Journal of Intellectual Disability Research最新文献

{"title":"Personal, Social and Vocational Outcomes of Inclusive University for People With Intellectual Disability.","authors":"Mary-Ann O'Donovan, Nikki Wedgwood, Greta Westermann, Fiona Rillotta, Tess Aitken","doi":"10.1111/jir.70042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Though people with intellectual disability have historically been excluded from university education, over the past three decades programmes facilitating the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in higher education, including university, have been developed in some jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada, Ireland, Europe and Australia. There is limited examination of the full range of potential outcomes for students with intellectual disability participating in such programmes. Such research rarely explores barriers and facilitators in relation to particular programme models and the achievement of the potential outcomes. The current study set out to examine the range of outcomes associated with inclusive university programmes, with a particular focus on autonomy, self-confidence, inclusion and employment.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>For this scoping review, six academic databases were searched using broad search terms. Forty-five studies meeting our inclusion criteria were subjected to quality assessment to ensure only high-quality evidence informed data analysis. Twenty-two studies were included in the final review, from which data were extracted to answer our research question.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Students were reported to achieve outcomes related to employment, confidence, autonomy and social skills. Factors reported as either facilitating or impeding positive personal, vocational and/or socio-emotional outcomes for students with intellectual disability participating in inclusive university programmes included accessibility, expectations, supports, attitudes and acceptance, pedagogy and programme design.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Programmes that provide individualised support for the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in university life led to primarily positive outcomes for people with intellectual disability. We argue that a whole-of-university approach to supporting full and genuine inclusion of students with intellectual disability is needed and we provide recommendations for research and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Staff Perceptions and Experiences in Services Providing Different Levels of Active Support.","authors":"Jill Bradshaw, Beckie Whelton, Julie Beadle-Brown, Lisa Richardson, Jennifer Leigh","doi":"10.1111/jir.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly those with more severe and complex needs, depend on the quality of support they receive from staff. This paper explores staff perspectives on skilled support and relationships with training and experience.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Questionnaires were received from 93 staff working in 28 supported accommodation services in which observations of the quality of support had also been conducted. Staff were asked about experience, training and views on skilled support. Content analysis was used to code written responses. Statistical analysis explored relationships between staff responses, and the quality of support was observed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Staff perceived improving the quality of life of people they supported as key. All staff considered themselves as being at least partially skilled, with the majority associating being skilled with length of experience and attendance at training. Specific training was rarely mentioned, and receipt of training was not associated with the provision of better quality of support. Practice leadership was rarely mentioned.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In most cases, staff showed awareness of the principles set out in policy, but their reflections did not match observed practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145124895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hearing Threshold Estimation With Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Growth Functions in People With Intellectual Disabilities in an Outreach Setting.","authors":"Eleftherios Savvas, Emmanouela Dimitrakopoulou, Harald A Euler, Frans Coninx, Felix Bluemel, Anne Krieger, Karolin Schaefer, Philipp Mathmann, Corinna Gietmann, Katrin Neumann","doi":"10.1111/jir.70043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People with intellectual disabilities often have undetected hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this prospective observational study featuring 110 adults with intellectual disabilities, hearing evaluations based on objective hearing threshold estimation using distortion-product otoacoustic emission growth functions (DPOAEgfs) were performed in a sheltered workshop. Results were compared with thresholds obtained by conventional subjective pure-tone audiometry (cPTA) and the adaptive self-test PTA Multiple-Choice-Auditory-Graphical-Interactive-Check (MAGIC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The differences between the lowest thresholds obtained by cPTA and MAGIC for the frequencies 1, 2, 4 and 6 kHz (LPTATs) and the estimated distortion-product thresholds (EDPTs) were calculated. Four hundred twenty-seven of 880 (48.5%) pairs of measurements did not differ by any more than 5 dB. With LPTATs as reference criterion, for a favourable four-frequency average over 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kHz with a cutoff of 20 dB HL, the sensitivity of the EDPTs was 92% and the specificity 62%; a cutoff of 30 dB HL increased the respective values to 98% and 77%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>DPOAEgfs are acceptable for estimating hearing thresholds in individuals with intellectual disability who may have limitations in performing conventional audiometry.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145113345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the Hearing-Related Quality of Life in People With Intellectual Disabilities.","authors":"Susanna Zielonkowski, Philipp Mathmann, Awa Naghipour, Susanne Wasmuth, Lukas Prein, Ross Parfitt, Werner Brannath, Martin Scharpenberg, Vincent Jankovic, Anja Neumann, Katharina Schwarze, Karolin Schäfer, Christian Speckemeier, Corinna Gietmann, Katrin Neumann","doi":"10.1111/jir.70036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have hearing loss than the general population, but in most cases, it remains unrecognised and unmanaged. The aims of this study were to determine whether the hearing status of people with intellectual disabilities can be correctly evaluated by themselves and/or their caregivers, and whether hearing loss compromises the hearing-related quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In the prospective cohort study, HörGeist, 1053 individuals with intellectual disabilities received hearing screening and, where necessary, diagnostic assessment and intervention within their living environment. A self-developed multipart questionnaire, including items regarding hearing-related quality of life, was answered by caregivers of the participants and was cross-checked with the results of the hearing tests. A multivariable regression was performed to verify an association between the hearing-related quality of life score and the degree of hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hearing loss was diagnosed in 463 (44.0%) participants; thereof, only 120 (25.9%) cases were known beforehand. In 404 participants (59.0%) and 580 caregivers (61.5%), hearing status was rated correctly; it was overestimated in 34.6% and 33.4%, respectively (sensitivity: 0.223/0.271, respectively). The mean hearing-related quality of life score was 3.0 of 4 possible points. The multivariable regression revealed a small but significant association between the degree of hearing loss and hearing-related quality of life (β = -0.069; p < 0.001; adjusted R² = 0.081).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Regular audiometric tests are recommended for improving the hearing-related quality of life in people with intellectual disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145080871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychological Distress Trajectories of Parents of Children With Developmental Disabilities Participating in a Parenting Intervention.","authors":"Emma Scripps, Paul Thompson, Peter E Langdon, Richard P Hastings, Bruce J Tonge, Stewart L Einfeld, Matthew R Sanders, Kate Sofronoff, Kylie M Gray","doi":"10.1111/jir.70037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parents of children with developmental disabilities report higher levels of psychological distress. Parenting interventions may reduce parental psychological distress. Our aim was to investigate the psychological distress trajectories of parents receiving a parenting intervention.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Data were drawn from a state-wide trial of Stepping Stones Triple P (SSTP) in Queensland and Victoria, Australia (n = 365 parents). Growth mixture modelling was used to describe psychological distress trajectories of parents of children with developmental disabilities and examine associations with the level of SSTP intervention received, child characteristics and financial hardship.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three groups of parents/caregivers were identified, two of which presented a significant decline in psychological distress over time and one group presented no significant change. Additionally, higher child behavioural and emotional problems and lower adaptive skills were associated with poorer parent psychological distress over time. Level 4 of the SSTP intervention was also associated with steeper declines in psychological distress over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Over a period of 18 months, with the implementation of the SSTP, parents' psychological distress tended to improve. Distinct groups of parents were identified based on different psychological distress trajectories. Findings indicate the significant role of child behavioural and emotional problems, children's adaptive behaviour and the level of SSTP in parent psychological distress trajectories.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceptions of People With Intellectual Disabilities on Autonomy and Decision-Making in Daily Life: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.","authors":"James Sheerin, Fionnuala Larkin, Samantha Dockray","doi":"10.1111/jir.70035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This qualitative systematic review aimed to synthesise research on the experiences of people with an intellectual disability on autonomy and decision-making in their everyday lives.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic review was completed of studies published between 2012 and 2024 that included qualitative data exploring perceptions of people with an intellectual disability aged 18 and over on autonomy and decision-making in their lives, excluding quantitative studies and those only including carers. Searches (conducted April-August 2022, updated June 2024) were based on terms linked to intellectual disability, autonomy and decision-making. Databases included PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PubMed, Social Sciences Full Text, SocINDEX, CINAHL, MEDLINE and Scopus. The review protocol was registered on Prospero ID: CRD42022333120.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 15 studies, including 246 people with an intellectual disability, met the inclusion criteria. Quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme criteria. Thematic synthesis generated four primary analytical themes: 'We know what's best for you', 'The loudest voice gets heard', 'The meaning of autonomy' and 'Conflicting views on service role'.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this synthesis suggest that people with an intellectual disability often feel that their autonomy is not prioritised and that decisions are often made for them without their input. The findings highlight the need for person-centred approaches and systemic change to support the autonomy of people with an intellectual disability. Included studies often neglected to consider the researcher-participant relationship and used varied data collection and analytic methods, which produced heterogeneity in the review findings. Future research is needed to explore the impact of societal attitudes and beliefs on the autonomy of people with an intellectual disability, as well as the effectiveness of person-centred approaches in promoting autonomy.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feasibility of Measuring Hair Glucocorticoids as a Potential Biomarker for Chronic Stress in Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.","authors":"Jasper Steven Dijkema, Mylène Nathalie Böhmer, Patrick Jan Eugene Bindels, Dederieke Anne Maria Maes-Festen, Alyt Oppewal","doi":"10.1111/jir.70040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic stress can significantly impact health, leading to conditions such as cardiovascular disease and mental health issues. Detecting chronic stress in older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) is challenging, but measuring scalp hair glucocorticoids (HairGC) may offer a solution. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of measuring HairGC in older adults with ID and assess reasons for failed sample collection and analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Hair samples were collected in the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities (HA-ID) cohort study (n = 278, 71.3 years [SD 6.2]). Feasibility was described as overall feasibility (percentage of successful measurements out of the total group) and quantified by consent rate (participants who consented for hair sample collection), collection rate (successfully collected hair samples from those who consented), and analysis rate (successfully analysed samples). Rates were categorised as low (< 25%), moderate (≥ 25-< 50%), good (≥ 50-< 75%) or excellent (≥ 75%), with stricter cutoffs for analysis rate (low: < 75%, moderate: ≥ 75-< 85%, good: ≥ 85-< 95%, excellent: ≥ 95%). Feasibility rates and reasons for failed collection and analysis were analysed for the total group and subgroups by age, sex and level of ID.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The feasibility of consent rate (204/278; 73%), collection rate (103/204; 50%) and analysis rate (89/103; 86%) was good. Overall, HairGCs were successfully measured for 89 out of 278 participants (32%), showing a moderate overall feasibility. Reasons for collection failure (n = 101/204) were hair that was too short or too thin (n = 65, 64%), resistance (n = 9, 9%), no-shows (n = 5, 5%), other reasons (n = 9, 9%) and unknown reason (n = 13, 13%). Reasons for analysis failure (14/103) were not enough material (n = 12, 86%) and lost samples (n = 2, 14%). Overall feasibility rate was lower in males (15%) than in females (50%; p < 0.001) and higher in participants with moderate ID (42%) than in those with severe and profound ID (25%; p = 0.004).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall feasibility of measuring HairGCs in older adults with ID was moderate. Feasibility was lower in males, with insufficient hair length/thickness as the main limitation, and higher in participants with moderate ID. HairGC measurement appears most feasible in females and less so in balding males, limiting its broader applicability as a stress measurement tool in an older population.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145023449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PTSD Symptoms After Traumatic Versus Stressful Life Events in People With Mild Intellectual Disabilities: Proving the Null.","authors":"Mariëlle Rouleaux, Nienke Peters-Scheffer, Samantha Bouwmeester, Ramón Lindauer, Liesbeth Mevissen, Robert Didden","doi":"10.1111/jir.70034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Research in people without ID suggests that both traumatic events (i.e., A criterion events) and stressful life events (i.e., non-A criterion events) can produce PTSD symptoms. However, research on this subject in ID populations is limited. The discussion about the usefulness of Criterion A (i.e., the stressor criterion) as a gate criterion for PTSD in the DSM-5-TR is particularly important for people with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) or borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) because of their vulnerability to stressors. This study aimed to compare PTSD symptoms and impairment of daily life functioning (IDLF) score following traumatic versus stressful index events in people with MID-BIF.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Diagnostic Interview Trauma and Stressors-Intellectual Disability (DITS-ID) was administered to 54 participants with MID-BIF. Two groups were generated based on the type of index event (i.e., traumatic or stressful). Bayesian equivalence testing was used to assess whether the two groups differed in terms of PTSD symptoms and IDLF score.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data were more consistent with either a small difference or no difference at all between the traumatic (N = 22) and stressful group (N = 32) regarding the mean number of PTSD symptoms and the mean IDLF score. Differences in PTSD symptoms and IDLF scores ranged from 0.00 to 0.87.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>No clinically relevant differences were found between the traumatic and stressful groups in terms of mean number of PTSD symptoms and IDLF score. Stressful life events might produce PTSD symptoms in people with MID-BIF.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145000777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Off-Label Antipsychotic Withdrawal in People With Intellectual Disabilities: Development and Internal Validation of a Prediction Model.","authors":"Joëlle Weijgertze-Lanser, Maureen B G Wissing, Roy G Elbers, Josien Jonker, Gerda M de Kuijper, Dederieke A M Maes-Festen","doi":"10.1111/jir.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Off-label antipsychotic use in people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour is high. Antipsychotic withdrawal is recommended, but attempts are often unsuccessful. This study aimed to develop and internally validate a prediction model that provides insight into predicting factors for unsuccessful (i.e. incomplete) off-label antipsychotic withdrawal attempts in people with intellectual disabilities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data collected in two previous studies examining the withdrawal of off-label antipsychotics in people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour living mostly in 24/7 care settings (98.6%) in the Netherlands were analysed. The dataset included 141 participants (64.5% male, median age 52). We selected candidate predictors (age, level of intellectual disability, defined daily dose, autism spectrum disorder and three subscales of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist [ABC], namely stereotypy, hyperactivity and lethargy) based on previous research and clinical relevance. A multivariable logistic regression analysis with backward selection procedures was conducted to identify significant predictors. The model was internally validated using bootstrapping procedures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis revealed the level of intellectual disability (p = 0.030, OR = 2.374), defined daily dose (p = 0.063, OR = 2.833), and ABC stereotypy (p = 0.007, OR = 1.106) as key predictors for unsuccessful withdrawals. The variables explained 20% of the variance (Nagelkerke's R-square, R² = 0.200). The model calibrated well as the Hosmer and Lemeshow test was not significant. The discrimination of the model was fair to good; the Area Under the Curve (AUC) was 0.728. Internal validation procedures showed an optimism-corrected AUC of 0.706; the optimism-corrected Nagelkerke's R² was 0.157.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The odds of unsuccessful withdrawal increase with a more severe level of intellectual disability, a higher antipsychotic defined daily dose and higher stereotypy scores. The results inform healthcare providers about the predictive factors enabling them to better anticipate and support future withdrawal attempts.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145000712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Foundational Reading Knowledge of Teachers of Students With IDD: Examining Experience, Degree and Time Use.","authors":"Esther R Lindström, Kimberly A McFadden, Qiong Fu, Molly J Ruiz","doi":"10.1111/jir.70041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Special education teachers require foundational reading content knowledge (e.g., phonemic awareness, phonics) to teach early reading skills. Though many measures have been developed to measure such knowledge, none have examined item-level differences related to teacher characteristics (i.e., experience, degree and instructional time use).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the 20-item Teacher Knowledge Assessment: Structure of Language scale using data from 337 special education teachers providing reading instruction to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 20 possible total points for correctly answered items, the average score was 13.2 (SD = 3.5). We conducted Rasch analysis and dropped two misfitting items, resulting in 18 items on the scale (M = 11.9; SD = 3.3). Using dichotomous teachers' years of experience (≤ 5 years vs. > 5 years), education level (bachelor's or below vs. advanced) and self-reported time teaching phonics and phonemic awareness (≤ 20% vs. > 20%) as focal variables, we conducted differential item functioning (DIF) analyses as part of the Rasch analysis. A greater number of items showed DIF for teacher experience or instructional time use (8 items each) than for degree (3 items), with easier and harder items identified for each subgroup.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results evince inconsistencies in teachers' acquired foundational reading knowledge based on experience, degree and instructional time use. Structured literacy standards for teacher preparation programmes and in-service training initiatives may provide the means to address gaps in teachers' knowledge.</p>","PeriodicalId":16163,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual Disability Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145000692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}