ERIC Number: EJ992135
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 11
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Supporting Youth with Special Needs in Out-of-School Time: A Study of OST Providers in New Jersey
Sharp, Jane; Rodas, Elizabeth Rivera; Sadovnik, Alan R.
Afterschool Matters, n16 p31-41 Fall 2012
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires accommodations for individuals with disabilities in community settings, many out-of-school time (OST) programs struggle to successfully support youth with special needs. Programs that fully include children with special needs are less available for school-age children and adolescents than for younger children, and finding appropriate placements for older youth or children with severe disabilities is particularly challenging. Most research on inclusion of children with special needs has centered on preschool childcare programs or school classrooms. In these settings, research has demonstrated positive outcomes for children with and without disabilities. Based on this premise that inclusion is beneficial for children with and without special needs, the authors' study explored the role of OST providers in successfully supporting youth with special needs. Their survey of OST administrators and staff shows that professional development can influence providers' willingness and ability to include children with special needs in their programs. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Disabilities, After School Programs, Special Needs Students, Accessibility (for Disabled), Academic Accommodations (Disabilities), Youth Programs, Community Based Instruction (Disabilities), Professional Development, Inclusion, Delivery Systems, Community Surveys, Administrator Attitudes, Employee Attitudes, Performance Factors
National Institute on Out-of-School Time. Wellesley Centers for Women, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. Tel: 781-283-2547; Fax: 781-283-3657; e-mail: niost@wellesley.edu; Web site: http://www.niost.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Jersey
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Americans with Disabilities Act 1990
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A