This study utilized a mixed methods design to analyze responses from a nationally distributed survey of professionals' (N = 1,000) experiences conducting initial evaluations for early intervention and preschool special education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most personnel reported pausing their initial evaluations at some point during the…

Functional communication training (FCT) is a strategy to address problem behavior for students with various disabilities that is supported by a broad evidence base. Despite this support, multiple factors continue to dissuade educators from utilizing FCT in their classrooms. This article outlines the process of developing and implementing FCT plans…

Purpose: The intent of this article is to explain the complexity of the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental language disorder (DLD) in multilingual (ML) children and adolescents and to offer strategies for speech-language pathologists charged with diagnosis of language impairment in these children.…

Intelligence in minimally verbal children on the autism spectrum (AS) is at risk of being underestimated. The present study investigated testability and cognitive profile of preschool autistic children using conventional tools and strength-informed tools. Fifty-two AS children and fifty-four typical children matched on age (31-77 months) were…

Over the past two decades, U.S. states have widely adopted early literacy policies. These policies have shown short-term success in enhancing K-3 literacy skills. However, the reasons behind their widespread adoption and the factors driving their success are poorly understood. This three-paper dissertation focuses on Michigan's Read by Grade Three…

Diagnostic criteria for autism are relatively vague, and may lead to over and underdiagnosis when applied without clinical expertise. Indeed, autism is best reliably identified by experienced clinicians who take into account qualitative aspects of the condition. When assessing for autism in women, little guidance exists to support clinicians…

This report includes guidance, considerations, and resources for state staff and local practitioners who are determining Part C eligibility remotely. As a result of COVID-19, many states are having to determine a child's eligibility for Part C services remotely using a variety of approaches such as teleconference, videoconference, and sharing…

There are still many unanswered questions regarding the application of response to intervention (RTI) to making eligibility decisions for specific learning disabilities (SLD). Both U.S. federal regulations and research support that students identified with SLD using RTI should be deficient in both level of academic functioning and rate of growth…

ADHD affects over six million children in the U.S. and despite its prevalence, many clinicians do not accurately diagnose ADHD and do not screen for and identify the numerous conditions that can coexist and even worsen true ADHD or cause ADHD-like presentations when it does not exist. To help clinicians, this book offers three components. Part 1…

Robust investment in early childhood education can help expand children's access to high-quality pre-K programs. These investments can also strengthen the ability of educators to gather valuable information about young children's behaviors, skills, and competencies in order to make better decisions about how to support their learning and…

The overidentification and misidentification of English Language Learners in special education has been a systemic issue since the 1960s. When students are mis-identified for special education, they are denied access to Free Appropriate Public Education and the Least Restrictive Environment. Although there has been countless research depicting…

Background: Some data call into question the persistence of developmental language disorders (DLDs) identified during the preschool period. For this reason, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) often reassess children. However, it is unclear if the instability of the profiles documented in community sample studies is present in children referred to…

The goal of the present study was to compare profiles among Black families of autistic youth who were identified Early ([less than or equal to] 2 years of age), Mid (age 3 or 4), and Delayed ([greater than or equal to] 5 years of age) to better identify the characteristics that contribute to early ASD identification and delayed ASD identification.…

Under the background of educational informatization, data-driven teaching decision-making has become a key means to improve the quality of education, but there are some shortcomings in the use of data in college English teaching decision-making. This study constructs an evaluation system of college English teaching decision-making ability,…

E-authentication is one of the key topics in the field of online education and e-assessment. This study was aimed at investigating the user experiences of students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) while developing the accessible e-authentication system for higher education institutions. Altogether, 15 students tested the…