Afterschool staff have been identified as a critical piece in the positive outcomes youth receive through participation in afterschool programs (Apsler, 2009; Daud & Carruthers, 2008; Riggs & Greenberg, 2004). These programs may benefit youth with disabilities but little is known about what influences staff to include youth with disabilities...
Physical education is important to promote physical activity of adolescents with and without disabilities, but many adolescents are not active during physical education classes. Innovative instructional strategies are imperative to change this phenomenon, but it will be challenging to develop effective instructional strategies without thorough understanding of students' physical activity...
Physical activity is increasingly recognized as a maj or component contributing to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Evidence exists that a physically active behavior is carried over from childhood to adolescents and possibly to adulthood. Limited research about the physical activity behavior of students with visual impairment is available,...
The inclusion of students with disabilities in general physical education (GPE) classes has become a concept and practice that is expected if not always understood. A review of inclusion in physical education literature suggested that GPE teachers possess less than favorable feelings towards the inclusion of students with disabilities in...
Background. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social-communicative deficits and restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities (APA, 2013). While current estimates suggest 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD, more alarming statistics indicate 1 in 50 school-aged children live with the disorder (Blumberg, Bramlett, Kogan,...
Generalizability theory was used to examine sources of variability in daily physical activity levels of secondary students with and without developmental disabilities (DD), and to determine minimum number of days required for monitoring their typical physical activity levels. Sixteen participants with DD (M = 16.7 years, SD = 2.7 years),...
Negative attitudes towards people with disabilities persist in our society, limiting the inclusion of people with disabilities in a multitude of social roles. Despite existing research on the nature of these attitudes and interventions to improve them, people with disabilities continue to cite social barriers as some of their greatest...
Background: Mastery of fundamental motor skills (FMS) in childhood is proposed to facilitate participation in physical activity (PA) opportunities, through context-specific application of FMS (Clarke & Metclafe, 2002; Stodden et al., 2008). Children with disabilities
impacting motor skill development thus are at greater risk for low PA participation. Evidence indicates...
The methods to educate students with disabilities in physical education contexts vary greatly due to their unique characteristics and special needs, requiring different teaching methods on an individual basis. In order to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities in physical education settings, teachers should employ evidence-based practice (EBP). However,...
This thesis pursues a flexible understanding and definition of
dis/ability as a broadly and liberally applied mark of stigma. It asks questions that develop a deeper understanding of how disability influences mētis, a knowledge or cunning use of the body. Through this framework of mētis, this thesis explores technologies as...
Those experiencing significant psychosocial problems in adolescence and young adulthood are at higher risk for psychological disorder (Pottick, Bilder, Vander Stoep, Warner, & Alvarez, 2008). Compared to peers, these individuals struggle to complete school, fit with social roles, and acquire occupational skills necessary for adulthood (Pottick et al., 2008). Providing...
Psychometric properties of two systematic observation tools, the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) and the Children's Activity Rating Scale (CARS), were examined for use with individuals with mental retardation (MR). Eleven children with MR were videotaped while participating in gym-based physical activity. Accelerometer data were collected and synchronized...
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion released the Healthy People 2020 plan in 2010 (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], 2010). The mission of Healthy People 2020 is focused on improving the health of all Americans. One common tool utilized to improve the health of Americans...
The focus of this research was to gain an understanding of physical activity in elementary school-aged children with mental retardation (MR). The primary purpose of the first study was to investigate physical activity levels of children with and without MR in both school and out of school environments. The secondary...
Using Pianta and Walsh's (1996) Contextual Systems Model (CSM), this study analyzed parent involvement in school as a key element for transition to kindergarten for children with disabilities and their families, along with the practices schools employ to improve school-family collaboration. Focusing on the relationship between the school system and...
The original research detailed in this document recognizes that the majority of students with disabilities between 18-69 years of age will attend a community college. The literature also indicates an exponential increase for better job opportunity and earnings relative to individuals with disabilities who attain higher levels of education. This...
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Students with Disabilities in Postsecondary Education ..................... 27
Since the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, a number of common problems have emerged. Primarily they involve the difficulties both experienced and created by public schools attempting to fulfill the federal mandate to provide students with disabilities an appropriate public education. The purpose of...
Background: Early childhood is filled with incredible growth in all areas of development and offers a critical period for optimal learning (Lerner, 2002). During this critical period both motor skills (Bouffard, Watkinson, Thompson, Causgrove Dunn, & Romanow, 1996; Clark & Metcalfe, 2002; Lubans, Morgan, Cliff, Barnett, & Okely, 2010; Stodden...
In the 27 years since the establishment of federal law mandating special education, no state has been fully in compliance. In addition, the voices of school personnel (special education teachers, speech and language pathologists, and school psychologists) charged with implementing these laws and regulations have been largely silent in the...
The 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are two federal mandates which impact general education teachers working with special needs students and diverse learners (second language learners, students from severe poverty, students from different cultures, students who experience occasional emotional needs, and students...
In juvenile corrections education approximately 50% of the students are eligible for special education services. This dissertation examines Oregon's juvenile corrections educators' understanding of their role in the special education process. This process involves student referrals, evaluations, and eligibility determination for special education services, and the development of individualized education...
This qualitative study informed by a phenomenological approach explored the experiences of students when deciding to disclose bias-related incidents. Through an individual interview and follow-up focus group, eight participants shared their experience with bias-related incidents, decision to disclose or not to disclose, and perception of university resources. Five themes emerged...
According to Block (1999), the greatest problem with inclusion in physical education is the lack of personnel support. Most help comes in the form of teacher assistants such as peer-tutors and paraprofessional who receive very little, if any, direction from the general physical education teacher. However, what remains unknown are...
As obesity rates of children and adolescents rise within the Unites States, physical activity becomes increasingly important for adolescents with and without a disability. As the trend toward increased obesity rates in adolescents continues, there are similiar increases in the percentage of children being educated in inclusive settings. The purpose...
The purposes of this phenomenological inquiry was to examine the challenges faced by administrative leaders of Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) at California community colleges (CCC) from the perspectives of current practitioners. This study was undertaken for the following reasons: (a) the increasing number of students with disabilities accessing...
Deaf students in mainstream colleges are withdrawing at an alarming rate. Approximately 70% of the 123,000 deaf students enrolled in 2,300 colleges across the United States will not persist until graduation. This qualitative study examined what factors in the academic and social environment are linked to deaf college students' perceptions...
Within the U.S. there is a growing interest in the case of female adolescents being coerced into the sex industry (Bernstein, 2010; Estes & Weiner, 2001; Soderlund, 2010; Williams and Frederick, 2009). This interest, which emerged due to U.S. involvement in the international trafficking phenomena and grassroots organizing, has resulted...
This thesis explores how and why the concept of disability is included in, or excluded from, the curricula of graduate programs that specialize in international exchange and/or study abroad. Five graduate programs in the United States participated in this study. Data was collected from program websites and through interviews with...
Founded over fifty years ago by K. Viswanathan, the Mitraniketan educational facility in Kerala, India provides literacy and vocational education to socially marginalized women, men, and children through nursery, elementary, high school and an educational preparatory program for young adults. Viswanathan founded the school on several ideals including Neo-Marxist, Quaker,...
School Physical Education programs provide key opportunities to promote lifetime physical activity (PA) to students, while at the same time students can build a sense of enjoyment. The purpose of this study first sought to determine the effects of varying instructional approaches on the enjoyment and PA levels of students...
Children who have multiple family risk factors are at increased risk for poor developmental outcomes, including poor academic achievement. The present study focused on charting the pathways through which early family risk – as indexed by ethnic minority status, low maternal education, low family income, and chronic maternal depressive symptoms...