Individualized Education Program Research Articles

Supporting Inclusivity for Students With Disabilities: Perspectives From PreK–12 Art and Design Teachers

In this study, we investigated the demographic, educational setting, and pedagogical factors in inclusive visual arts and design classrooms for students with disabilities. We also explored how art teachers’ backgrounds, training, and school environments influence their approaches to teaching students with disabilities. Using survey research, we analyzed responses from more than 1,000 preK–12 art and design teachers in the United States, focusing on issues related to inclusion. The analysis provides insights regarding teachers’ characteristics, experiences, and pedagogical approaches for teaching students with disabilities in a post-COVID educational system. Linear regression provided insights into factors that can create a sense of community and belonging for disabled individuals in an art classroom. We found a significant relationship between teacher preservice coursework and teachers’ approaches to developing inclusive classrooms. Teachers who identify as disabled, undergo preservice coursework involving disabilities, refer to students’ Individual Education Programs, have sufficient planning time, and work in schools with collaborative models are more likely to adopt inclusive approaches to pedagogy and curriculum.

Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Support for Autistic Students Through Individual Education Programs

The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) underscored the importance of tailoring educational interventions to accommodate the diverse needs of autistic students in Nigeria. This study investigated the effectiveness of individual educational programs in meeting the needs of autistic students in Nigeria. The study surveyed autistic children, teachers, and parents in special schools in Ikeja, Apapa, and Kosofe Local Government Areas of Lagos State. It used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the effectiveness of Individual Education Programs (IEPs) in addressing the unique needs of autistic students in mainstream educational settings. The study analyzed academic performance metrics and social skills proficiency in autistic students. It also explored the experiences of teachers, parents, and autistic students through interviews and focus groups. Despite challenges like lack of resources and collaboration issues, teachers shared success stories and strategies. Parents praised positive efforts between home and school, while autistic students expressed improved learning experiences. The synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data provided a holistic evaluation of IEPs' effectiveness in promoting positive outcomes for autistic students. The findings contribute to the discourse on inclusive education, informing practices to refine IEP design and implementation. The study emphasizes providing meaningful educational support tailored to the diverse needs of autistic students in mainstream settings.

Inclusive Principal Leadership and Family Engagement: Strengthening Parent Participation in IEP Meetings and Beyond

Principals play a critical role in creating inclusive schools for students with disabilities, but few studies focus on how principals foster meaningful engagement for parents of children with disabilities, especially within Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings where important education decisions are made. Research focused on principal preparation further highlights the lack of preparation in special education which has likely led many principals to delegate special education duties and responsibilities. Consequently, many families feel silenced and disengaged in IEP meetings - which can lead to serious academic, legal, and financial consequences for both districts and families. In this article, we review literature on inclusive principal leadership and parent engagement to provide a set of evidenced-based recommendations to strengthen family participation in IEP meetings. In part, our recommendations are derived from our recent study of parents navigating the special education process and their experiences with principals. We conclude with final thoughts about how these recommendations can be woven into principal preparation programs, school improvement plans, and district efforts to implement IDEA.

Social Determinants in COVID-19 Experiences of Children With Disabilities Receiving School-Based Services in Chicago: Mixed-Methods Study of Parent/Guardian Perspectives.

To identify the impact of social determinants on the experiences of children with disabilities and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of parents/guardians. A mixed-methods study engaged parents/guardians of children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in July to August 2021 at a developmental/behavioral pediatrics clinic in 1 urban academic medical center. All parents/guardians completed study-specific surveys on experiences and impact of COVID-19. A subset completed semi-structured interviews. Analysis included descriptive statistics and Fisher exact tests for survey questions and thematic analysis to code interviews and identify themes. Results were corroborated by experts in developmental/behavioral pediatrics and special education. Participants included 24 parents/guardians representing 27 children (mean = 7.37 years). A majority attended public school (78%) and identified as non-White (78%). Most commonly, the children's disabilities were autism (52%), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (37%), and speech/language impairment (33%). The services received by children most commonly were speech/language (89%) and physical/occupational (70%) therapies. Five themes emerged about the impact of social determinants on experiences during COVID-19 related to: adapting to disruption of routines, attendance/engagement in learning, interruption of IEP services, support for children and families, and challenges with technology. Social determinants, such as housing, income, insurance, and quality of education, affected the experiences of families and their ability to adapt to the needs of children with disabilities in the setting of COVID-19 pandemic-related changes.

Investigation of the Science Individualized Education Programs’ Learning Outcomes According to the Revised Bloom Taxonomy

This study aims to determine whether the LO in individualized education programs (IEP) have any learning outcome value, whether they are included in the science education curriculum, and how the LO are distributed according to the RBT knowledge and cognitive process dimension levels. The IEPs from 49 science teachers working in 7 different regions of Turkey, which they prepared at the secondary school levels, were requested, and IEPs were analyzed using the document analysis method. It was concluded from the analysis that 6% of the LO in the IEPs did not have any learning outcome value and that 55% of the 2883 LO that had a learning outcome value consisted of those included in the science education curriculum. It was determined that the LO in the IEPs were at the level of conceptual at the most and at the level of meta-cognitive at the least from the knowledge dimension levels of RBT additionally, they were at the understanding at the most and at the creating and evaluating at the least from cognitive process dimension levels of RBT.

Burnout among special education teachers: exploring the interplay between individual and contextual factors

ABSTRACT Special education teachers are among the professional figures in the educational sector who risk high levels of burnout. This study explores which variables among individual factors (i.e. socio-demographics, personal self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy) and contextual factors (i.e. collective self-efficacy and work organisation) can predict burnout among special education teachers. Participants included 3171 Italian special education teachers in primary, middle and high schools. They filled out the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Perceived Personal and Collective Self-efficacy in the School Context Scale, the Intrapersonal Technology Integration Scale, and a questionnaire developed specifically to investigate socio-biographical characteristics and teaching organisation. A multivariate LASSO regression model was used to select the most significant predictors. The results identified multiple variables associated with burnout, both among individual factors (e.g. gender, self-efficacy) and contextual ones (e.g. lack of shared involvement in the Individualized Education Program). These results provide new perspectives for planning interventions for special education teachers taking into consideration both their individual characteristics and the context they work in. Limitations of the study and possible further research are discussed.

An Evaluation of Annual Goals for Rural Students Who Are Receiving Special Education Services: A Comparison of Disability Categories

In this article, we describe the exploration of the content and quality of annual goals included in the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) of students with disabilities in one rural U.S. school district. We utilized content analysis to understand the district’s service delivery model comprehensively. Findings revealed disparities between inclusive placements and special education service delivery, suggesting that, despite high rates of inclusive placements noted on IEPs, most services occurred outside general education classrooms, especially for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We evaluated the quality and rigor of 546 annual goals using a rubric adapted from Kurth et al. Only 37.7% of goals were rated as rigorous, highlighting a need for clearer, more specific, and applicable goals. Notably, communication goals for students with IDD were largely absent, raising concerns about support for meaningful participation in general education settings. In addition, special factors related to communication and assistive technology were not consistently addressed in IEPs. We discuss implications for improving educational experiences for students who qualify for special education services under IDD in rural schools and highlight the value of further research and actions in this area.

Perceptions of Science Teachers towards Some Concepts Related to Inclusive Education: Metaphor Study

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the science teachers' perceptions towards the concepts of inclusive education, inclusive students, and individualized education programs (IEP) related to inclusive education. Method: 234 science teachers participated in the study, which was carried out in the phenomenological design. The metaphorical form developed by the researchers was used to collect the data within the scope of the research, and the obtained data were analyzed by the content analysis method. Findings: In the study, "integrative", "practice competence", "negative connotation", "fulfillment of needs", "difference", "supporting effect", "process" and "other" categories were created for the concept of inclusive education; "externally dependent", "promising", "positive connotation", "negative connotation" and "other" categories for the concept of inclusion student; and "supporting effect", "content", "formality" and "fulfillment of needs" categories for the concept of IEP. Discussion: The metaphors created by the teachers for the concept of inclusive education were mostly collected under the "integrative" category; the metaphors created for the inclusive student mostly under the "external dependent" category, and the metaphors created for the concept of IEP mostly under the "supporting effect" category. It has been concluded that inclusive education generally provides integration and is perceived positively by teachers, inclusive students are perceived as needy and demanding more as externally dependent individuals, and IEP has a guiding perception by providing overall support to both teachers and students in the education and training process.

Development of a Collaborative Intelligent Individual Education Program System using a Prototyping Approach

Development of a Collaborative Intelligent Individual Education Program System using a Prototyping Approach

Effectiveness of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Special Education

This study examines the effectiveness of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in enhancing educational outcomes for students with disabilities through a mixed-methods approach. Results show a 20% improvement in academic performance for students with well-implemented IEPs, highlighting the structured approach of IEPs in addressing individual needs. Challenges such as time constraints and the importance of regular updates were noted, emphasizing the significance of supporting educators and fostering collaboration for maximizing the benefits of IEPs in special education.

Addressing Students’ Beliefs to Enhance Family-Professional Collaboration in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Preparation

Preservice educators’ attitudes and beliefs towards families can have a profound impact on family-centered practices (FCPs) and family-professional partnerships (FPPs); unfortunately, negative beliefs about families can surface during preservice early childhood preparation and can be a challenge for faculty in higher education to address. This article shares promising instructional practices (e.g., projects, assignments, teaching methods) that have been shown to reshape preservice educators’ existing beliefs about families. In addition, these instructional practices aim to cultivate positive perspectives in preservice educators by aligning with the recent joint policy statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S Department of Education on inclusive early learning programs (2023) regarding engaging families as full partners. The purposes of this article are to: (a) briefly summarize the literature on relational FCPs and FPPs, (b) describe the connection between beliefs about families and their contribution to strengthen or hinder relational FCPs and FPPs, and (c) present instructional practices that faculty can use to support preservice EI/ECSE students’ constructive beliefs about families. Examples of instructional practices are organized and presented as: in class activities with families (e.g., guest speakers); in class activities without families (e.g., role playing); and out of class activities with families (e.g., attending an Individualized Education Program [IEP] meeting). By integrating these instructional practices, faculty can equip preservice educators with necessary skills and attitudes to build authentic connections with families, which can lead to improved outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families.

IEP Team Members’ Experiences On the Process Of Preparing Individualized Education Program In A Secondary School

Phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in this research, which was carried out to determine the experiences, opinions and suggestions of the stakeholders in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) development team during the IEP preparation process. Nine families, 20 teachers and a school administrator who were in the IEP team and took part in the IEP preparation process participated in the research. Researcher diary, demographic data form, observation and semi-structured interviews were used in accordance with the principle of data triangulation while collecting data from the participants. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed by inductive analysis method. The data were analyzed with the QSR Nvivo 11 package program. As a result of the research, it was concluded that families should be involved in the IEP development process, but this would be possible depending on some preconditions, and one of these preconditions was family education. It has been observed that the stakeholders in the team have developed a communication system based on information sharing. It was observed that the stakeholders had difficulties in the IEP preparation process due to reasons such as insufficient training on the process, insufficient knowledge about the process and laws, and inexperience. According to another result of the research, it was stated that it would not be appropriate for individuals with special needs to take part in the IEP preparation process, but they could be included in the process if certain conditions were met. In addition, as a result of the research, various suggestions were presented on deep research and applications for the IEP development process.

Empowering Speech-Language Pathologists: Strategies for Effective Individualized Education Program Navigation and Inclusive Practice in Schools.

Empowering Speech-Language Pathologists: Strategies for Effective Individualized Education Program Navigation and Inclusive Practice in Schools.

Recognition of Early Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms in Hypertensive and Dyslipidemic Individuals of Icheon, Korea: Insights into Educational Levels and Health Literacy.

The study aimed to explore the relationship between the presence of hypertension or dyslipidemia and the recognition of early symptoms of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke. It is crucial for individuals with hypertension or dyslipidemia to recognize early symptoms of AMI and stroke, as timely and appropriate intervention can lead to favorable health outcomes. The study enrolled 104 participants aged 19 and above who are current residents of the Icheon region, Gyeonggi, Korea. The assessment of early symptoms of AMI and stroke utilized adapted items from the Korea Community Health Survey. In consideration of health literacy and education attainment, logistic regression analyses were conducted. While there was no significant association between hypertension and awareness of AMI or stoke symptoms, individuals with dyslipidemia demonstrated enhanced recognition of specific AMI symptoms, such as 'sudden chest pain or pressure' and 'sudden feeling of breathlessness'. No significant associations were observed between hypertension or dyslipidemia and awareness of stroke symptoms. The study emphasized the significance of targeted health education programs for individuals with chronic conditions to enhance their awareness of early symptoms of AMI and stroke.

Predictors of Listening-Related Fatigue in Adolescents With Hearing Loss.

Self-reported listening-related fatigue in adolescents with hearing loss (HL) was investigated. Specifically, the extent to which listening-related fatigue is associated with school accommodations, audiologic characteristics, and listening breaks was examined. Participants were 144 adolescents with HL ages 12-19 years. Data were collected online via Qualtrics. The Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale-Child was used to measure listening-related fatigue. Participants also reported on their use of listening breaks and school accommodations, including an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, remote microphone systems, closed captioning, preferential seating, sign language interpreters, live transcriptions, and notetakers. After controlling for age, HL laterality, and self-perceived listening difficulty, adolescents with an IEP or a 504 plan reported lower listening-related fatigue compared to adolescents without an IEP or a 504 plan. Adolescents who more frequently used remote microphone systems or notetakers reported higher listening-related fatigue compared to adolescents who used these accommodations less frequently, whereas increased use of a sign language interpreter was associated with decreased listening-related fatigue. Among adolescents with unilateral HL, higher age was associated with lower listening-related fatigue; no effect of age was found among adolescents with bilateral HL. Listening-related fatigue did not differ based on hearing device configuration. Adolescents with HL should be considered at risk for listening-related fatigue regardless of the type of hearing devices used or the degree of HL. The individualized support provided by an IEP a or 504 plan may help alleviate listening-related fatigue, especially by empowering adolescents with HL to be self-advocates in terms of their listening needs and accommodations in school. Additional research is needed to better understand the role of specific school accommodations and listening breaks in addressing listening-related fatigue.

Health Conditions, Education Services, and Transition Planning for Adolescents With Autism.

Our objectives with this study were to describe the frequency of selected cooccurring health conditions and individualized education program (IEP) services and post-high school transition planning for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and identify disparities by sex, intellectual ability, race or ethnicity, and geographic area. The study sample included 1787 adolescents born in 2004 who were identified as having autism through a health and education record review through age 16 years in 2020. These adolescents were part of a longitudinal population-based surveillance birth cohort from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network from 2004 to 2020 in 5 US catchment areas. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (47%) and anxiety (39%) were the most common cooccurring health conditions. Anxiety was less commonly identified for those with intellectual disability than those without. It was also less commonly identified among Black adolescents compared with White or Hispanic adolescents. There was wide variation across Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network sites in the provision of school-based IEP services. Students with intellectual disability were less likely to receive school-based mental health services and more likely to have a goal for postsecondary independent living skills compared with those without intellectual disability. A total of 37% of students did not participate in standardized testing. We identified disparities in the identification of cooccurring conditions and school-based IEP services, practices, and transition planning. Working with pediatric health and education providers, families, and adolescents with autism will be important to identify contributing factors and to focus efforts to reduce disparities in the supports and services adolescents with autism have access to and receive.

Effects of Occupational Therapy Professional Development Training on School-Based Practice

ABSTRACT Purpose A training program was provided to school-based occupational therapy practitioners (SBOTPs) in Massachusetts to support practices aligned with educational policies and regulations. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of this training program on school-based practice patterns. Methods This study used a researcher-designed online exploratory survey to determine occupational therapy practice patterns in Massachusetts public schools following the training program. The survey was emailed to the 309 SBOTPs who participated in a Massachusetts Department of Education sponsored training between 2007 and 2019. The survey questions analyzed the frequency of reported participation-based intervention methods, in-context and out-of-context services, and interdisciplinary collaboration used by these practitioners. A Chi Square Goodness of Fit Test was performed to determine if there were categorical differences in the frequency of responses to each research question. Results After analyzing our 29 responses we determined that the training program was effective and had an impact on how SBOTPs practice within their schools. After the training, SBOTPs in Massachusetts reported engaging more frequently in participation-based practice in natural school contexts, and collaborating with teachers and other school professionals. Contribution to Occupational Therapy This research serves as evidence that professional development courses can impact how SBOTPs practice. This study suggests that practice patterns of SBOTS can be influenced by participating in trainings that include a model with rationale and facilitated practice for providing occupation-based services in the least restrictive environment and for increasing collaborative practices in schools. School-based occupational therapy (SBOT) is integral to the educational development of children who require this service as part of their individual educational program (IEP). SBOT helps students to achieve success in occupations within the school setting, such as education, play and leisure, activities of daily living (ADLs), and social participation. Students who receive special education services are eligible for occupational therapy if the IEP team determines that SBOT is necessary to achieve the prioritized student goals developed by the team, enhancing the student’s ability to succeed in the educational program. The overarching goal of school-based occupational therapy in working with eligible students with disabilities under the federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is to support students’ abilities to successfully participate (academically and functionally) in their educational program in the least restrictive environment in order, ultimately, to prepare them for adult living (AOTA, 2017; IDEA, 2004).

Safe and Inclusive School Bus Transportation System for Special Needs Children

This white paper does a thorough analysis of school-age special needs children, the current challenges, and surveys a list of all the resources, guidelines, bodies, policies, and best practices that need to be followed in conjunction with each other for this to be successful. It discusses various policies and programs, including those established by the US Department of Health and Welfare (HHS), the U.S. Department of Education, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the NHTSA regarding children with special needs, the categorization of disabilities in children, and their various health care requirements. The article then discusses the functions of other bodies, starting with the IEP (Individualized Education Program), which is tailored to each kid and includes details on the services and goals that each student will get in terms of education. Besides these regulations and guidelines, the white paper also discusses experiential-based industry best practices in special education student transportation and emphasizes how the parents, the school bus contractor services with its bus services and equipped fleet, the school bus driver, and the accompanying attendant/monitor with the child, the vehicle - school bus /van, the equipment on the bus, the kind of training that needs to be imparted to all these bodies and also the role of school administrators and staff - all in conjunction with each other is so important and that all these need to come together to give special needs kids the best school bus transportation.

Development of a risk estimation model for condomless sex among college students in Zhuhai, China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCondom use at last intercourse is an effective indicator for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention. To identify at-risk individuals and improve prevention strategies, this study explored factors associated with condomless sex at last intercourse in the last year and developed a risk estimation model to calculate the individual possibility of condomless sex among college students in Zhuhai, China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 1430 college students who had sex in the last year from six universities in Zhuhai. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic regression were performed to explore the predictors of condomless sex. The nomogram was constructed to calculate the individual possibility of condomless sex. Discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were evaluated using the area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUROC) and the calibration curve.ResultsThe proportion of students who had condomless sex at last intercourse was 18.2% (260/1430). Students who had experienced more types of intimate partner violence (aOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.31 ~ 1.92) and had anal sex (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.06 ~ 2.84) were more likely to have condomless sex. Students who had heterosexual intercourse (aOR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21 ~ 0.70), used condoms at first sex (aOR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.14 ~ 0.27), had high attitudes towards condom use (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80 ~ 0.95) and self-efficacy for condom use (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78 ~ 0.90) were less likely to have condomless sex. The nomogram had high accuracy with an AUROC of 0.83 and good discrimination.ConclusionsIntimate partner violence, anal sex, condom use at first sex, attitude towards condom use, and self-efficacy for condom use were associated with condomless sex among college students. The nomogram was an effective and convenient tool for calculating the individualized possibility of condomless sex among college students. It could help to identify individuals at risk and help universities and colleges to formulate appropriate individualized interventions and sexual health education programs.

Special Educators’ Training and Preparedness to Write Individualized Education Programs

Over the last decade, there has been ample evidence reporting the lack of high-quality and compliant Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in the United States. This problem has many consequences, including poor student outcomes and failure to follow legal due process. Despite these consequences, research has not thoroughly examined the perspectives and needs of special educators on IEP development or the role of pre-service training on special educators’ ability to write high-quality, compliant IEPs. To address this gap, this study surveys 218 Pennsylvania special educators to examine their perspectives on the sufficiency of their pre-service training to write high-quality IEPs. Data on the types of training and support special educators need to successfully write IEPs were also gathered. Results provide information on needed teacher preparation program components, supports for in-service special educators when writing IEPs, and areas for future professional development. Implications and future directions for training on writing IEPs are discussed.