Identification and educational placement of students with intellectual disability in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the identification and educational placement of students considered to have intellectual disability in the Canadian context and, specifically, the province of Ontario. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to describe trends in the school-based identification of students with mild intellectual disability and developmental disability based on the Ontario criteria over a 14-year period, as well as current patterns characterizing classroom placement. METHODS: Using data provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education, a doubly multivariate analysis of variance and profile analysis were performed. RESULTS: Findings revealed a statistically significant decrease in the number of students identified with mild intellectual disability over time, and that students identified with developmental disability per the provincial criteria accessed their education in specialized settings at a significantly higher rate than their peers with mild intellectual disability. CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for differences in the identification and placement of the two groups of students are explored relative to the research context.

Development of early numeracy skills in children with moderate intellectual disability.

This study assessed the effectiveness of a program aimed at improving the early numeracy skills of students with moderate intellectual disability. The persistence of the acquired skills and the program's impact on learning were monitored. Feedback from the students and their mothers was also gathered. Using a multiple-probe design across subjects, the results were visually presented through graphical analysis. Three male students aged 8-9 years participated. After obtaining high-reliability findings from reliability analyses, results showed the program effectively increased students' number skills with a high effect size. These skills persisted post-intervention, and both students and mothers expressed positive views of the intervention.

An evaluation of video-prompting procedures via telehealth to teach first aid skills to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Unintentional injuries are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). First aid training involves teaching critical first aid skills, some of which are designed to treat unintentional injuries. To date, no study has (a) evaluated the effects of a video-prompting procedure to teach first aid skills to children with IDD or (b) attempted to teach these skills to children by using a telehealth delivery format. We used a concurrent multiple-baseline-across-skills design to evaluate the efficacy of a video-prompting procedure via telehealth to teach five children with IDD to perform first aid on themselves for insect stings, minor cuts, and minor burns under simulated conditions. For all participants, our procedure produced large improvements that maintained for a minimum of 4 weeks. Furthermore, the effects of the training generalized to novel confederates for all participants, and these effects maintained for a minimum of 4 weeks.

Adapting a virtual manipulative-based instructional sequence to target maintenance.

The ability to maintain mathematical skills learned is critical for students to successfully engage in advanced mathematics and promote independence in daily living skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a graduated manipulative sequence consisting of virtual, representational, abstract, and an extended abstract phase (VRAEa) to teach various types of mathematical problems to three students with autism and mild intellectual disability using a multiple probe across behavior single case design. This study extended previous research on the virtual, representational, abstract sequence (VRA) to address deficiency in maintenance results through incorporating the extended abstract phase. The results indicate the intervention was effective, however, maintenance was variable. Implications for practice and ideas for future research to support the learning needs of students with developmental disabilities are discussed.

Increasing Sight-Phrase Reading with an iPad intervention for Two Students with Intellectual Disability.

Sight-word interventions are often implemented when students show delays in word recognition. However, few studies have investigated the effects of teaching sight words using phrases. The current study investigated the effects of a tablet-based flashcard intervention on the acquisition of sight phrases. A multiple-baseline design across word sets was used for two students with intellectual disability who were included in the general education classroom for the majority of the day. For each phrase, students used an iPad flashcard program and were prompted to see the phrase, say the phrase, tap the screen to hear the phrase, and then say the phrase again before moving on to the next phrase. Results showed that both students quickly acquired the ability to read the previously unknown sight phrases across three different sets of phrases. Discussion focuses on using tablet-based interventions for students with intellectual disability, particularly those included within a general education classroom.

A colaboração crítica em um curso de leitura em inglês e em português para alunos com necessidades educacionais intelectuais específicas / Critical collaboration in a reading course in english and portuguese for students with specific intellectual educational needs / Colaboración crítica en un curso de lectura en inglés y en portugués para estudiantes con necesidades educativas intelectuales específicas

Este artigo tem por objetivo discutir como a colaboração crítica impacta as ações de pesquisa de duas professorasorientadoras e de um aluno de Ensino Médio com deficiência intelectual em um curso de leitura em inglês e em português para alunos com necessidades educacionais intelectuais específicas. Os participantes de pesquisa usam a linguagem e colaboram criticamente para discutir sua participação. Nesse enquadre, trabalham juntos, desenvolvem suas funções psicológicas superiores, em outras palavras, sua memória, atenção, volição, pensamentos, emoções e linguagem. Como procedimentos metodológicos, a Pesquisa Crítica de Colaboração propicia aos participantes atuarem de maneira interdependente para se constituir e para transformar o contexto de aprendizagem que compartilham. Como resultados parciais, as análises e interpretações sugerem que os momentos de colaboração crítica organizados por meio da Pesquisa Crítica de Colaboração criam possibilidades para os participantes aprimorarem a memória e a própria volição, assim como contribui para que a Educação inclusiva floresça nos contextos escolares. (AU)

This article aims to discuss how critical collaboration impacts the research actions of two advisors-teachers and a high school student with intellectual disabilities in a course of English and Portuguese reading for students with specific intellectual educational needs. Research participants use language and critically collaborate to discuss participation. In this frame, they work together, developing higher psychological functions, in other words, their memory, attention, volition, thoughts, emotions, and language. In terms of methodological procedures, the Critical Collaborative Research allows participants to act in an interdependent way, thus constituting themselves and transforming the learning context which they share. As partial results, the analyses and interpretations suggest that moments of critical collaboration organized by the frame of Critical Collaborative Research create possibilities for participants improve memory and volition, besides contributing for inclusive Education to flourish in school contexts. (AU)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo discutir cómo la colaboración crítica, impacta las acciones de investigación de los profesores-asesores y un estudiante de secundaria con discapacidad intelectual en un curso de lectura en inglés y portugués para estudiantes con necesidades intelectuales específicas de educación. Los participantes de la investigación usan el lenguaje y colaboran críticamente para discutir su participación. En este marco trabajan en conjunto, desarrollan sus funciones psicológicas superiores, es decir, su memoria, atención, volición, pensamientos, emociones y lenguaje. Como Metodología, la Investigación Colaborativa Crítica permite a los participantes actuar de manera interdependiente para constituirse y transformar el contexto de aprendizaje que comparten. Como resultados parciales, los análisis e interpretaciones sugieren que los momentos de colaboración crítica organizados a través de la Investigación de Colaboración Crítica crean posibilidades para que los participantes mejoren su memoria y su propia voluntad, además de contribuir para el florecimiento de la educación inclusiva en contextos escolares. (AU)

Pediatric Neurologists' Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Adolescent and Young Adult Women With Epilepsy and Intellectual Disability.

OBJECTIVE: To explore perspectives of pediatric neurologists regarding sexual and reproductive health care for adolescent women with epilepsy (WWE) and intellectual disability. METHODS: We interviewed pediatric neurologists regarding sexual and reproductive health for WWE with intellectual disability. We audio-recorded and transcribed interviews and conducted qualitative analysis. RESULTS: 16 pediatric neurologists participated. Themes included the following: (1) Pediatric neurologists have differing perspectives about how intellectual disability affects WWE's sexual and reproductive health needs, (2) pediatric neurologists provide sexual and reproductive health counseling variable in content and frequency to this population, (3) pediatric neurologists tend to recommend longer-term methods of contraception for this population, and (4) pediatric neurologists are asked to be involved in decision-making around sterilization, yet express ethico-legal reservations. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest pediatric neurologists provide variable, often suboptimal, sexual and reproductive health care for WWE and intellectual disability. Themes reveal ethical concerns among neurologists about sexual and reproductive health practices including sterilization. More tailored clinical guidelines and provider training on sexual and reproductive health for this population may be beneficial.

Comparing the effect of two educational interventions on mothers' awareness, attitude, and self-efficacy regarding sexual health care of educable intellectually disabled adolescent girls: a cluster randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Sexual problems of intellectually disabled adolescents are associated with their inability to understand sexuality. Given the important role of parents in forming the attitude of their adolescents towards sexuality, the present study aimed to compare the effect of two educational interventions on mothers' awareness, attitude and self-efficacy regarding sexual health care of intellectually disabled adolescent girls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cluster randomized control trial was conducted in six intellectually disabled adolescent education centers in Isfahan, Iran in 2018. The centers were randomly assigned to intervention groups (group training and training through booklet) and control group. Mothers of educable intellectually disabled adolescent girls (n = 81) were entered into the three groups using convenience sampling and their awareness, attitude and self-efficacy regarding sexual health care of adolescent girls were assessed using questionnaires before and after the educational intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. RESULTS: The mean score of mothers' awareness, attitude and self-efficacy in each of the "group training", "training through booklet group" and "control group" was significantly different after the intervention compared to before the intervention (p < 0.05). The mean score of mothers' awareness and self-efficacy after the intervention in the "group training" was higher than the "control group" and "training through booklet group" (p < 0.001). The mean score of mothers' awareness and self-efficacy after the intervention in the "training through booklet group" was higher than in "control group" (p = 0.005, p = 0.02). Also, after the intervention, the mean score of mothers' attitude in the "group training" was higher than the "control group" and the "training through booklet group" (p < 0.001), but there was no significant statistical difference between the mean score of mothers' attitude in "control group" and "training through booklet group" (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Implementation of the group training intervention for mothers of intellectually disabled adolescent girls in comparison with training through booklet was associated with a greater increase in their awareness, attitude and self-efficacy regarding sexual health care of adolescent girls. Therefore, group training is suggested as a suitable way to educate mothers about sexual health care of intellectually disabled adolescent girls. Trial registration IRCT, IRCT20160224026756N5. Registered 22 June 2018, https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/31704/view .

Evaluating a Postsecondary Education Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities: Leveraging the Parent Perspective.

Postsecondary education (PSE) programs serving individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) aim to improve life outcomes by increasing skills in three key areas: academics, independent living, and employment. To ensure that PSE programs are successful, ongoing evaluations are necessary. It is particularly important to gather parental perspectives given the integral role they play regarding decision making for students with ID. This qualitative study analyzed data from 58 interviews conducted with parents whose child was enrolled in a PSE program nested within a large public university. Thematic analysis with a deductive approach was the established theoretical model used to guide the analysis. Themes related to capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior are presented, and future recommendations for PSE programs are discussed.

Teaching Small Talk: Increasing On-Topic Conversational Exchanges in College Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Using Remote Audio Coaching.

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often have deficits in interpersonal skills due to limited social-communication opportunities. Knowing how to engage in "small talk" or simple social conversational exchanges can be beneficial in postsecondary schooling, employment sites, community environments, and social gatherings. Recently, covert audio coaching (CAC) showed a positive impact on increasing conversational exchanges. As the COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for remote delivery tools, we explored the effectiveness of remote audio coaching (RAC) to teach this skill to college students with IDD. We used a multiple baseline design across participants to examine whether RAC might increase on-topic, small talk conversational exchanges. Results demonstrated that RAC effectively increased small talk skills between participants and a confederate. Upon removal of RAC, all participants still performed above their baselines, with two participants maintaining near mastery levels 2 weeks after the intervention was removed. Limitations and future research are discussed.

The Effects of Shared e-Book Reading With Dynamic Text and Speech Output on the Single-Word Reading Skills of Young Children With Developmental Disabilities.

Purpose This study investigated the use of a new software feature, namely, dynamic text with speech output, on the acquisition of single-word reading skills by six children with developmental disabilities during shared e-book reading experiences with six typically developing peers. Method A single-subject, multiple-probe design across participants was used to evaluate the effects of the software intervention. Six children with developmental delays were the primary focus for intervention, while six children with typical development participated as peer partners in intervention activities. e-Books were created with the new software feature, in which a child selects a picture from the e-book and the written word is presented dynamically and then spoken out. These e-books were then used in shared reading activities with dyads including a child with a disability and a peer with typical development. Participants engaged in the shared reading activity for an average of 13 sessions over a 6-week time period, an average of 65 min of intervention for each dyad. Results Participants with disabilities acquired an average of 73% of the words to which they were exposed, a gain of 4.3 words above the baseline average of 1.7 correct responses. The average effect size (Tau-U) was .94, evidence of a very large effect. Conclusion The results provide evidence that the use of e-books with the dynamic text and speech output feature during inclusive shared reading activities can be an effective and socially valid method to develop the single-word reading skills of young children with developmental disabilities.

Parent perceptions regarding literacy instruction for students with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Parents offer a unique perspective as they may view literacy instruction through the lens of its direct impact on their child's daily life. Further, they are likely to provide insight into the interactions between the perceived effectiveness of instruction and their expectations for their child's success. The purposes of the current investigation were to explore perceptions of parents of children with intellectual disability (ID) related to their child's literacy instruction in schools and understand parental expectations for their child's literacy performance. METHODS: In the current investigation, we surveyed 211 parents of children with ID in one state within the USA to identify their perceptions related to their child's literacy outcomes and instruction. The survey instrument contained 25 items including 9 multiple-choice, 12 multiple-selection, 2 open-response and 2 rank order items. RESULTS: Data indicated significant differences across grade bands related to the type of skills students engage in learning, the importance of specific literacy skills and the challenges or barriers for students to engage in literacy instruction. The overwhelming majority of parents reported their child learning to read as very important and believe there is a difference in life outcomes between children who can read written words and those who cannot. Parents of elementary school children report barriers of disruptive behaviour, the inability of children to remain seated and distractibility more so than parents of secondary students. Parents of high school students reported a lack of instructional time more often than parents of middle and elementary school. CONCLUSIONS: While parents across grade bands reported the importance of literacy skills for students with ID and instruction in reading comprehension, listening comprehension and vocabulary, some differences were noted. Only half the parents reported an increased focus on literacy instruction, including on essential skills (e.g. decoding), in the earlier grades. Problem behaviour and motivation served as barriers to literacy for elementary students, and a lack of instructional time served as a barrier to writing for high school students.

Aproximación al aprendizaje pedagógico en la discapacidad intelectual leve / An approach to pedagogical learning in mild intellectual disability

Este trabajo presenta una reflexión actualizada de métodos y estrategias eficaces para el aprendizaje del cálculo, la escritura y lectura en sujetos con discapacidad intelectual leve. Conforme con el análisis de las investigaciones abordadas, se puede concluir que, si bien los propósitos de la atención pedagógica a los sujetos con déficit intelectual vienen enmarcados bajo los principios de la educación inclusiva, se evidencia una gran diferencia entre las intenciones de la educación inclusiva y la realidad de las instituciones educativas. Así, los niños con discapacidad intelectual leve, pese a ser integrados en el aula regular, no logran recibir la atención educativa requerida para fortalecer los aprendizajes pedagógicos de lectoescritura y cálculo; situación que se relaciona con el desconocimiento, por parte de los docentes, de las estrategias pedagógicas para abordar las particularidades educativas de esta población. El resultado del análisis, evidencia la existencia de diversas técnicas; indica, al mismo tiempo, que no existe un método específico para el aprendizaje de habilidades académicas en los sujetos con deficiencias intelectuales leves, sugiere identificar el interés y la necesidad de los estudiantes para así establecer flexibilizaciones en las planeaciones pedagógicas y metodológicas del currículo que favorezcan el proceso de aprendizaje

This work presents an updated reflection of effective methods and strategies for learning calculation, writing and reading in subjects with mild intellectual disabilities. According to the analysis of the analyzed researches we can concluded that, although the purposes of pedagogical attention to subjects with intellectual deficits are framed under the principles of inclusive education, there is evidence of a great difference between the intentions of inclusive education and the reality of educational institutions. Thus, children with mild intellectual disabilities, despite being integrated into the regular classroom, do not manage to receive the educational attention required to strengthen the pedagogical learning of literacy and numeracy. A situation that is related to the ignorance, from teachers, of the pedagogical strategies to address the educational particularities of this population. The result of the analysis shows the existence of various techniques, indicates, at the same time, that there is no specific method for learning academic skills in subjects with mild intellectual deficiencies, we suggest identifying the interest and need of students in order to do so, establishing flexibilities in the pedagogical and methodological planning of the curriculum that favor the learning process.Keywords: Learning; Intellectual deficit; Intellectual disability; Inclusive education; Teaching; Reading/writing; Mathematics; Pedagogy.

Efectos de un programa de Educación Física en el aprendizaje de alumnado universitario con discapacidad intelectual / Effects of a Physical Education Program Developed through Service-Learning Methodology in Students' with Intellectual Disability

Esta investigación busca conocer qué aprendizajes de carácter declarativo ha adquirido el alumnado con discapacidad intelectual tras la participación en un programa de Educación Física a través de la metodología de Aprendizaje-Servicio y, además, valorar su percepción sobre el impacto que el desarrollo de este programa ha tenido en sus relaciones con otros estudiantes de la Facultad. Participaron 34 estudiantes con discapacidad intelectual que cursaban el Programa Promentor en el curso 2019/2020 en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. La información se recogió a través de diarios de aprendizaje del alumnado tras cada intervención y de asambleas al final de cada cuatrimestre. La información se analizó con el software MAXQDA V.2020. Los resultados muestran que los aprendizajes curriculares adquiridos propios del área estaban relacionados con los contenidos de salvamento acuático, hockey y habilidades gimnásticas y los aprendizajes transversales tenían que ver con el trabajo en equipo y el comportamiento cívico; los aprendizajes útiles para la vida diaria se identificaron con los contenidos de salvamento acuático y primeros auxilios, y, por último, se valoró muy positivamente la relación con el alumnado de grado en esta experiencia

The research aims to find out what learning of a declarative nature has been acquired by students with intellectual disabilities after participating in a Physical Education program through the Service-Learning methodology, and also to assess their perception of the impact that the development of this program has had on their relationships with other students in the Faculty. Thirty-four students with intellectual disabilities who were studying the Promentor Program in the 2019/2020 academic year at the Autonomous University of Madrid participated. The information was collected through students' learning journals after each intervention and through assemblies at the end of each four months. The information was analyzed with MAXQDA V.2020 software. The results show that the curricular learning acquired specific to this area was related to the contents of water rescue, hockey and gymnastic skills and the transversal learning was related to teamwork and civic behavior. Learning that was useful for daily life was identified with the content of water rescue and first aid and, finally, the relationship with the university students in this experience was valued very positively

The Design, Content and Delivery of Relationship and Sexuality Education Programmes for People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the International Evidence.

There is growing empirical evidence regarding the relationship and sexuality experiences and needs of children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities. A total of twelve papers met the inclusion criteria regarding relationship and sexuality education (RSE) programmes specific to the needs of this population. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed and quality appraisal undertaken. The four themes identified were principles informing RSE programme development, design and content of RSE programmes, delivery of RSE programmes and evaluation of RSE programmes. The discussion presents areas that need to be addressed to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities, their families, carers and professionals are fully involved in the design and delivery of RSE programmes. Further research is required to identify the impact of the programmes and the sustained outcomes achieved. Recommendations are made regarding the activities required to enable the development of evidence-based and person-centred approaches to relationship and sexuality programmes.

Internet opportunities and risks for adolescents with intellectual disabilities: A comparative study of parents' perceptions.

Background: In contemporary society internet and digital competencies are used to perform activities.Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate opportunities and risks of internet use as perceived by the parents of adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) in comparison with a national reference group of parents of adolescents.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with group comparisons using a national survey. Analyses were carried out using Fisher's exact test and logistic regression to control for confounding factors.Results: A significantly higher proportion of parents of adolescents with ID perceive opportunities associated with internet use and playing games, and a lower proportion perceive risks with negative consequences, compared with the reference group. Significantly more parents of adolescents with ID perceive their adolescent never use smartphones and social media compared with the reference group. Fewer parents of adolescents with ID have concerns about online risks for their adolescents compared with the reference group.Conclusion and Significance: The results provide new knowledge for occupational therapists to support positive risk-taking in internet-use for adolescents with ID, in collaboration with their parents, to enable the development of digital competencies and digital participation in everyday life in a digitalised society.

Effects of Using an iPad to Teach Early Literacy Skills to Elementary Students With Intellectual Disability.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using an iPad to teach early literacy skills to students with intellectual disability (ID). Three elementary students with mild to moderate levels of ID participated in the study. We used a multiple-probe design across students to examine a functional relationship between using an iPad providing visual supports and the acquisition of phonemic segmentation skills. Results indicated that using visual supports via an iPad was an effective method to teach phonemic segmentation fluency to these three students with ID. We also discussed implications and suggestions for future research.

Applications of within-stimulus errorless learning methods for teaching discrimination skills to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic review.

Errorless learning is an instructional strategy used widely with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The present systematic review aims to update the literature on the application of 'within-stimulus' errorless procedures. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018118385). Twenty-eight articles including 283 participants met the operationally defined inclusion criteria. In the majority of cases, the errorless learning procedures evaluated led to improvements in acquiring discrimination skills. Most of the reviewed studies evaluated stimulus fading. Results are discussed in relation to the selection of within-stimulus procedures. Areas identified for future research include further evaluations of other within-stimulus tactics, as well as further refinement of procedural parameters.

An evaluation of textual prompts and generalized textual instruction-following.

The benefit of permanent prompts depends on the extent to which their use is generalized. Previous research has demonstrated both control by and efficacy of pictorial prompts (e.g., Phillips & Vollmer, 2012). The present studies similarly evaluated stimulus control by textual prompts. Six school aged children with intellectual disabilities were taught to complete four 5-step instructional sets under the control of textual prompts. All 6 subjects showed some generalization to the final set. The results suggest that training served 1 of 3 purposes: (a) established control by the textual prompts or the ordinal sequence thereof, (b) addressed a reading deficit, or (c) addressed the lack of a motivating operation during baseline. Training a single task sequence may not be sufficient for acquisition of generalized textual instruction-following. However, establishing appropriate stimulus control by the textual prompts may facilitate acquisition of a generalized repertoire.

Loss in services precedes high school exit for teens with autism spectrum disorder: A longitudinal study.

The present longitudinal study investigated changes in service receipt and unmet service needs spanning 14 years before and after high school exit in a large community-based sample of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n = 204), of whom 59% had co-occurring intellectual disability (ID). Using multilevel models, potential discontinuity of service patterns at the point of high school exit was examined, as well as the rate of change in services received and needed during the high school years and into the post-high school period. Differences between those with and without ID were probed. Study findings indicated that overall, sample members experienced a reduction in receipt of services during high school, particularly for those without co-occurring ID. After high school exit, sample members experienced a decline in services received; for those without ID, there was a continuous rate of loss of services after leaving high school but for those with ID, there was a sharp decline in services received. Unmet service needs increased right after high school exit for both those with and without ID. These patterns reflect loss of entitlement for services that accompanies high school exit, and the limited availability of adult services for individuals with ASD. This study documented not only the post-high school service cliff that has been the subject of much concern, but also that the loss of services begins long before high school exit and that subgroups of the population with ASD are particularly vulnerable. Autism Res 2019, 12: 911-921. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: In this research, we studied changes in the number of services received before and after high school exit in a large sample of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With each passing year during high school, individuals with ASD received fewer services. At the time of high school exit, there was a sharp drop in the number of services received, particularly for those with co-occurring intellectual disability. This study found not only that there is a post-high school service cliff, but also that the loss of services begins long before high school exit.