This research aimed to determine whether the Making Friends (MF) program is effective on social acceptance levels of typically developing children in preschool toward their peers with special needs. The research had an experimental design with a control group, pretest, posttest, and follow-up test. The study included 130 typically developing…

Background: This study examines stigma and self-stigma towards individuals with intellectual disabilities among university students, focusing on cognitive, emotional and behavioural dimensions. It highlights the negative impact on social inclusion and the importance of educational interventions. Methods: A quantitative pre-/post-test design with a…

A growing movement towards inclusive education worldwide means more children with autism are being educated in mainstream classrooms. However, integration does not equate to inclusion, and peer stigmatisation of autism is commonplace. This systematic review explores the merit of school-based peer education interventions targeting the…

This study addressed the experiences of primary school teachers in Türkiye regarding inclusion/integration and Individualized Education Programs (IEP). The study also addressed how mainstreaming/integration and IEPs might impact students without special needs and their parents. This qualitative study adopted a phenomenological research design. The…

There is an increasing number of autistic students being educated alongside their neurotypical peers. However, placing a student in the general education setting is not sufficient for meaningful inclusion. Historically, autistic students have had fewer friendships, been less accepted, and experienced stigmatization. Interventions to increase peer…

This study was conducted to find how teacher candidates at a southwestern regional university understood ableism and empowerment based on their reading and interaction with the campus common reader. This work was important to help future teachers form healthy instructional practices that are inclusive of all students, regardless of ability in…

Background: The inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities is limited due to a high prevalence of prejudice towards this population. We reviewed studies to identify the most effective intervention methods that focus on acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities. Method: A literature review was conducted using several…

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the gap that exists between the federal mandate to educate children with disabilities or special needs in the least restrictive environment, and the practice of inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) into the general education classroom or interactions with general education…

Peer mentors provide crucial social, academic, and campus community inclusion supports to students with intellectual disability enrolled in higher education. Research on the perspectives of peer mentors provides valuable insight into the impact that supporting students with intellectual disability has on both the students and the mentors. Research…

As the number of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increases, so does the need for teacher training about inclusive education. We adapted an online training to provide pre-service teachers with strategies to integrate students with ASD into the classroom and evaluated it in two culturally diverse contexts. Students majoring in Education…

Positive outcomes for students have motivated educators to identify effective strategies for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in people with intellectual disability (ID), a minoritized population often excluded from DEI efforts. The current study investigated undergraduate student attitudes toward ID and compared changes in…

Inclusive kindergarten provision remains relatively rare in Indonesia. This article indicates factors that contribute to this situation (stigmatisation, lack of resources and training) and reports on an approach to begin to address it. Sign Supported Big Books were evaluated in mainstream kindergartens (i.e. classes without children with special…

The researcher sought to understand the experiences of postsecondary administrators who implemented changes to disability service offerings. Emphasis was placed on learning from the perceptions of individuals who received an award from a national organization for contributions that led to improvements of services. This study fills a gap in the…

This study evaluated the effects of an early education inclusion program for children with autism: 'Understanding our Peers; the Early Years'. A series of children's books were created outlining the core behavioural features of autism and how the characters in the books were able to understand these behaviours and accommodate the needs of the…

The purpose of this article is to explore how intergroup contact theory and inclusive recreation curriculum may influence undergraduate students' perceptions of individuals with disabilities. Attitudinal barriers continue to be a constraint for people with disabilities in regards to community participation. Academic recreation programs have an…