{"title":"Inclusive education for refugee students from Ukraine—An exploration of differentiated instruction in German schools","authors":"Verena Letzel-Alt, Marcela Pozas","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12678","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12678","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Currently, refugee Ukrainian learners are attending German mainstream schools, leading to an even more diverse student population. Given that the German school system is committed to provide inclusive education for all, this study aims to examine how teachers address Ukrainian students learning needs by means of differentiated instruction. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted in which eight elementary school and advanced secondary school teachers were interviewed. Findings revealed that refugee Ukrainian students in German mainstream schools are taught alongside German students, but are also placed in separated classrooms. Additionally, they occasionally participate in remote learning via Zoom from Ukraine. Furthermore, teachers reported using more frequently tiered assignments or peer tutoring systems. In contrast, practices such as mastery learning or open education are seldomly implemented. Implications of the results, as well as limitations and further lines of research are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"855-865"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-3802.12678","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141000353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daisy Loyd, Maxwell Peprah Opoku, Zachary Walker, Najwa Mohamed Alhosani, Hala Elhoweris, Osha Almuhairy, Ahmed Mohamed, Rachel Alison Takriti, Sana Butti Al Maktoum, Amani Mohamed, Hamdah Jibar, Emmanuel Baja, Rhoda Myra Garces-Bacsal
{"title":"Examining teachers' perceived competence in implementing inclusive education practices in the United Arab Emirates","authors":"Daisy Loyd, Maxwell Peprah Opoku, Zachary Walker, Najwa Mohamed Alhosani, Hala Elhoweris, Osha Almuhairy, Ahmed Mohamed, Rachel Alison Takriti, Sana Butti Al Maktoum, Amani Mohamed, Hamdah Jibar, Emmanuel Baja, Rhoda Myra Garces-Bacsal","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12673","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12673","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Inclusive education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is evolving with ambitious policies and strategic plans. The extent to which these policies and plans are being embedded into practice in mainstream schools across the country has not been fully captured. This research used an online survey to investigate teachers' perceived competence in implementing inclusive education practices with students with disabilities in mainstream schools and explore its relationship with demographic variables. Participants included 999 teachers from public and private schools across the seven Emirates of the UAE. Greater competence was reported in implementing practices that create an environment conducive to effective learning and less competence in implementing practices that use knowledge of the student. Differences were found between demographic variables and teachers' perceived competence in implementing inclusive education practices with recent professional development in inclusive and/or special education emerging as the most significant predictor. Implications for practice and further research are considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"837-854"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140834957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yael Mayer, Tessa Goldberger, Nicole Di Spirito, Mor Cohen-Eilig, Tal Jarus
{"title":"The digital citizenship of children with autism: Challenges, considerations and educational needs of paediatric practitioners","authors":"Yael Mayer, Tessa Goldberger, Nicole Di Spirito, Mor Cohen-Eilig, Tal Jarus","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12672","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12672","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This exploratory study examined paediatric practitioners' challenges and considerations when they support caregivers and children with autism regarding children's screen use. Current research often focuses on the problematic use of screen time among children with autism. No clear strategies or recommendations for clinicians to support the beneficial use of screens exist yet in the field. Participants in the study were 15 experienced paediatric practitioners invited to participate in semistructured interviews that were analysed using summative content analysis. Practitioners expressed the urgent need for accessible and valuable educational resources to guide digital citizenship and screen time use for their clients with autism. This exploratory study provides an initial roadmap for the educational needs of paediatric practitioners supporting positive screen use and digital citizenship of autistic children.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"821-836"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-3802.12672","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140675123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social and emotional competencies of students with special educational needs in inclusive education","authors":"Anamarija Žic Ralić, Jelena Marković","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12671","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12671","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The social and emotional development of students is one of the important goals of inclusive education. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional social and emotional competencies of students with special educational needs (SEN), with a focus on identifying the areas in which they achieve the highest and lowest levels of proficiency. Furthermore, it will be investigated whether there are gender differences in the social and emotional competencies of students with SEN, and differences in comparison to students without SEN. This research is based on the CASEL conceptual framework of social and emotional learning. A random sample of teachers (<i>N</i> = 54) assess the social and emotional competencies of both students with SEN (<i>N</i> = 54) and students without SEN (<i>N</i> = 54) with Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA). Participants completed questionnaires online in spring of 2021. The results show that students with SEN exhibit the highest level of competence in relationship skills and optimistic thinking, whereas the lowest level of competence is found in goal-directed behaviour and self-management. There were no discernible gender differences observed in the social and emotional competences of students with SEN. Compared to students without SEN, they exhibit statistically significant lower levels of every social and emotional competency. The findings indicate the necessity of implementing interventions targeting goal-directed behaviours and self-management of students with SEN.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"809-820"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140673253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"When we came back the ball was just not rolling: Special needs educators' perspectives of improvisation through the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"Heidi Lourens, Jacqueline Moodley, Noorjehan Joosub","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12667","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12667","url":null,"abstract":"<p>While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education across the globe, special needs schools in middle- and low-income countries were particularly affected. Learners in these contexts often did not have access to assistive technologies and individualised adaptations of materials in their home environment. This study aimed to explore the experiences of special needs educators regarding how lockdown restrictions had impacted their educational practices. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 special needs educators across the Gauteng and Western Cape provinces of South Africa and were analysed through the lens of interpretive phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged from the interviews. First, the teachers discussed the ways in which they ensured that the curriculum continued during the period of hard lockdown. Second, they discussed the challenges of remote teaching, and lastly, they addressed the challenges when the learners returned to face-to-face learning. These themes shed light on the teachers' flexibility, creativity and ability to improvise within uncertain, unpredictable and unfamiliar educational terrains. We draw the conclusion that it was largely due to positive teacher–learner relationships and the commitment by teachers that improvisation and creativity were possible and effective.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"796-808"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-3802.12667","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140677802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorder in preschool: Investigation of adult–child interactions in two inclusive classes over one school year","authors":"J. Despois, A. André","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12668","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12668","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Based on a complex dynamic system approach, this study examined the dynamic of interactions between adults (a teacher and teaching assistant) and two children with ASD. We observed two preschool classrooms, each containing one child with contrasting ASD characteristics. Child engagement and adult participation during welcome time activities were observed once a month for 9 months; dramatic differences in interaction dynamics between the two classes were revealed. In the class including an autistic child with high support needs and low language ability, the active participation of adults associated with active child engagement gradually increased over the year. In the class including an autistic child with a high level of challenging behaviours (but with low support needs and typical language skills), increased variability resulted in a deep change in the landscape of attractors. Whereas the child was mostly engaged with adult participation during the first trimester, he was actively engaged without adult participation in the final trimester.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"786-795"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-3802.12668","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140561992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Öhrstedt, Annika Käck, Helena Reierstam, Gebrenegus Ghilagaber
{"title":"Studying online with special needs: A student perspective","authors":"Maria Öhrstedt, Annika Käck, Helena Reierstam, Gebrenegus Ghilagaber","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12670","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12670","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As diversity is increasing in higher education, the number of students with disabilities (SWD) grows. In parallel, technological development and online education change the conditions for teaching and learning. Previous research indicates that the digitalisation provides both challenges and opportunities for equal participation. This study explores the experiences of SWD in online higher education, using the Communities of Inquiry model as a theoretical framework. A questionnaire with 6256 students (430 SWD) examines the differences and similarities between SWD and other students in online courses. The results show that SWD are a heterogeneous group with diverse needs and preferences, and that online education can offer both advantages and disadvantages for them. The main advantages are using technology to compensate for disabilities, enabling more equal participation, and the flexibility and convenience of online courses. The main challenges are difficulties in planning and self-regulation, decreased motivation and increased stress, perceived uncertainties about examination requirements and proceedings and the unfulfilled need for interactive environments and feedback. The importance of faculty–student relationships is highlighted, and the significance of clarity and accessibility, feedback and interaction and flexibility and variation in creating inclusive online courses is emphasised. Implications for policy and practice are suggested.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"771-785"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-3802.12670","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140562017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julia R. Badger, Atiyya Nisar, Richard P. Hastings
{"title":"School-based anti-bullying approaches for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities: A systematic review and synthesis","authors":"Julia R. Badger, Atiyya Nisar, Richard P. Hastings","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12665","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12665","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mainstream anti-bullying interventions can reduce primary school-level victimisation by 15–16% and bullying perpetration by 19%–20% (<i>Aggression and Violent Behavior</i>, 2019; <b>45</b>: 111–133). Less is known about anti-bullying interventions for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) even though they are at least 2–4 times more likely to be involved in bullying. This systematic review aimed to identify reported anti-bullying approaches for pupils with SEND, what the evidence is for these approaches reducing bullying and which design factors are linked to a reduction in bullying. We searched 10 databases and four grey literature sources for articles that evaluated school-based anti-bullying strategies for children and young people aged 4–18 years with SEND. This review included 15 studies and used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool for quality and risk of bias. Ten reported a reduction in bullying involvement, but the evidence was variable. A further 27 articles formed a ‘suggested strategies’ review which synthesised articles without evaluations of interventions but that suggested anti-bullying strategies for use with pupils with SEND. The main suggestion was encouraging social skills and networks. Interventions should be evaluated for feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness. High-quality randomised controlled trials are required to build an evidence base to support pupils with SEND.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"742-757"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-3802.12665","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140379765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"‘I never feel like I am prepared enough’: Teachers' self-efficacy, challenges and experiences teaching students with disabilities","authors":"Hind Alharbi, Shehreen Iqtadar","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12666","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12666","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article investigated teachers' self-efficacy, educational practices, challenges and support for students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom. Students with disabilities face many adversities today, such as rejection, stigma, discrimination and lack of support in the classroom. We employed an interdisciplinary and pluralistic approach (Baglieri et al., 2011; Connor et al., 2011) embedded in disability studies in education (DSE) and self-efficacy theory to explore in-service teachers' experiences in the field of inclusive education. We used a phenomenological approach and conducted eight teachers' semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. We used purposeful sampling among teachers who work with students with disabilities. We used inductive analysis techniques to analyse the qualitative data collected from interviews and classroom observations. This study's findings reveal the importance of teachers' preparation, attitude and self-efficacy to support students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms; the use of differentiated instruction strategies to meet the student's needs and increase their academic outcomes; and highlight the challenges, which include the lack of professional development, lack collaboration among teachers lack of parents' communication and lack of regular IEP meeting.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"758-770"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140380131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kathryn Fradley, Jeremy Oldfield, Julie Marshall, Umar Toseeb
{"title":"Early life risk factors for adolescent mental health difficulties for individuals at risk of developmental language disorder","authors":"Kathryn Fradley, Jeremy Oldfield, Julie Marshall, Umar Toseeb","doi":"10.1111/1471-3802.12654","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1471-3802.12654","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Young people with developmental language disorder (DLD) often have poorer mental health compared to those without DLD. However, not all young people with DLD experience such difficulties. Two hundred and eighty-one young people at risk of DLD (45% Female; 53% White British) were identified from a UK based population-cohort. Main caregivers completed questionnaires about their early life (<5 years) and their mental health (at 14 years). Parent–child conflict was revealed to be an early risk factor for all mental health outcomes, at age 14. Additionally, harsh discipline and second-hand smoke predicted worse externalising problems, and gender differences predicted worse internalising problems. Further findings demonstrated that, as the number of risk factors increased, so did the severity of mental health difficulties.</p>","PeriodicalId":46783,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs","volume":"24 3","pages":"713-728"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-3802.12654","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140202969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}