An Initial Investigation of the American Sign Language Version of the Self-Determination Inventory.

Self-determination is a potential predictor of in-school and postschool success, yet it has not previously been examined in youth and young adults who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). The present study used a cross-sectional survey design to examine the reliability and validity of the American Sign Language (ASL) version of the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (ASL SDI:SR) and to develop an understanding of mean self-determination strengths and areas of need in a sample of youth and young adults who were DHH; 221 participants completed the ASL SDI:SR, including individuals representing each type of educational setting and each type of communication mode. The component with the highest mean score was psychological empowerment; the lowest mean score was for self-realization. The findings showed that the ASL SDI:SR produced reliable scores. Implications for future practice and research are discussed.

Friendships and Self-Determination Among Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Friendships and self-determination are two factors that positively influence success in school and adult life. Examining the relationship between these two constructs among a sample of students who were deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), the researchers used the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (Shogren, Wehmeyer, Burke, & Palmer, 2017) to measure the level of self-determination of 29 students ages 13-17 years who were DHH. The researchers then used two self-report measures to probe students' quantity and quality of friendships, and conducted an analysis to determine whether the quality and quantity of friendships correlated with the self-determination of the students. Significant correlations were found between self-determination and both the quality and quantity of friendships among the study sample (p < .01). The findings support those of previous studies indicating that autonomy and social networks are related.

Social-Emotional Interventions with Children and Youth Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: A Research Synthesis.

To be successful in school and life individuals need to learn to understand and manage their emotions, get along with others and exercise good judgment. Children and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing have long been considered a population at risk for not developing age-appropriate social-emotional skills. The purpose of this study was to identify, review, and summarize the intervention research addressing social and emotional learning with children and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing. We examined the research published in professional peer-reviewed journals between the years 1996 and 2017. Eight hundred and nineteen articles on the topic were reviewed. A total of 11 intervention studies were identified. A summary of each study as well as recommendations for future research are provided.

Job Satisfaction of Teachers of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

The pressure that educators are experiencing to educate more students, with more challenges, to higher levels of learning than any time in the past is significantly changing their working conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of a national sample of teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing to ascertain their overall job satisfaction as well as to identify the specific factors that positively and negatively affect their ability to do their jobs well. In addition, responses of different subsets of teachers (e.g., itinerant, elementary, and secondary) were compared. Responses from 495 deaf educators are reported. Collectively, 89% of participants stated that they were satisfied to very satisfied with their overall job. Specific aspects of the job that respondents indicated that they were most satisfied or most dissatisfied with are presented and suggestions for addressing some of the identified challenges as well as recommendations for future research are provided.

Increasing Cultural And Linguistic Diversity In Deaf Education Teacher Preparation Programs.

As the field of education of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/Dhh) continues to diversify, postsecondary institutions must pay close attention not only to the changing needs of d/Dhh students but to the practitioners they are preparing to serve this population. Students who are d/Dhh and come from homes where a language other than English or American Sign Language is used--d/Dhh Multilingual Learners (DMLs)--constitute 19.4%-35.0% of the d/Dhh student population (Gallaudet Research Institute, 2013). In the present article, part of a special American Annals of the Deaf issue on DMLs, the authors review demographic trends, examine the theory behind teacher effectiveness and culturally responsive teaching, provide examples from research on effective components of teacher preparation programs and discuss how they align with the field's certification standards, and recommend practices for programs and teachers to meet these standards within the field's ever-changing landscape.

Single-Case Design Research: Building the Evidence-Base in the Field of Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students.

The field of education of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students has a paucity of evidence-based practices (EBPs) to guide instruction. The authors discussed how the research methodology of single-case design (SCD) can be used to build EBPs through direct and systematic replication of studies. An overview of SCD research methods is presented, including an explanation of how internal and external validity issues are addressed, and why SCD is appropriate for intervention research with DHH children. The authors then examine the SCD research in the field according to quality indicators (QIs; at the individual level and as a body of evidence) to determine the existing evidence base. Finally, future replication areas are recommended to fill the gaps in SCD research with students who are DHH in order to add to the evidence base in the field.

Successful Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse in Inclusive Settings.

The population of students who are deaf or hard of hearing is becoming more culturally and/or linguistically diverse. However, there is a paucity of practitioner literature and research available to professionals and families to guide decision making about daily practices with these students and their families. The study identified factors that contribute to the success of students who are deaf or hard of hearing and from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds who receive the majority of their education in inclusive settings. Students were recruited from two schools in two school districts in a western state. Students, educators, interpreters, and parents participated in individual in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Observations of the students were also done. Analysis of the data included coding the transcribed interviews and the field notes to identify common themes. Seven themes emerged and are reported. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Promoting self-determination of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Self-determination is a combination of attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enables individuals to make choices and engage in goal-directed, self-regulated behavior. Research in special education has demonstrated the benefits of promoting self-determination in achieving positive adult outcomes. However, to date, very little has been written about self-determination as it relates to the education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. This article provides an overview of self-determination, suggestions for instructional planning, and guidance on resources that can be used to gather additional information.

Using the dynamic indicators of basic early literacy skills with students who are deaf or hard of hearing: perspectives of a panel of experts.

Early literacy skills serve as the foundation for the development of subsequent reading skills and strategies. Increasingly, educators are administering early literacy assessments to identify young students who are at risk for reading failure and providing them with additional evidence based interventions. The most widely used assessments for reading in preschools and elementary schools for typical hearing students are the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). The purpose of this study was to gather the perceptions of a panel of experts in the area of reading and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing regarding the potential appropriateness of using the subtests of the DIBELS with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Results, as well as practical and research implications, are provided.

Itinerant teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing: practices and preparation.

Increasing numbers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing are receiving their education in general education settings with special education support from an itinerant teacher. However, previous research indicates that the majority of teacher preparation programs do not provide training on the itinerant teaching model or set up field experiences for preservice teachers as an itinerant teacher. The purpose of this study was to survey a national sample of itinerant teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing to learn about their practices, preparation, perceptions, and the students they serve. Results, recommendations, and suggestions for future research are provided.

A summary of the vocabulary research with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Vocabulary is essential for communicating, reading, thinking, and learning. In comparison to typical hearing peers, students who are deaf or hard of hearing demonstrate vocabulary knowledge that is quantitatively reduced. The authors review and summarize research studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1967 and 2008 focusing on vocabulary and students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Forty-one studies are examined. A summary of each study is presented in a table, and potential educational implications are described. The authors note the paucity of research to guide instruction and provide suggestions for future research.

Teachers' use and perceptions of progress monitoring.

Progress monitoring is a set of techniques used to assess students' academic performance on a regular and frequent basis. Different forms of progress monitoring have been used effectively in the field of general special education for more than 20 years. However, to date, limited information about how progress monitoring is being used in the field of deaf education is available. The present study was undertaken to examine how progress monitoring is being used with students who are deaf or hard of hearing and to find out teachers' perceptions about the utilization and value of using progress monitoring. Overall, participants were very positive. They reported that the use of progress monitoring improved students' motivation and helped them better evaluate the effectiveness of their instruction. Participants' primary concern was with the amount of time progress monitoring takes away from teaching. Additional results and recommendations are provided.

Phonology is necessary, but not sufficient: a rejoinder.

Paul, Wang, Trezek, and Luckner offer a rebuttal to an article by Allen, Clark, del Giudice, Koo, Lieberman, Mayberry, and Miller published in the same issue of the American Annals of the Deaf (Fall 2009) that is critical of an article by Wang, Trezek, Luckner, and Paul that was published in the Fall 2008 Annals. Major themes from the article by Wang and colleagues are reiterated, and the research and theoretical support for the qualitative-similarity hypothesis is emphasized. In addition, specific assertions made in the four sections of the article by Allen and colleagues, which are mostly overgeneralizations and misunderstandings, are addressed. Finally, concluding remarks regarding the importance of phonology are provided.

A summary of the reading comprehension research undertaken with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The American Federation of Teachers (1999) has stated that "the most fundamental responsibility of schools is teaching students to read" (p. 7). The central purpose of reading is comprehension--constructing meaning from text. The purpose of the present study was to identify, review, and summarize the research published in professional peer-reviewed journals related to reading comprehension and school-age students who are deaf or hard of hearing between 1963 and 2005. Fifty-two studies were identified and reviewed. The results were summarized in a table and reported descriptively. The most frequently researched reading comprehension teaching strategies were identified and discussed. The need for more research in this critical area was noted.

The role of phonology and phonologically related skills in reading instruction for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The article challenges educators to rethink reading instruction practices for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The authors begin with a discussion of the role of phonology in reading, then summarize the evidence of phonological coding among skilled deaf readers and investigate alternative routes for acquiring phonologically related skills such as the use of speechreading, articulatory feedback, Visual Phonics, and Cued Speech. Finally, they present recent intervention studies and proposed procedures to employ phonics-based instruction with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The authors conclude with the assertion that the teaching of phonologically related skills by means of instructional tools such as Visual Phonics and Cued Speech can and should be incorporated into reading instruction for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The authors recommend additional research in this important area.

Assessment practices of professionals serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing: an initial investigation.

Assessment currently plays a critical role in American schools and society, in tasks ranging from ranking schools' effectiveness, to determining individual placement, to planning instruction. The purpose of the study was to gather data about the formal and informal assessment instruments and processes used by professionals in deaf education. Respondents indicated that statewide annual assessments are the most frequently used measures, followed by the Stanford Achievement Test series and the Woodcock-Johnson III Test of Achievement. Commonly used assessment instruments and procedures for each academic area are reported in rank order. Issues about current practices are raised, and suggestions for additional research related to assessment practices in deaf education are provided.

An examination of the evidence-based literacy research in deaf education.

The ability to read and write for a variety of purposes is essential to success in school and in contemporary society. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct an exhaustive review of the literature and a meta-analysis of literacy research in the field of deaf education. Computer and manual searches of 40 years of peer-reviewed journal articles were conducted. A total of 964 articles related to literacy and deafness were identified and examined; 22 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Results indicate that (a) no two studies examined the same dimension of literacy; (b) there was a paucity of well-designed group studies; (c) there were no systematic replication of studies; (d) there is limited data to establish evidenced-based practices. Consequently, increasing the quantity and improving the quality of research in the field is recommended.

An examination of the research and training needs in the field of deaf education.

THE NATIONAL CENTER on Low-Incidence Disabilities conducted a needs assessment of the research and training needs in the field of deaf education. A total of 331 professionals, parents, administrators, and university faculty responded to the survey. Overall, respondents indicated that the number-one priority was to educate administrators about services that are appropriate for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The second most important concern was how to work within the education system to change it. The third priority was teaching reading strategies. Additional priorities are reported for all respondents, as well as comparisons among the different respondent groups. Implications of the results are presented.

Healthy families of children who are deaf.

Families provide the building blocks for the development of healthy, happy, competent children. The purpose of the present study was to identify and interview healthy families of children who were deaf. The researchers were interested in identifying factors that contribute to families' health as well as in collecting suggestions for other families with children who are deaf and for professionals in the field of deaf education. Nineteen families, all nominated by deaf education professionals, were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and coded, and responses to each interview question were grouped under recurring themes. A summary of the results, limitations of the study, suggestions for future research, and recommendations for practice are provided.

Self-assessments and other perceptions of successful adults who are deaf: an initial investigation.

More often than not, deafness is portrayed, not only in the literature in education and rehabilitation but in society in general, in a pathological way that focuses on deficiency, dysfunction, and deviance. Consequently, there has been a paucity of research on successful individuals who are deaf. The purpose of the present study was to help counter this tendency by gathering information from successful deaf adults. Fourteen deaf adults, who were nominated by their peers as being successful, participated in videotaped interviews. The interviews were transcribed, coded, and clustered according to common themes. Participants reflected on their success and made recommendations for children and youth who are deaf, parents, teachers, and employers. A summary of the results, limitations of the study, and recommendations for practice are provided.