Mothers play a crucial role in their children's education especially for children with special education needs (SEN). Specifically, collaborative practices between Saudi mothers with daughters with an intellectual disability (ID), and special education professionals are essential to achieve positive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to…

This dissertation qualitatively studied the social interactions students with IDD had in Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programs. Through a DSE lens, I analyzed the experiences of 15 current and former IPSE students to determine the phenomena of social interaction while at IPSE. Methods included focus groups, participant observations,…

College students with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are afforded many educational opportunities through Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) programs, including employment training. Competitive employment can contribute a rich independent life, thus more employment training opportunities can be beneficial. Low employment rates for adults…

Grounded in the biopsychosocial models of expressive language in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS), this dissertation included two novel studies that examined the role of biological (i.e., physiology), psychological (i.e., autistic traits, anxiety symptoms, and child affect) and social (i.e., communication partner…

Parents typically serve as the primary sexuality educators for their children. This qualitative research explored the experiences of parents from Arkansas in providing sexuality education to their children with intellectual disabilities. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain the perspective of parents, followed by transcription and coding…

Currently, the rate of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing and further research is needed to understand what evidence-based practices are effective for this population. To contribute further to the already existing literature, the three studies expand on previous reviews and studies by adding information on whom these…