CRISPR technologies are among the most powerful advancements in modern biology because they accurately manipulate the genomes of living cells and have the potential of curing various genetic diseases. This study examined the attitudes of undergraduate health science students towards somatic cell and germline gene editing therapies and whether…

Earlier research shows an arrest in reading and writing development among 9-12-year-old students with severe speech and physical impairment, SSPI. This article explores what five students with SSPI who have reached beyond beginner's phase without arrest in their literacy development have experienced as significant for their reading and writing…

Difficulties in monitoring reading comprehension result in poor comprehension. One key aspect of monitoring is metacomprehension, which refers to one's awareness of one's own reading comprehension. Previous studies have observed difficulties in metacomprehension among the deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) population. This study aims to determine…

Currently most special education teachers, including those who teach students with significant disabilities, are evaluated using observation systems designed for general educators. Because the roles and effective teaching practices of special educators differ from general educators, we propose that a more appropriate observation tool is necessary,…

Previous findings demonstrate peer support arrangements improve academic and social outcomes for secondary students with severe disabilities, but further research is needed to determine (a) the degree to which this practice would benefit younger students, (b) the impact on student independence, and (c) how teachers can best support paraeducator…

Paraprofessionals are often tasked with providing instruction to students with severe disabilities despite little or no training in evidence-based practices. Previous studies have demonstrated that specific strategies (i.e., didactic instruction, modeling, and immediate performance feedback) in a 1-to-1 format can enable paraprofessionals to…

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of challenging behaviors (CBs) associated with students with severe developmental disabilities (SDDs) as rated by their teachers. The study also attempted to examine whether the occurrence and intensity of CBs might depend on certain socio-demographic variables. Data was collected using a questionnaire to…

Background: Initiating meaningful moments of interaction with people with profound intellectual disabilities can prove to be difficult for support staff. Exploring the behaviour of support staff that precedes the initiations of behaviour by people with profound intellectual disabilities helps to shed light upon the potential facilitating effects…

Students with significant disabilities often attend general education (mainstream) classrooms, yet they are not receiving adequate support to experience full school participation. This qualitative case study was conducted to explore how key intrinsic (i.e. personal skills and abilities) and extrinsic (i.e. environmental) factors influence the…

Community mental health centers (CMHCs) offer invaluable, publicly-funded treatment for serious mental illness (SMI). Unfortunately, evidence-based psychological treatments are often not delivered at CMHCs, in part due to implementation barriers, such as limited time, high caseloads, and complex clinical presentations. Transdiagnostic treatments…

This article charts one school's journey in securing an assessment regime aligned with its vision for its learners with profound and multiple difficulties (PMLD). Previous iterations, based on commercially-based systems, as well as lessons learned from reflecting on the school's own assessment practices, were used as catalysts for the development…

This paper is a methodological reflection drawn from a study on the transition from school into young adulthood in Aotearoa New Zealand. During this process, the personal priorities of young adults with significant disabilities often becomes overpowered by those involved in their post-school planning. Through the experiences of young adults living…

The purpose of the current study was to examine Japanese graduate students' professional socialisation experiences while instructing students with disabilities during adapted physical education (APE) practicum experiences. This study, situated in occupational socialisation theory, used a case study design. Seven graduate students (four males and…

Article 24 of the "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," along with "General Comment 4," explicitly outlines the right of every person to an inclusive education at every level. And yet, even amongst supporters of inclusive education, it is not uncommon for some students to be considered 'too disabled' to be…

It is not known how parents of preschool children birth to three years of age with severe disabilities describe their experience with the special education team and communication with team members when included in teamwork using a model consistent with interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP). The purpose of this qualitative descriptive…