Neurodivergent students, including autistic students, often benefit from faculty support to navigate college challenges. To better equip faculty in their interactions with neurodivergent students and enhance their understanding, NeuroPREP, a faculty training program was developed. Comprising four 20-min modules, NeuroPREP addresses key topics…

This study examined the effects of a professional development (PD) intervention on inservice teachers' use of embedded instruction practices within inclusive preschool classrooms. The results of a multiple baseline across participants design suggested the PD intervention was effective in increasing teachers' implementation fidelity of embedded…

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…

Students with autism need social skills to succeed academically, which can be fostered with the use of digital social stories (DSSs). While many special educators are expected to use DSSs to teach social skills because of increased elementary autism diagnoses, a significant number of DSS users are unprepared. The problem addressed in this…

There is an increase in the identification of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout the country. There is also an emphasis on inclusion within the classrooms in the country. This qualitative study addresses the need for teachers to grasp more knowledge about Autism so that they can help children with autism have better access to…

The present study evaluated the use of computerized equivalence-based instruction (EBI) to teach classes representing schedules of reinforcement to staff members. Four, 5-member classes representing fixed ratio, fixed interval, variable ratio, and variable interval schedules of reinforcement were taught. The participants were 16 staff members…

The term "neurodivergence" refers to the variation in the human brain regarding socialization preferences, learning, attention, mood, and other mental skills that differ from the societal standards and norms. Every day, schools encounter students whose neurodivergent experiences shape how they communicate, engage, and learn. Sometimes,…

This qualitative phenomenological research study used purposive sampling to explore the perceptions of general education teachers who teach children with autism in the general education setting. Furthermore, this research study analyzed the effectiveness of ongoing professional development that general educators that instruct children with autism…

This dissertation is a quantitative research paper that includes data from teachers in Louisiana elementary schools. The critical focus of this dissertation centers around elementary teachers being prepared to educate students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Throughout this paper, teacher preparation programs, professional learning, and…

Parent-teacher collaboration is crucial for optimizing outcomes for students with autism spectrum disorder (SWAs). This qualitative study addressed perceptions among parents of elementary-aged SWAs regarding the lack of transfer of school-based behavioral skills to the home environment. Parental perceptions of the transfer of behavioral…

This study used video feedback in a collaborative development study to help improve teachers' perceptions of the learning needs of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) and enhance their active participation in the classroom. Crucially, teachers need the necessary skills to discern students' subtle…

Background: Autistic youth primarily receive services in public schools from educators who persistently report variable training and use of evidenced-based practices (EBPs). Educational achievement of individualized goals may be hindered by inconsistent implementation of EBPs. Objective: To better understand EBP training practices, this study…

Special Education teachers play an essential role in preparing future generations, including students with Autism spectrum Disorder (ASD). Special education (SPED) teachers must be prepared to teach students with ASD to perform their duties effectively. This dissertation aims to describe professional development's roles and identifies effective…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display serious problem behavior that hinders educational and social progress. Educators in public schools are often untrained in the use of intensive evidence-based positive behavior technologies. This study describes the preliminary investigation of a coaching and consulting model for increasing…

In most countries, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is rarely understood by a number of individuals including educational stakeholders particularly teachers as they are the ones to handle children with autism in school context particularly in mainstream classrooms. While the number of children diagnosed with autism continues to grow worldwide, it is…