the Positive Effects of Social-Emotional Learning, Ryan Michael Nesvold
Students across America are struggling with mental health issues and their ability to maintain adequate performance in school. Teachers pass them in the hall without ever noticing that they might be suffering. They wear a smile on their fac...
The Effects of Inclusion for Teachers, Special Education, and General Education Students in General Education Classrooms, Rachel O'Neill
With the current special education policies in place in the United States, solutions must be found in order to equitably meet the academic, social and emotional needs for all types of students found in a classroom. One of the most practiced...
The Effects of Mindfulness on Students Academic Performance and Behaviors, Kasandra J. Parrish
This paper examines the effectiveness of mindfulness on students’ academic performance and their behaviors, both emotionally and physically. This includes students with and without disabilities. Students are facing increased personal and sc...
Facilitating Friendships Between Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their Neuro-Typical Peers Utilizing Peer Mediated Interventions, Spring M. Peden
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States, currently affects 1 in 54 children. As students with ASD spend more time mainstreamed with their neuro-typical peers, there is an increased nee...
Independent Living Skills Curriculum- A Literature Review with Application Emphasis, Courtney E. Peterson
This literature review with application thesis examines functional daily living and adaptive behavior skills teaching methods utilizing a community-based instructional approach for students with disabilities. The literature review data and ...
Underrepresentation of Minority Students in Special Education, Marvin Dale Peterson III
Disproportionality in special education representation has been a commonly used focus of study for many years. The most frequently researched topic is the overrepresentation of black and brown, usually male, students in Emotional, Behaviora...
Socioeconomic Status and Academic Achievement, Tricia M. Richmond
The number of school-aged children living below the poverty line continues to increase in the United States. This group of children are at a serious disadvantage in school and with their development. Children that grow up in a family with a...
Classroom Activities That Motivate Teens to Spend Leisure Time Reading, Laura A. Scott
This thesis examines practices which foster an appreciation of reading in teens with disabilities. Research shows that when given choice and opportunity, young people are more inclined to read for pleasure. The purpose of this thesis is to ...
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction: a Review and Development of Literacy Curriculum Serving Individuals With Signifcant Disabilities Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Sydne Victorine Springman
This literature review and application investigates instructional approaches used to teach literacy to students with significant disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It reviews the current instructional str...
Research-Based Methods that Decrease and Prevent Childhood Obesity in the School Environment, Erica Anne Stark
Childhood obesity is a growing trend that shows no signs of slowing. Society has turned to the schools to provide programming to help alleviate this growing problem without considering the constraints schools face when implementing interven...
A Literature Review Supporting Trauma-informed Decision Making in Schools, Cassandra M. Theisen
A growing awareness shows that repeated exposure to childhood trauma is widespread and affects children’s emotional, physical, and cognitive development. The damage can be life-long. It is necessary for school systems to advocate for studen...
A Review of the Impact of School Disciplinary Practices on Student Outcomes, Stephanie Thun
The literature review sought to determine the impact of traditional discipline and alternative behavioral interventions on student outcomes. The research showed that certain student populations including Blacks, males, students qualifying f...
A Review of Social Skills Intervention For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Angela M. Walters
According the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disability that impacts on in 54 children in the United States (CDC, 2020b). Children with ASD exhibit delays in communication, behaviors, and soci...
Disproportionality In Special Education: The Factors of Overrepresentation, Lack of Inclusion and It's Impact on Student Success, Paige E. Webb
The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is the guiding force behind placement for special education students. It provides students with disabilities access to the general education classroom and the ability to learn. The Individuals with Di...
Theses/Dissertations from 2019
An Abundance of Boys: Addressing the Factors that Cause Gender Disproportionality in Special Education, Andrew James Almendinger
The gender distribution in special education is skewed heavily toward boys, who outnumber girls at an overall rate of 2 to 1. The decision to place a student in special education programming has severe implications, whether it be positive o...
The Influence of Music on the Autistic Brain, Ananda Arvig
Scientific and qualitative research studies explain how different activities can affect and impact the brain. Researchers look at brain and wave activity to help determine ways music can be used as a therapeutic and beneficial teaching tech...
The Effects of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on the Family, Kimberly M. Becker
ADHD affects not only the individual diagnosed with the disorder, but the individual’s family and surrounding community. The focus of this research was to gain an understanding of the way ADHD affects the individual and the various family m...
Social Skills Interventions for Secondary Students With Asd, Pauli Brandt
Social skills instruction (SSI) is an area of high need for students with Autism-Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The SSI of secondary-aged ASD students is unique given that the law mandates transition (after high school) goals in the Individualize...
Lack of African American Teachers in Schools and What Can Be Done to Encourage and Retain Those Teachers, Marc Brown
This researcher has been a teacher in special education for almost four years and this is the first year working as a Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) teacher. However, most of the work has been as an Emotional Behavioral Disability (EB...
Academic Motivation in Children with ADHD, Beth A. Butala
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle academically and appear to have lower levels of academic motivation than their peers. This paper reviews the literature and evidence proving that lower academic motivati...
The Effect of Trauma on Students and How Schools and Teachers Are Changing to Better Support Student Needs, Ella Elaine Carlson
Teachers are seeing more and more students who are going through traumatic life events. These events are affecting their developing brain, school behavior and academic success. These events are having a secondary effect on teachers, creatin...
Mindfulness in the Classroom, Regam Cerza
In recent years, there appears to be an increase in the number of children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade that struggle with issues such as mental illness, anxiety, emotional and behavioral disorders, etc. As a result, teachers a...
The Connection Between Teacher-student Relationships for Behavior and Academic Outcomes, Lance William Edminster
The National Center of Educational Statistics (NCES, n.d.) reports the “2016–17 ACGR (adjusted cohort graduation rate) for all students was 84.6 percent.” Emotional/Behavioral Disorder (E/BD) students are the lowest to graduate that has a d...
The Nascent Nature of Grit in Education, Mary Lynn Fleetwood
Grit first came on the scene that commands the American public’s attention when introduced by leading Grit researcher Angela S. Duckworth. Angela and her team put forth that Grit may be one of if not the key determining factor that resulted...
Identification and Treatment of Anxiety in Students Receiving Special Education Services: A Review of the Literature, Analee Therese Francisco
Anxiety affects school achievement and is common in nearly every disability category treated by Special Education programs. This review of literature summarizes existing research on the prevalence of anxiety disorders in students in varying...
Critical Elements of Effective Co-Teaching in the K-12 Classroom, Julie M. Gaffney
Co-teaching is a common and significant practice that pairs a special education teacher with a general education teacher for the purpose of enhancing the education of all students. In addition to giving students with special needs access to...
Implications and Interventions for Reducing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion on Students Receiving Special Education Services, Samantha Lynn Gruidl
This thesis explores a difficult subject for both parents and special educators: the use of restraint and seclusion in the classroom. While no teacher wants to go hands-on with a student, crisis situations can arise in which a student becom...