4811 research outputs found
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A Reflection of My Life
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As I’ve taken this opportunity to reflect on my life, I have become more aware of the person I am today and how my life experiences, accomplishments, and setbacks have impacted me. Throughout my journey, I have faced some of the most difficult obstacles that have turned into my greatest accomplishments such as my drastic and sudden career change during undergraduate school. Without these setbacks, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to develop my professional and personal identity. After analyzing my family background, various assessments on self-analysis, interviews with individuals of my immediate context, various counseling theories, and continued development, I’ve identified a golden thread in each of these areas that lead to my ultimate purpose in life, helping others.
Keywords: self-analysis, growth, identit
Autism: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Counseling Journals, 1986-2021
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This qualitative content analysis (QCA) examined three American Counseling Association (ACA) journals and how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is covered in them: Journal of Counseling Development (JCD), Journal of Multicultural Counseling Development (JMCD), and Counselor Education and Supervision (CES). Within the three listed journals, there were a total of 4,749 articles published from the years 1986 to 2021, with a total of 6 articles found related to ASD. Throughout the QCA process, four themes were established: Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder, Considerations for Counseling Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Neurofeedback in Counseling. This research study shows that although the prevalence of ASD is increasing, the research is not. In addition to an increasing rate of ASD, there is a high comorbid rate with mental health diagnosis and ASD, which often require counseling. With the different dynamics and characteristics of ASD, counselors need to be trained appropriately to ensure competency in this area. This meaning, there a significant lack of research done on the topic of ASD in the counseling journals, and it is recommended that more research is completed.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism, Asperger’
The Impact of Distance Education on Therapy Services for Students with ASD: An SLP Perspective
Get PDFThe coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused an abrupt change in the day-to-day lives of individuals across the world as adults were forced to work from home and children were forced into virtual school environments. For all students, this disruption in schedule and daily routine been hard, but especially those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Mumbardo-Adam et al., 2021). For many students with ASD, school is a place in which they receive many essential services and social interactions, such as speech therapy, that they may not receive other places. The purpose of this survey research was to understand the speech-language pathologist’s perceptions of the effects distance learning had on the quality and delivery of speech therapy services provided to students with ASD amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Results revealed that the 2020-2021 school-year provided SLPs across the country with a novel experience, that was unique for each individual. Current findings will be discussed and compared to previous research related to efficacy of distance learning
Self-Advocacy Perceptions of Special Education Students in the General Education Setting
Get PDFSelf-advocacy is an important skill that all students should learn. It plays a vital role in many aspects of life at home, in school, in the community, and at work. This is especially important for special education students who have more challenges than their peers. It begins by improving communication with teachers, giving students the confidence to voice their needs, and acquiring appropriate modifications and accommodations that allow them to show their true abilities and reach their full academic potential. Students that are able to self-advocate are more likely to be more successful in school as well as later on in their adult lives.
Literature states that there is an increasing demand for special educators to focus on teaching academic skills. Along with overseeing IEPs, transition planning, progress monitoring, conducting meetings, and providing accommodations and modifications, little time is left over to teach self-advocacy. Because of this, many students are struggling with making independent decisions, solving problems, setting goals, and accepting the consequences of their actions. The IDEA puts an emphasis on learning transition services in order to prepare for adulthood. Youth with disabilities have a lower rate of enrollment in post-secondary education than students without a disability, are less likely to complete a bachelor’s degree, and have a much lower percentage of employment between the ages of sixteen and sixty-four. There are a number of different programs and curricula that are currently available and up-and-coming to support students in learning how to self-advocate. It is important that students play an active role in planning their transition from high school to post-secondary school and then on to employment and independent living. Though IDEA mandates student involvement in planning their IEP and transition, many do not have the proper knowledge, skills, or confidence to do so. By increasing their self-advocacy skills, students can be more active in the planning process because they will have gained the knowledge needed to describe their own needs and preferences
The Development of Critical Thinking Skills in Beginner Adult ESL Classrooms
Get PDFIn the U.S. education system, critical thinking skills have become essential for students in the 21st century, but they are still not fully discussed in the ESL field. This is especially true for adult learners at the beginner level. Beginner-level students lack the language to participate in critical thinking skills and that it hinders their development is a general assumption. However, critical thinking skills cannot be developed quickly in a short amount of time and students need to have opportunities to practice them often while developing language. This means that teachers of adult beginner ESL students must choose class activities carefully to make sure that students develop both language proficiency and critical thinking skills. In this project, the author first reviewed nine general ESL textbook series and six ESL activity resource books to see how critical thinking is introduced to students. Next, the author has suggested a total of 14 activities per characteristic of critical thinking skills that can be used in beginner adult ESL classrooms
A PROGRAM EVALUATION OF THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS (MTSS) AND ITS ROLE IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS’ READING AND MATH PERFORMANCE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Get PDFThe purpose of this causal-comparative study was to employ a quantitative research study to measure the degree of impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on students’ academic performance and determine the extent to which the MTSS program served to counter the impact of the pandemic on students’ reading and math performance. This study analyzed pre-existing STAR Reading and STAR Math data collected from 7th-grade students at one Midwest public middle utilizing the September (Fall) and December (Winter) scores. The data sets were compared to determine the students’ reading and math performance trends in the three years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3) to measure the degree of impact during the year of the pandemic (Year 4) and the year that followed (Year 5). Further, differences between subgroups (i.e., gender, ethnicity, SPED status, EL status, and 504 status) were examined. This study was unique in that the data were broken down into tiers of instruction that coincide with the MTSS framework to measure the growth of students receiving Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 instruction.
This study found that although most students remained above the benchmark, in Year 4 and Year 5, there was an observed downward shift in mean scores. In addition, more students were identified as needing Tier 2 or Tier 3 supports and interventions over the span of the identified years. This research can help fill a void in the existing research by focusing on MTSS at the secondary level and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic achievement. This research study can guide future initiatives and inform best practices for MTSS implementation
Native Language Attrition Among Immigrants
Get PDFThis study was a literature review, and it focused on native language attrition among immigrants. For many years, immigrant families have moved to places such as the United States and Europe as well as Canada because of war, abuse, persecution, environmental degradation, and poverty in their home countries. Once immigrant families arrived in their designated country, their children were placed in school. Due to the struggle with the language barrier, kids and adults quickly started to focus extensively on learning the English language.
The research occurred due to parents\u27 raised concerns regarding their children\u27s inability to communicate in their first language (L1) with families after learning English. Having worked with adult language learners at Project English and Giving Plus Learning, I witnessed the rise in parents\u27 frustration, concern, and confusion when their children could no longer speak, formulate sentences, or enjoy conversation with relatives in their home language. These parents did not understand why their children constantly spoke in English and rejected their native tongue.
The literature review aimed to shed light on the significance of maintaining L1 among immigrants\u27 families while learning and speaking English. The review brought together all the available resources related to my project topic in place, and the resources were evaluated closely. In the review, there were six essential themes divided into sections. Each chapter focused on the method and findings of the themes.
The research studies highlighted that L1 attrition could occur instantly when the L1 is not being utilized. The studies showed that age plays a vital role in L1 loss because the earlier children were exposed to the English language, the higher the possibility of L1 deterioration, particularly with children who began English from age three to seven. Older children who spoke the native language from birth to age 12 and then learned English continued communicating in the L1 much better. The studies further pointed out that the English immersion environment helped immigrants practice and improve their communication in the L2. However, the L1 was hindered because immigrants\u27 children had less opportunity to speak in the and more in L2 as if it was their L1
Paraprofessionals in the School Setting: A Literature Review
Get PDFTeachers and paraprofessionals are partners in education, working together to provide the best educational experience possible for each child. Biggs et al. state “fostering and maintaining strong collaborative relationships are critically important for paraprofessionals and special education teachers working together to provide a high-quality education for students with severe disabilities” (2016, p. 152). It is crucial that paraprofessionals are offered training and taught strategies and techniques to implement and support diverse students in the classroom (Patterson, 2016).
In the 1950’s, paraprofessionals were first added to the classroom as a way to provide teachers with more planning time and they performed mostly clerical duties (Villa et al., 2018). Between the 1970’s and 2000’s the duties of paraprofessionals transformed into more instructional roles and they have taken on more of a supportive role for students with disabilities and work in more inclusive classrooms. Today, paraprofessionals are expected to perform a variety of duties in the classroom and are spread thin throughout the school building in order to “fill gaps\u27\u27 out of necessity, but the training and methods to prepare paraprofessionals for these evolving roles have not changed.
Common concerns regarding these ever-changing roles have been highlighted by paraprofessionals across the public school settings including: a lack of administrative support, the need for mentorship programs, increased training opportunities and more opportunities for collaboration (Biggs et al. (2018). Throughout these articles and journals, there is a clear need for more training opportunities, enhanced communication and collaboration strategies and clearly laid out expectations.
This project consisted of a literature review that examined the research based around common themes of the expectations, roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals; the importance of collaboration in the classroom, and the immense need for professional development for paraprofessionals. Based on the findings from this literature review and our collective teaching experiences at two different rural schools, the project also consisted of the creation of a website specifically designed for paraprofessionals. It provides a culmination of resources, information, and training guides as a way to help paraprofessionals feel supported in their roles in the classroom
Financial Analysis of Surmodics, Inc.
Get PDFThis report aims to provide a financial analysis built from qualitative and quantitative data on Surmodics, Inc., a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Eden Prairie. I will discuss how the firm is performing and compare its financial results to a competitor in the industry, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Surmodics has been awaiting approval for various new devices, none more important than the SurVeil DCB. The delays in regulatory approval for these products have delayed millions in revenue for Surmodics, and any further delay increases the company’s level of risk. Throughout the various sections of this report, it will become clear that while CSII is the larger company, Surmodics has a better strategy and higher growth potential than Cardiovascular Systems, Inc