Individuals who work in special education services and the stakeholders in the Individualized Education Program meetings (IEPs) must make educational decisions impacting the child's academic, behavioral, and social development through their academic journey. The mixed-method study sought to investigate administrators' effectiveness at IEP…

Research supports the benefits of inclusive education for all students, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Additionally, educators are supportive of the idea of including students with IDD in general education classrooms. However, they report many barriers to doing so, including a lack of a systematic process…

The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the educational landscape for parents, teachers, and school-aged children. During the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years, restrictions transformed tools of communication, delivery of instruction, and traditional roles within brick- and-mortar schools. Rather than being relegated to a passive role in their…

For students with disabilities, the process for requesting and receiving accommodations, accompanying rules and requirements, and eligible accommodations differ significantly at the college level as compared to K-12 settings. Considering the differences in regulations governing accommodations and learning supports for students with learning…

As the current number of special education students continues to increase throughout the United States, so does the number of students who currently identify as Latinx. With this increase, it is important to consider what the experiences are for these students' families as they learn that their children qualify for special education services as…

In March of 2020, with COVID-19 cases rising above 3% for the entire population entered a pandemic and mandated schools move their instruction to online learning. The problem addressed in this study was students with a current IEP were not receiving the support and resources needed to meet their IEP goals in a virtual setting, leading to teachers…

Autism is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted and/or repetitive behaviors that can negatively impact adaptive, academic, and social functioning. Those diagnosed with ASD may be at an increased risk for poorer life outcomes such as poorer academic achievement and social relationships if they…

A mixed methods action research study was designed to answer three research questions based on inter-rater reliability (IRR) in compliance calls for transition at a state education agency, perceived confidence levels in making and discussing compliance calls, and perceived confidence in sharing transition resources. An innovation based on…

The alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), placed a 1% cap for states on student participation in the…

To better understand the current state of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter education in the United States, the authors analyzed publicly available website data to document the number and type of active postsecondary interpreter education programs by state. This descriptive study aimed to address a significant gap in the literature by…

Educators and families develop individualized education programs (IEPs) to address unique needs of individual students with disabilities. Addressing all student needs is critical to ensuring students receive a free and appropriate public education. To understand how IEP teams address the needs of students with complex support needs, we examined…

Students with qualifying disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA, 2004). An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document that maps out the students' educational program, including any specially designed instruction and…

In 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States redefined Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with disabilities (SWD) in "Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District." The Court's new standard for FAPE was more demanding than previous rulings. Parents of SWD are expected to participate in the special education…

Purpose: The language that school professionals use to describe disabled students can reveal and perpetuate ableist assumptions. Professionals' language choices can also challenge ableist attitudes to help create more inclusive, equitable learning environments. This tutorial seeks to guide speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and other school…

Collaboration is an essential skill for a special education teacher's (SETs) success in developing individualized education programs (IEPs) to ensure that students with disabilities have access to equal educational opportunities. Collaboration occurs when members of an inclusive learning community work together as equals to meet a student's…