University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Evaluating the effect of a staff training package for paraprofessionals to teach communicative behavior to students with special needs

Zanton, Jessica Joy

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/88043

Description

Title
Evaluating the effect of a staff training package for paraprofessionals to teach communicative behavior to students with special needs
Author(s)
Zanton, Jessica Joy
Issue Date
2015-07-14
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Ostrosky, Michaelene M.
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Ostrosky, Michaelene M.
Committee Member(s)
  • Halle, James W.
  • DeThorne, Laura
  • Shogren, Karrie A.
Department of Study
Special Education
Discipline
Special Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • paraprofessionals
  • training
  • severe disabilities
  • communication
Abstract
The use of paraprofessionals to support the education of students with disabilities is increasingly common in special education. Too often, paraprofessionals are expected to assume instructional roles without sufficient preparation and supervision. Children with severe disabilities reportedly receive a high percentage of their education from paraprofessionals. Because these students learn best from carefully implemented systematic instruction, receiving instruction from adults with insufficient training puts these students at a high risk of not learning the skills required for lifelong independence. In this study, these concerns were addressed by teaching paraprofessionals to facilitate communicative behavior in children with disabilities by (a) setting up salient situations that increase the likelihood of child communication, (b) allowing sufficient response time, (c) using a systematic prompting strategy, (d) providing error correction, and (e) honoring children’s requests.
Graduation Semester
2015-8
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/88043
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2015 Jessica Zanton

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