Few studies assess the long-term impacts of programs for teenagers designed to foster leadership and public service. Here we contact former participants in one such program, the Champions of Caring Ambassadors Leadership Program, to see how they may have been influenced in adulthood. We find that participants remember specific aspects of the…

The University of Georgia (UGA) has a training requirement for adults working with youth. To meet this requirement for Georgia 4-H and Extension Master Gardener volunteers, a standardized online training module was created and delivered across program areas. Volunteers were surveyed to evaluate training effectiveness and experience. Understanding…

Purpose: Despite the recommendation for cochlear implant (CI) processor use during all waking hours, variability in average daily wear time remains high. Previous work has shown that objective wear time is significantly correlated with speech recognition outcomes. We aimed to investigate the causal link between daily wear time and speech…

Nationally, the 4-H Youth Development Program utilizes more than 350,000 adult volunteers annually, and 25% of the nation's K-12 students identify as Hispanic or Latino; however, there is a dearth of published literature on Latino volunteerism in the 4-H Youth Development Program. Developmental relationships, a critical component of realizing…

Most teachers report wanting more training and support to teach autistic students. Individual, autism-focused coaching is a promising approach for improving teacher self-efficacy and autistic student outcomes. Given the high workload demands of coaching, it must be feasible and acceptable. This study considers coaches', teachers', and autistic…

This study examines the effectiveness of images on warning signs that communicate risk and risk avoidance in public spaces. Specifically, I compared data from 749 survey responses to determine whether the use of images can increase the effectiveness of a warning sign in a public space. Although the findings indicate that image-based warning signs…

Social communication difficulties are part of the core difficulties experienced by individuals with autism. Speech-language pathologists provide intervention and supports for these difficulties. Little is known about the own experiences and views of adults with autism about these services. Using semi-structured ethnographic interviewing,…

Most teachers report wanting more training and support to teach autistic students. Individual, autism-focused coaching is a promising approach for improving teacher self-efficacy and autistic student outcomes. Given the high workload demands of coaching, it must be feasible and acceptable. This study considers coaches', teachers', and autistic…

Ample research exists that discusses the use of auditory rehabilitation with individuals who utilize hearing aids; however, there is little qualitative evidence to support its use with individuals who utilize cochlear implants. This study utilized a qualitative methodology to examine the phenomenon recipients of cochlear implants and their spouses…

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are often associated with intellectual disability (ID). ASD-specific group concepts usually focus on people on a high functioning level. The Autism-Competence-Group (AutCom) combines a psycho-educative approach with music and dance/movement interventions in adults with ASD and ID. AutCom includes 16 structured…

Twelve pilot project participants with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities used mobile devices (smartwatch and smartphone technology) and individualized apps focused on time management, coping, budgeting, exercise, and safety to support independence and community engagement. Ten participants with intellectual and/or developmental…

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), an unconventional method of learning has paved way for educational opportunities for learners of all age groups at any time. However, evidence suggests that MOOC has posed many challenges such as low completion rates, low motivation of learners and low perceived value compared to traditional methods. In MOOC,…

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing problem in the United States and worldwide. Diabetes possesses a significant burden on the healthcare costs. An evidence-based, practical, and economically feasible strategy to tackle the growing burden of DM is imminent. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is the backbone to improve…

Research Findings: Family child care providers widely participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), yet their participation experiences have not been studied. To fill this gap, we used a mixed methods approach that combined survey data collected from a random sample of 224 CACFP-participating licensed family child care providers…

Since most individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities live at home, engaging families in social inclusion efforts is important to build more inclusive communities. This project was exploratory, mixed methods research about supporting families in how to expand social inclusion for their adult children who were living at home. There…