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
Theses/Dissertations from 2019
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...
Inclusion in International Schools: Achieving Academic Excellence AND Education for All, Marla Starr Hall
Inclusion of students with diverse learning profiles is a rapidly growing trend, yet no research exists on the implementation of inclusive programming in international schools. As diversity becomes more important in the globalized world and...
Gut Health and Environmental Impact on Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Christine Joy Noëlle Henne
In recent research, probable connections have been made between gut health and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Microbial imbalances within the gut were discovered in individuals with ASD, leading some researchers to think that this maladapt...
Understanding of the Place Value Concept for Special Education Students, Haley Lynn Hoskins
Many students demonstrate difficulty with number sense, especially those of which struggle academically under a special education label. As a result, educators have the option to teach conceptual place value using a variety of methods which...
Virtual Reality Technology-enabled Educational Approaches for Those With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Randolph S. Hull
This literature review examines research studies that evaluated the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) simulated interventions in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) including their enjoyment of the process and their ability to tr...
Decreasing Behavioral Challenges Using Sensory Strategies, Nicole Jean Jaworski
The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature that identifies how the use of sensory integration strategies can positively impact students behavior in the classroom. Students with special needs often demonstrate sensory disruptions...
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and Academic Achievement in Students Receiving Special Education Services, Jennifer L. Keenan
This literature review examines the relationship between PBIS interventions and the effectiveness of implementation on factors that hinder academic success for students receiving special education services. The factors of focus included off...
Understanding and Evaluating Classroom Ecology, Amanda Kolpin
Minnesota Rule 8719.5000 requires that special education teachers assess how environmental factors impact students during the evaluation process. Despite evidence explaining how environmental factors impact student achievement and behaviors...
Autism and the Impact on Multicultural Famlies, Mai Kou Lor
This study examined the impact of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with parents from different cultures all over the world. The literature review focused on ways negative and positive outcomes impacted parents and caregivers raising children ...
How Nature Impacts the Social, Emotional, and Sensory Needs of Students on the Autism Spectrum, Andrea Marie Mogren
Meeting the sensory needs of students is often currently confined to classroom modifications. Teachers try to meet sensory, social, and emotional needs through human-developed methods such as fidgets, lighting covers, flexible seating, occu...
Mental Health Intervention within the Education System and the Importance of Developing a Quality Model of Services, Jaclyn Mumaugh
The purpose of this thesis was to determine what schools are currently doing with the rise of mental health issues in youth. As schools continue to enroll more and more children suffering from possible mental health issues, districts must b...
Addressing Challenging Behaviors of Students with Down syndrome, Laura M. Olstad
This literature review focuses on finding research-supported techniques regarding interventions for children with Down syndrome who display challenging behaviors that interfere with academic and social aspects of their lives. The goal of th...
The Benefits and Curriculum Strategies of Self Directed Individual Education Plan Development for Post Secondary Special Education Students, Megan A. Palma
Abstract This thesis set out to research current literature on the effects of student-led Individualized Education Plans and the development of students’ self-advocacy skills. It contains information regarding techniques or curriculum and ...
The Importance of Safety Laws and Regulations That Benefit Both Staff and Students in a Special Education Setting, Christine Marie Quinn
In special education there are a variety of settings in which school staff services a population of students who have a wide variety of ages and ability levels. While working closely with these students, these educators may be put at risk t...
How Childhood Trauma Directly Affects the Mental Health and Life-long Learning of K-12 Students, Tara Jean Schubring
During the time as a federal setting III EBD teacher in a self-contained elementary-aged program, there have been two critical elements in this field that have provided the passion to tackle this topic of effective classroom management stra...
Research-based Effective Classroom Management Techniques: A Review of the Literature, Alison A. Stueber
This study examined the impact of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports-based and evidence-based interventions to improve classroom and behavior management in schools all over the world. Additionally, this study also examined the fac...
Mindfulness Training and Its Effects on Behavior and Achievement, Amber L. Woeltge
Mindfulness is a concept that has been around for hundreds of years dating back to 3000B.C. However, as of recent it has reached our youth and adolescents in education and elsewhere. Mindfulness–Based Training involving young children and a...
Impacts of Inclusion on the Academic and Social-emotional Skills of Students With Special Education Needs, Tara L. Wood
This literature review examined studies focusing on how students with disabilities are benefited by receiving services in the general education classroom, or least restrictive environment. It also aims to determine the negative impacts of s...
Theses/Dissertations from 2018
Parent Teacher Cross-cultural Collaboration in Special Education, Elvera O. Agboka
Classrooms today are so diverse that it cannot go unnoticed. Diversity ranging from academic levels, religion, culture, etc. The focus for this thesis is how to create a collaborative environment with parents of students from different cult...
Project Based Learning Instructional Design and the Benefits If Brings to Modern Classrooms Specifically in Special Education, Maylynn E. Arntzen
This thesis explores and defines what project based learning instruction is, and focuses on the impact it has on both traditional and special education classroom environments. The research examines the issues that schools face in the 21st C...
Reducing Stereotypic Behaviors in Children With Autism, Sianna Banham
I’d like to take this time to thank my fiancé, family, peers and friends who supported me throughout this process. I have many people to thank who have pushed me to stay one task and get this thesis done, as I am a huge procrastinator. Thom...
Barriers to Initial Implemenation and Sustained Positive Behavior Intervention Systems in High Schools, Kathleen L. Barnhart
Schoolwide Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (SWPBIS) has increasingly become a popular method to working with students at all school levels. While more attention has been given to elementary and middle schools than high schools, the r...
Teaching Social Skills or Play: the Importance of Foundational Skills, Elizabeth Ann Bauman
The purpose of this study is to conduct a thorough examination of the current literature related to the background, benefit and implementation of play in teaching social skills to children with autism spectrum disorders. The ability to demo...
The Importance of Calming Strategies: Teaching Children With Autism, Jennifer Ann Crnobrna
The purpose of this study is to explore the different types of calming strategies that can be used to help children with autism spectrum disorders. There are many different types of calming strategies reviewed because individuals with autis...
Anxiety and Depression in College Students and How Colleges Can Help, Sunny L. Crowder
The focus of this research is to better understand causes of anxiety and depression among college students and how colleges can better assist these students. For various reasons, social anxiety is linked to excessive drinking and binge eati...
Paraprofessional Training Need, Models, and Effectiveness, Philip R. Day
This thesis reviews current literature regarding the training of paraprofessionals working in the field of special education. The questions guiding the review centered on whether a need for paraprofessional training exists, what are the cur...
Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy With Children in Special Education, Erica Ann Dolesy Bugenhagen
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is used to improve the overall mental, physical, emotional, and social functioning of a patient. The use of animals in therapy practice is becoming more common, yet it is still not entirely integrated in to the...
The Link Between Professional Burnout and Personality Disposition in Special Education Teachers, Brittany Elaine Enslin
Burnout is physical and emotional exhaustion caused by unmanaged and prolonged stress. The objective of this study was to determine how personality traits affect burnout likelihood among special education teachers. This involved investigati...
The Inclusion of Students With Significant Disabilities and Their Access to the General Education, Megan E. Freeman
Students with significant disabilities are continually placed in restrictive settings with a focus on functional and life skills becoming more excluded from their peers in the general education setting. This limits their access to the gener...
The Impact of Movement Integration on Academic Performance, Engagement and Classroom Behavior, Nicholas Stephen Fuerst
The purpose of this paper is to identify how movement affects a student’s academics and behavior within the academic setting. Through research, it was identified that the four main types of movement integration are movement breaks, active l...
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Family Impact, Angela J. Goodwin
Primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face various specific challenges no matter the severity of their child’s ASD. Children with autism experience difficulty with social interaction and communication and exper...
Effective Discipline Methods, John George Hayes
School systems have the main responsibility of educating students, and to help achieve this goal, schools need standards of behavior that promote safety, order, and discipline methods to address unacceptable behavior. This paper set out to ...
Connections Between Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and Gang Affiliated Youth: How Educators Can Play a Role in Prevention, Meghan K. Herlofsky
This paper identifies the risk factors shared by students who receive special education services under the category of emotional and behavioral disorders and gang affiliated youth. It also recognizes the role an educator can play in the ide...
Adverse Childhood Experiences: the Impact of Toxic Stress and Complex Trauma on the Developing Child, Rebecca J. Holman
Adverse childhood experiences have been found to increase the likelihood of immediate and long-term negative impacts on children. Adverse childhood experiences are complex traumatic events that can produce a powerful stress response in a ch...
The Effects of Poverty Academically and Behaviorally on Students in Urban Communities, William Kyle Holmes
One of the biggest travesties that is present globally across all nations is poverty. Despite being the wealthiest country in the world, “in 2015 there were 43.1 million people in poverty.” (Proctor, Bernadette D. 2015). Additionally, milli...
Finding the Gold Standard Intervention for Social Skills Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Molly Delia Hunholz
This literature review focuses on finding research supported techniques to teach social skills to students with autism and to compare each curriculum in terms of generalization of skills, acquisition of new skills, ease of parent use, and s...
How Effective General Education Management Strategies and Awareness of Cultural Environment Could Decrease the Need for Initial Special Education Services, Jennafer Roxas Jechorek
During my time as a federal setting III EBD teacher in a self-contained elementary-aged program, there have been two critical elements in this field that have provided me the passion to tackle this topic of effective classroom management st...
The Benefits of Unstructured Time for Students With Special Education Needs, Maggie P. Jensen/Kregness
This research was completed with the goal of contributing to the discussion of unstructured time in the school day. Specifically, it looked at the question; what are the benefits of unstructured time for students with special education need...
How the Increase of Students With Autism Has Impacted the General Education Classroom, Jennifer Elaine Jonland
There has been a significant increase of students with autism in the general education classroom over the past few years. The education system is moving towards inclusion based of the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA), which ...
An Application of Collaborative and Proactive Solutions in a High School Special Education Program, Jesse David Kwakenat
By examining the foundational concepts of learned helplessness, motivation, and a child’s self-perception of control, this thesis examines why students who appear to lack motivation or self-regulation behave in the manner in which they do, ...
The Pros and Cons of Inclusion for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Mainstream Classroom, Benjamin Kwofie
General education placement are believed to offer innumerable benefits for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, decisions about including students with ASD remain controversial. This thesis highlights the benefits and chal...
Poverty and Special Education: Disproportionality and Unmet Student Needs, Andrea Crystal Lahti
In recent years, policy concerns have regarded over-representation of minority students in special education as a problem in schools across the United States. While over-representation may be an issue for some racial groups, there is a lurk...
Parental Involvement Within The Special Education System, Lauren E. Lehman
Parental involvement of children with special needs in schools and the IEP process have both been a topic of interest for decades. Research shows that parental involvement produces a number of benefits for children. However, studies have al...
A Review of Choice and Preference Interventions and Their Impact on Students With Disabilities, Corinne Marie Lozinski
This empirical research literature review was conducted in order to better understand the effects that students' choice and preference have on increasing academic performance rates and decreasing disruptive behaviors within classroom and re...
Effective Learning and Behavioral Strategies and Supports for Low Functioning Students with Autism, Brennan O'Brien McKeag
This thesis set out to research current literature and research regarding various aspects of working with low functioning students with autism. It contains information regarding learning styles for typically functioning students, as well as...
Social Emotional and Cognitive Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy for Students With Disabilities, Rochelle Danielle Molde
Research has shown that incorporating the use of a therapy dog in a school setting can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, promote positive social interactions among peers, boost confidence, and increase motivation for learning...
Elevated Anxiety in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Implications of Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapies as an Effective Treatment Plan, Nichole L. Olsen
As educators, we have seen Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), anxiety levels, mental health issues, and explosive behaviors rise in the general education population as well as the special education population in the last five years. The need f...
Physical Activity and Academic Achievement in Students With Disabilities, Kirsten M. Olson
This literature review examines studies that investigated and evaluated the relationship between physical activity and academic achievement in students with disabilities. Research was found and reviewed that used school-aged participants, e...
Positive Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline for Students in Kindergarten Through 12th Grade, Megan Elaine Radmer
Schools across the country are utilizing exclusionary discipline (ED) at an alarming rate. Exclusionary discipline is suspension, expulsion, and other disciplinary actions leading to a student’s removal from the typical educational setting....
Behavioral and Academic Strategies for Students With EBD, Natalie A. Renalls
This thesis discusses a variety of behavioral and academic strategies for special education and general education teachers to help support students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The literature review covers the behavioral a...
Increasing Self Regulation Skills in Students With Emotional/behavioral Disorder, Jessica L. Ronkainen
Students who qualify under Emotional/Behavioral Disorder (EBD) for special education services can exhibit significant external behaviors that significantly interfere with their educational progress. EBD students who exhibit these significan...
The Impact of Social Skills Instruction With an Emphasis on Mindfulness Among Stduents With Emotional Behavior Disorders: Does Training in Social Skills and Mindfulness Reduce Suspension Rates and Increase Positive Behavior in Students With EBD?, Tyler James Schmidt
Children labeled with Emotional Behavior Disorder (EBD), as defined by the educational system, have behavioral factors that impact their educational success in school. Research suggests that social skills instruction, mindfulness training, ...
Effective Inclusion Practices for the Academic and Social Success of Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Caitlin J. Siems
This paper includes a comprehensive literature review of the research and best practice implications for providing effective inclusion in the general education setting to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Similarly, it reviews the...
The Power of Play on Academic and Social Learning, Brianna Sorlien
Play is among the most vital components in elementary student’s prosperity, wellbeing and improvement academically and socially. It is a characteristic and instinctual behaviour which should be encouraged during childhood. Some articles ind...
Evidence Based Reading Strategies for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities, Mackenzie Thompson
The intended purpose of this paper is to examine successful literacy strategies for students with learning disabilities and to also determine how to scaffold literacy instruction to meet the needs of all learners, whether in the general edu...
Factors Contributing to School Placement for Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Colleen F. Weis
Students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders, in combination with significant and chronic behaviors, are often placed in alternative educational settings. No clear rationale is used by school districts to determine educational placement, an...
Supports in Higher Education for Students With Dyslexia and Other Specific Learning Disabilities-a History and Summarization on the Experience of Students, the Effectiveness of Present Accommodation, and Areas of Future Growth., Hannah M. White-McGinn
According to the National Center for Special Education, there has been an increase in the past few decades in the amount of students with dyslexia who have enrolled in higher education programs.This includes two year, four year, and technic...
Theses/Dissertations from 2017
What Is the Cause for the Suspension Disparity Between Caucasians and Students of Color, Pamela Marie Beatty
The purpose of this research is to showcase the ineffectiveness of suspension upon students and to illustrate the disparity in the use of suspension and expulsion towards African American students when compared to their peers. Studies show ...
A Review of Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Hannah A. Betz
This literature review with application thesis explores the prevalence of anxiety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and dives into differentiating anxiety symptoms from ASD symptoms and provides tools for teachers to help red...
The Impact of Prescription Medication Use and Misuse on Students in K-12 Schools, Benton C. Cady
This paper will examine students and their use of prescription medications when administered to students at school. The law requires that schools follow policies in regards to the distribution of drugs in school. Guidelines have been create...
Auditory Processing Deficits in Students With Autism and Research-based Instructional Strategies, Jamie Carpenter
The ability to accurately process and interpret auditory information, for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or ‘ASD’, is often difficult. Here we review behavioral, neurophysiological and imaging literature pertaining to this field ...
Alternative Therapies and Treatments and Their Effect in Reducing Behaviors Found Within Autism Spectrum Disorder, Paige L. Ferraro
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental syndromes characterized by deficits in communication, social interaction, imagination and sensory processing. The prevalence of ASD has increased significantly throughout rec...
Understanding the Impact of the Student-teacher Relationship in Relation to Special Education Needs, Kristina Marie Hall
In 2012, more than six million students in the United States were identified as having an educational disability and receiving special education services. Students with disabilities are more likely than their general education peers to expe...
Guided Play: a Pedagogical Approach to Teaching, Candace Jill Johnson
Guided play is the midpoint between direct instruction and free play. It provides a learning goal with teacher scaffolding which allows children to control their learning (Weisberg, et al., 2013). Guided play learning experiences combine ch...
Supports and Strategies for Learners With Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder., Lamin Khan
This thesis will discuss the need for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) interventions. This researcher has reviewed a number of articles concerning programming for ADHD students. ADHD is a very pervasive disorder affecting man...
A Panoramic View of How Physical Activity Impacts Students With Disabilities, With an Emphasis Focused on Students on the Autism Spectrum, Alyssa K. Lane
Today a majority of adolescents do not participate in the recommended daily level of physical activity. Students with disabilities, including students on the Autism Spectrum scale, especially lack participation in physical activity. The ben...
Examining High School Placement Methodology With Strategies to Improve Students With Autism Outcomes, Elaine Martin
Graduation statistics indicate that students with disabilities like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are now completing high school at an average rate of about 60 percent. The purpose of this literature examination and application is to analy...
Incorporating Positive Psychology and Happiness in the Special Education Classroom - the Effects on Academics and Self-esteem, Jean M. Oseko
Twenty-first century schools are not like the schools of last century. The student population brings with it an entirely new set of parameters that the standard teacher-student model of education can no longer accommodate. Special education...
Self-efficacy and Adolscent Development: How Educators Can Foster Its Growth, Jackie Lea Pieper
All teachers want their students to graduate high school. All teachers want their students to be successful in the classroom. All teachers deal with students that appear to give up or simply not try at all. Students, especially as they ente...
ACE’s and Trauma in Education, Richard Santangelo
The author of this paper has worked in special education since 1988, primarily with Emotional and Behavioral Disordered (EBD) students. Throughout the author's career there have been many conversations about why some students display EBD be...
Youth in Special Education: the Risks and Implications of Entering the Juvenile Detention System, Natalie M. Sell
Students who are serviced under the umbrella of special education are disciplined more frequently and with more exclusionary methods compared to their general education peers. A higher numbers of minority students than represented in the ge...
Success for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Julie J. Soderlund
Special education students with emotional and behavioral disorders have the right to receive an education that addresses their specific, individual needs. There are many challenges that accompany these students. It is beneficial for teacher...
Students With Specific Learning Disabilities; Perceptions of Postsecondary Accommodations, Barriers, and Self-advocacy, Jodi Elizabeth Stohl
Once students graduate from public education, the supports for individuals with disabilities change significantly. The law requiring school districts to support students with disabilities no longer applies upon graduation. As the familiar s...
Increased Movement and Physical Activity and Its Impact on Academic Performance on Students With and Without Disabilities, Jaclyn A. Uithoven Neerhof
Brain-based teaching is an evidence based teaching philosophy that is widely accepted as successful practice. This philosophy revolves around teaching to how the brain functions. One aspect of this practice is relating movement to increasin...
Effective Literacy Instruction for Struggling Readers and Students Receiving Special Education Services, Lauren S. Van Gomple
Small group interventions provide struggling readers and students who are learning- disabled with additional literacy instruction designed to facilitate literacy growth. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine if literacy grou...
Key Factors Contributing to EBD Teacher Attrition: Solutions to Increase Career Longevity, Larissa D. View
In the United States, annually, 10% of EBD teachers burn out and leave the profession, subsequently forcing districts to hire underprepared teachers. When compared to other education professionals, EBD teachers are leading in educators wher...
Theses/Dissertations from 2015
A Study of Parent Satisfaction of the Transition from Junior High to Senior High School for Students with Special Education Needs, Colleen M. Feldman
The purpose of this study was to understand the parental perspective and satisfaction with the transition process as their child, who is a student with special education needs, moves from the junior high to the high school setting. For stud...
Theses/Dissertations from 2013
My Child Is an Angel from Allah: Perspectives from Muslim Parents of Children With Special Needs in the United Kingdom, Katie J. Bonawitz
This applied dissertation investigated how Muslim parents of children with special needs bring understanding to raising their child with special needs. This researcher conducted a qualitative study to find out if Muslim parents from differe...