Each year economically disadvantaged students fall further behind in the achievement and opportunity gap. Studies show that ethnically diverse students do not enter school with social skills supporting success in traditional school settings (Jagers et al., 2019). One approach to solving this problem is incorporating cultural background knowledge…

Youth development researchers have focused on persistent challenges facing youth in diverse urban settings; thus, we know less about youth in rural communities. Using multilevel modeling, we explored contextual factors associated with school grades and educational aspirations. We find that, on average relative to students from urban schools,…

The goal of counselor training programs is to equip graduates to work with a wide variety of clients with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities. Multicultural competence is a required part of the 2016 CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) Standards, but disability lacks equitable inclusion in…

This article examines the issue of hidden curriculum as it pertains to the experiences of individuals with disabilities, primarily those diagnosed with autism disorders. Examining the assumptions regarding the hidden curriculum, this article explores the challenges these assumptions create for individuals with autism. We provide suggestions for…

At Rushton Manor School, a small independent school in the South West of England, the proportion of young people with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), a form of Social, Communication and Language Need (SCLN), was substantially higher than regional averages: 15% at the school versus 5.4% in primary schools and 8.7% in secondary schools regionally…

Social pretend play may have a positive impact on children's social development because it involves positive peer interactions and challenges their social-cognitive abilities. The current study aimed to investigate whether variations in play tutors' active support and play management are associated with variations in children's social pretend play…

This article details the iterative development, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week work-related social skills intervention, Assistive Soft Skills and Employment Training, for young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. In this mixed-methods study, pre- and post-intervention surveys, interviews, and functional…

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display social-communication deficits and present with rigid and repetitive patterns of behavior and/or interests (RRBIs). Compared to interventions for social-communication skills, less attention has been given to RRBIs, especially with regard to interventions for young children. We surveyed 128…

As part of a research project, the author conducted a survey about Hong Kong academic librarians' perception on leadership capabilities. The survey made use of the Leadership Competencies Model developed for the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA). The results draw attention to a subset of competencies and expose perceptual…

This longitudinal study investigated the links between school anxiety, social competence, and teacher-student relationship in the 1st grade and academic achievement in the 3rd grade. The sample consisted of 389 Lithuanian school children who at the time of the study started their 1st year in elementary school. Regression analyses indicated that…

Objective: Prior research identified 4 distinct dating trajectories from 6th to 12th grade: "Low," "Increasing," "High Middle School," and "Frequent." The purpose of this study was to examine whether 10th graders in the "Low" dating group differed on emotional, interpersonal, and adaptive skills…

This study used data from the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation (N = 267) to investigate whether abuse and neglect experiences during the first 5 years of life have fading or enduring consequences for social and academic competence over the next 3 decades of life. Experiencing early abuse and neglect was consistently associated…

Youth with ASD often show limited or atypical empathic responsiveness. The direct effects of social skills interventions on enhancing empathic responsiveness is unknown. Data from a randomized controlled trial were used to investigate whether a Theory of Mind training improves the empathic responsiveness, measured through structured observations.…

Multi-tiered systems of support are frequently used in school settings because of their efficiency and effectiveness (McIntosh & Goodman, 2016). The rationale for multi-tiered systems of support is to provide early and systematic intervention to all students with increasing intensity of intervention provided as needed (Sugai & Horner,…

This research was carried to identify characteristics of the master dissertations completed in the field of preschool education, between the years of 2015-2019 in Turkey. The sampling of the study consisted of master dissertations in preschool education, child development and education/home economics department registered to National Dissertations…