This chapter describes possible effects of the 2017 "Endrew F." Supreme Court decision that raised the "de minimus" standard established in 1982 in "Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson School District v. Rowley." In Rowley, the court held school districts provided an appropriate education to students with…

Students with disabilities consistently underperform on academic achievement tests. In part, this is due to teachers being underprepared to provide the evidence-based instruction needed to help students with disabilities succeed. Historically, professional development (PD) has been provided to educators yielding disappointing results. In this…

The problem addressed by this study was that general educators and administrators in rural school settings are unprepared to ensure the provision of successful inclusion programs to differently-abled students, which negatively impacts rural educators' attitudes and perceptions of including differently-abled students in the general education…

This qualitative study examines how and why special education teachers use mindfulness in their classrooms. Through decades of research with adult populations, mindfulness has been found to be an effective strategy supporting mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. However, there is a gap in the research on mindfulness with youth…

Autistic students benefit from child-centered goals that align with evidence-based practices (EBPs) that meet their individualized needs, however, most teachers are not trained in how to implement autism-specific EBPs. The challenges do not lie with teachers alone. Professional development (PD) providers, such as district or regional autism…

To ensure children with disabilities (CWD) have a successful transition to kindergarten, teachers have been encouraged to use high-intensity, or individualized, transition practices. Yet, while limited or lack of administrator support has been cited as a barrier to transition practice use, there exists little research regarding principals'…

This qualitative study was designed to research the narrative experiences of parents who participated in the public special education Individual Education Plan (IEP) process and decided to opt-out of public school after having difficult experiences. The IEP process provides a unique and bounded collection of interactions. This study examined how…

Background: Given the significant behavioral heterogeneity characterizing children with neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities (NDD/D), the current study examined whether cluster analysis could classify a diverse sample into more homogeneous subgroups. Aims: We first utilized cluster analysis to identify subgroups of children demonstrating…

Research to date indicates that a significant contributing factor to the social experience in school and college for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) relates to peers understanding of their condition and the associated social challenges. The current review sought to examine evidence for autism awareness programs designed to improve peers'…

Youth with visual impairments often show difficulties with gross motor skills regardless of age or sex. Gross motor skills support positive developmental trajectories for health warranting the need for assessment. The Total Body Developmental Sequences (TBDS) are fast, easy-to-use, indices of gross motor development with relatively unknown…

The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) has conducted biennial surveys of disability resource professionals (DRPs) in higher education since 2008. In 2020, this national survey gathered information about the work, background, experience, and salaries of DRPs. An online survey instrument was distributed to the AHEAD membership in…

The emergence of college autism transition programs, aimed to support students' needs and leverage their strengths, is illuminating the rise of autistic students in academia. Raising acceptance of autistic college students, and truly understanding their experiences in navigating higher education, has been minimally addressed. Even more, few…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between funding and the attainment of a high school diploma for students with a disability in the state of Michigan. The high school graduation rate continues to remain stagnate for students with disabilities in the state of Michigan. The research examined the role of school finance and…

This study had two research questions: how do special educators describe their experiences implementing mindfulness and their perceptions of its usefulness for students with autism spectrum disorder. Multiple data sources were used, including interviews, document analysis, and analytical memoing. A qualitative multiple-case descriptive case study…

Global organizations, such as the United Nations, have increasingly focused on ensuring that students with special needs are receiving high quality education. With schools in over 158 countries worldwide, the International Baccalaureate (IB) system provides an ideal forum to investigate if students with dyslexia globally are receiving adequate…