This dissertation study aimed to examine the relationship between Tier 1 Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) implementation fidelity and the academic (e.g., MAP Growth scores) and behavioral outcomes (e.g., major office discipline referrals, suspensions). High quality PBIS implementation fidelity has been linked with improved…

Given the increase in students with learning disabilities entering university, we investigated a broader group--students with a history of reading difficulties (HRD)--who are known to be at risk of academic struggles. We identified the self-reported reading challenges and strategies of university students with HRD (n = 49) and those with no…

Teachers working with autistic children are at a great risk of stress and burnout, particularly in mainstream classrooms. To identify the general relationship between including a child with a mental disability and teachers' burnout and stress, as well as to discern any autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-specific associations, this study compared…

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of positive illusory bias (PIB) on the relationship between ADHD symptoms and functioning in college students, with a focus on gender differences. Method: The sample consisted of 195 college students, including 148 with ADHD and 47 without ADHD. Measures of ADHD symptomatology, life…

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with negative social and occupational outcomes across the life course. However, there has been limited population-based research that quantifies the impact of ADHD on academic achievement and academic trajectories. Aims: To compare academic performance and academic…

Sibling and friendship relationships are quite similar, in that they are both dyadic and reciprocal, and offer the child feelings of warmth, trust, loyalty and intimacy. Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often experience difficulties in their interpersonal relationships. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality…

Working memory is an important component of executive functioning, an area of difficulty for many autistic children. However, executive functioning and working memory are highly malleable throughout childhood, and various student-level and environmental factors play important roles in their development. This study used the Early Childhood…

The transition from middle to high school can be especially challenging for students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Also, students with disabilities experience greater barriers when considering careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Academic interest and social support may play a critical role…

This study investigated the extent to which problem behaviors were factors associated with response to a year-long multicomponent reading intervention for fourth- and fifth-grade students with reading difficulties. Students scoring [less than or equal to]85 standard score on the "Test of Silent Reading Efficiency and Comprehension" (n =…

Cross-rater agreement on bullying, victimization, and related behaviors of middle school students with and without behavioral disorders (BD) was investigated. Students with BD (n = 11), their peers (n = 90), and general education teachers (n = 10) completed the Peer Relationship Survey (PRS), a non-anonymous measurement scale. The results of…

The note- and test-taking skills of typically functioning undergraduates are significantly and positively related to handwriting speed, listening comprehension, background knowledge and sustained attention. This study attempted to replicate these findings with two groups of high school students--those with and without the diagnosis of a learning…

For students with high-incidence disabilities, the transition from secondary to postsecondary educational settings poses the additional challenge of acquiring accommodations. Self-advocacy interventions have been identified as important skills for students with disabilities in accessing accommodations. The purpose of this study was to examine the…

This study examined the performance, demographics, and contextual factors of students taking the ACT® test with accommodations compared to students taking the ACT without accommodations. We examined the prevalence of accommodations provided and disability categories as well as performance by disability type. We also examined demographic…

The Canadian literature on postsecondary access has identified many of its key determinants including parental education and income, academic performance, and sex. However, relatively little work has investigated the independent role of disability in postsecondary enrollment. This study fills that gap by estimating the relationship between mental…

Many teachers are concerned about their ability to work effectively with students who have a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to determine the perceived efficacy of common interventions used to address negative ADHD behaviors in the elementary and middle school…