Adults with intellectual disability (ID) have significantly lower levels of fitness compared to the general population. The study examined the effects of a multicomponent familiarization intervention, consisting of a visual activity schedule and a video-enhanced system of least-to-most prompting, both displayed via an iPad, on the acquisition of…

Background: The study explored the use of a robot-mediated therapeutic intervention in persons with visual and intellectual disabilities. Method: Three robot-mediated intervention sessions were developed to teach three coping skills for worrying. Effectiveness was examined using a multiple-baseline case study design (N = 7). Baseline,…

Transitioning to post-secondary education is often challenging for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To address this, Florida International University, specifically FIU Embrace, piloted the Embrace Mentoring Program (EMP), which provided unique role-specific workshops to both faculty/staff mentors, and student…

Although adult siblings often fulfill caregiving roles for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and report needing support, little intervention research has been conducted with adult siblings of individuals with IDD. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the preliminary outcomes of a leadership…

This study aims at investigating the impact of visual arts activities on the socialization and stress management of individuals with special needs. This is a qualitative research study that employs "action research" and our data were collected based on the observations of teachers. Over a 20-week period, visual arts activities were…

This social validity study accompanied a 9-month randomized control trial that investigated the efficacy of an emergent literacy program, Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB), delivered in general education elementary classrooms to students with severe disabilities, including autism. The social validity research questions focused on (a) the social…

Project INTERprofessional Autism Collaborative Training (INTERACT) is an interprofessional education program designed to prepare graduate students in psychology, special education, and speech-language pathology to work with autistic children with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. The rising prevalence of autism, coupled with increased…

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to examine the effect of an adapted physical education (APE) program on physical fitness of adolescents with intellectual disabilities, and (2) to investigate the associations between the changes of physical fitness tests over the course of a three-year period. A secondary data analysis design was used to…

Background: Physical activity has been proposed as a context to foster the healthy development of individuals and reduce the risk of many chronic problems. This study evaluates the impact of badminton lessons on health and wellness in young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Methods: Eighteen participants with ID (14 males and 4 females,…

Students qualifying for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may experience challenges meeting the socioemotional demands of the school environment, creating a need for targeted interventions that can be delivered within school settings. The current study used a mixed-methods approach to examine the efficacy of a 4-week…

Research consistently demonstrates that attainment of a driver's license and access to a vehicle directly and favorably influence employment outcomes, enhance one's ability to capitalize on quality jobs, and expand one's access to community and independent opportunities. This study used a driving simulator to provide driving lessons to 12 young…

Introduction: Families have a significant role in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviors. However, it is not clear how actively families are involved when people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviors are living in out-of-home care. This scoping review explored the frequency and type of…

Students with disorders of intellectual development (ID) experience challenges in reading and writing, indicating the need for research-based interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of reading and writing interventions for students aged 4-19 with disorders of ID using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and…

Noise hypersensitivity is a poorly understood symptom of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For some, problem behaviors co-occur with the aversive noise. Limited literature exists on treating noise hypersensitivity; however, noise hypersensitivity may be related to a specific phobia. This case study utilizes modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy…

We evaluated the effectiveness of an online training on palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy among staff working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) using a one-group pretest-posttest design. Staff from four nonprofit residential and day services organizations in a U.S. Midwestern state participated. Among 132…