This dissertation presents three studies exploring mathematics interventions for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) including a review of literature and two intervention studies using manipulative based interventions. Specifically, the researcher conducted a systematic review of literature exploring the current state of the literature on…

A comprehensive high school located in Southern California exhibited a suspension rate of 11.1%, placing it second among high schools within their district during the 2018-2019 academic year. According to the California School Dashboard (2019), students who were African American, Hispanic, English learners, homeless, had disabilities, and were…

Students with Disabilities (SWD) are underperforming in reading when compared to their neurotypical peers. Although reading research has made significant progress over the past 30 years, including recent developments regarding the science of reading, the findings from the extensive body of research are not consistently grounding instructional…

Measuring reading engagement is critical for monitoring student involvement in academic tasks, as it predicts student reading achievement and further academic success (Anderson et al., 2021; Guthrie et al., 2012). As a multidimensional construct, researchers have employed various methods to assess reading engagement (Gill & Remedios, 2013; Lee…

Although substantial evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention for students with severe disabilities who have complex communication needs, increasing importance is being placed on understanding how to move research into practice. This descriptive qualitative study focused on…

The study aims to develop a prototype eLearning system and to gather feedback from teachers on the developed prototype to demonstrate its effectiveness. The study uses a four-phase iterative process to develop and analyze a prototype eLearning system: understanding the problem, designing the system, developing the system, and gathering user…

Background: While statistics related to the sexual abuse of people with developmental disabilities are alarming, there remains a gap in the services and supports available to promote sexual health and healthy relationships and prevent sexual abuse of this population. Objective: To develop and deliver a sexual health education programme for…

This paper presents a study that evaluated the efficacy of a video self-modeling intervention derived from a functional behavior assessment intervention on the aggressive behavior of two students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities. A multiple baseline design across stimulus conditions with inter-subject…

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…

Background/Context: Spurred by changes in federal policy, Response to Intervention (RTI) has witnessed increased adoption across states and districts in the past several decades (Berkeley et al., 2020). Originating in the special education field, RTI involves a shift from a uniform instructional approach to a tiered instructional approach…

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) in Sri Lanka have inadequate access to early amplification and language stimulation. As a result, they are at risk of impoverished language development: spoken language and sign language. Thirty DHH children who use Sri Lankan sign language between the ages of 4;4-7;2 years from three classrooms of a…

Mathematics difficulties (MD) affect about 20% of the students in German schools. Almost half of them also exhibit emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBD). While a growing number of mathematics interventions target children with MD separately, there is a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions for children with combined…

Special education and related professionals often understand the importance of adhering to intervention procedures (i.e., fidelity), but may be less familiar with concepts of intervention intensity. In some cases, professionals may correctly apply an intervention, but with insufficient intensity. This can result in an intervention failing to…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the effectiveness of remote teacher preparation during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically special education teachers participating at an Intern Credentialing Program in Northern California. In addition to remote teacher preparation, the study explored how intern teachers experienced…

The number of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) attending institutions of higher education continues to increase while typical accommodations provided by campus disability service offices often remain unchanged. Based on the unique characteristics associated with ASD, the need for supports and "soft accommodations" continues…