Traditional knowledge and practices dominate the special education landscape. As the American education system continues to adopt accountability measures related to disability-inclusive practice, the challenge facing special and general education leaders lies in need for joint efforts to solve problems of practice. In the diverse, complex, and…

This dissertation addresses a significant gap in existing research by exploring lived experiences of cisgender female adolescents (Grades 7-12) diagnosed with emotional disturbance (ED) in the U.S. Current statistics indicate that 28% of students in special education with an ED diagnosis are girls; yet, their perspectives remain largely absent…

In 1990, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reauthorized a previous legislation for students with disabilities to place more focus on the individual needs of the student, rather than the disability the student may have. In 2004, IDEA was reauthorized to align with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which held schools and…

This study aimed to investigate and improve collaborative educational leadership to eliminate the barriers created by the lack of inclusive pedagogy and the deficit approaches to instructing students with disabilities, which together limit access to the general education curriculum and classroom in school districts in the Northeast. The Cycle 1…

This study explores how servant leadership influences organizational commitment among special needs educators and non-teaching professionals. With increasing challenges such as high turnover and stress in special education, understanding leadership's role in creating supportive work environments is critical. Using a quantitative cross-sectional…

Bullying continues to be a concern in the field of education among school aged students, including individuals with disabilities. The areas of exploration in this basic qualitative study were the characterizations used by students, the ways in which they perceive and experience bullying, and ways in which they react to social situations. Social…

This phenomenological study sought to understand how members of a special education team account for and navigate successes and barriers faced during the planning and implementation of community experiences for students with severe disabilities. The needs and abilities of this population are vast and often difficult to accurately define, and there…

The research objective of this qualitative study was to discern a new purpose for provision of support to autistic individuals that would thoroughly eschew harmful normalization, which was the traditional purpose of all types of support for hundreds of years. Clinical practice and special education are moving toward a neurodiversity-affirming…

In 1996, government policies in South Africa required all educational institutions to align with human rights and equality. Public schools now operate as inclusive institutions. Thus, there exists a problem that after 23 years of policy implementation, South African educators continue to acknowledge their need for knowledge, skills, and training…

The problem that was the focus of this study is that many parents, both children who are typically developing and those who have special needs, are unsure of the benefits of inclusive preschool classrooms. This study is important because it enhanced understanding of how parents make informed decisions about what is educationally best for their…

The purpose of this study was to discover the potential relationships between principals' special-education training and experiences and the academic growth of students with disabilities (SWDs). The study also investigated the differences between the academic growth of SWDs at schools where principals have completed a degree, minor, and/or…

This study investigates the impact of per-pupil funding on inclusive placements in special education in New Jersey, focusing on factors influencing inclusive practices. Inclusion is a fundamental right for students with disabilities, requiring adequate funding to be effectively implemented. Using hierarchical linear modeling, this research…

This study aimed to understand how general pre-service educators, after having received instruction in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) implemented the principles of UDL to plan for and design lessons to support inclusion. This was a mixed-methods study that utilized quantitative and qualitative methods to assess general pre-service middle…

In the increasingly common inclusive classroom setting, paraprofessionals have been called to provide Specialized Academic Instruction for Special Education students in the secondary (middle and high school) General Education classroom. Current prior research on paraprofessionals often focused on the training, responsibilities, and role…

Most children with disabilities receive instruction in inclusive classrooms where children with and without disabilities are educated side by side; however, students with disabilities often experience lower levels of social inclusion, such as lower quality friendships and classroom connectivity, than their nondisabled peers. Little is known about…