This phenomenological study sought to understand how members of a special education team account for and navigate successes and barriers faced during the planning and implementation of community experiences for students with severe disabilities. The needs and abilities of this population are vast and often difficult to accurately define, and there…

Faculty face a rising challenge in supporting diverse student populations on campuses (Bastedo et al., 2013). Inclusive pedagogy, facilitated by UDL, helps alleviate learning barriers for diverse student groups (Basham & Blackorby, 2021). However, the ambiguous operational definition of UDL poses practical challenges in implementation and…

Social-emotional learning has become a vital element for fostering holistic education and student development over the past few years in education. However, of all students, students with disabilities face barriers in accessing effective SEL. This gap highlights the more considerable systemic challenges of leadership development, a lack of…

Social-emotional learning has become a vital element for fostering holistic education and student development over the past few years in education. However, of all students, students with disabilities face barriers in accessing effective SEL. This gap highlights the more considerable systemic challenges of leadership development, a lack of…

The assistant principal is the gatekeeper of student discipline and is the key to closing the disproportionate discipline gap between Black and White students. Assistant principals can help close the gap by engaging in Culturally Responsive School Leadership professional development that allows them to become self-aware of their implicit bias,…

The purpose of this case study was to explore the transitional process and support systems for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) matriculating at institutions of higher education without formalized ASD-support programs. Students with ASD experience increased transitional challenges as they begin their college careers due to their…

The inclusion of students with Down Syndrome in public school did not come about in the United States until the mid-1970s, when parents and professionals advocated for a disabled child's right to attend school with their typically abled peers (Grigal et al., 2018). This inclusive practice and several legislative actions have been influencing the…

National and local data sets reveal that students with disabilities have yet to gain full access to the opportunities that science, technology, and engineering (STE) education has to offer. Through an improvement science lens, this three-manuscript dissertation attempts to define, diagnose, explain, and address this pervasive problem of practice.…

This dissertation explores strategies for creating a more inclusive and accessible music learning environment for students with autism. With many educators in mainstream music education unaware of the strategies and resources to cater effectively to children with neurodevelopmental disorders, I combine my previous experiences as a behavioral…

Background: Schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based framework for implementing a continuum of behavior support practices in schools to improve student outcomes. Research suggests that students with extensive support needs (ESN) may not have access to the complete continuum of behavioral supports within…

This study aimed to understand how general pre-service educators, after having received instruction in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) implemented the principles of UDL to plan for and design lessons to support inclusion. This was a mixed-methods study that utilized quantitative and qualitative methods to assess general pre-service middle…

For music educators the continued mandate for inclusion has accentuated the importance of being able to instruct students with a wide variety of learning differences. Even so, music educators have expressed frustration with a potential lack of competencies and resources related to teaching students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was…

Increasing student diversity and the global emphasis on inclusive education necessitate a critical focus on teacher preparedness in implementing inclusive practices within classrooms. Teacher preparedness in inclusive practices is essential to ensure all students thrive in a truly inclusive educational environment. Universal Design for Learning…

Despite decades of initiatives, engineering education continues to lack diversity. The proportion of women, BIPOC, LGBTQA+, low-income, first-generation, and disabled students in engineering education remains below national population levels. The culture of engineering is a barrier to increasing participation in engineering for students from these…

The long-standing problem of "what comes next," i.e. the problem of finding an ideal career path, has been a barrier in attracting STEM students from marginalized communities. A Survey of Earned Doctorates conducted by NSF shows the disproportionate completion rates between marginalized and non-marginalized communities: An approximately…