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CC BY-NC-SA V4.0, Open Access
Dissertation
MORE WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH MY DREAMS: PERCEPTIONS OF BELONGING, INCLUSION, AND EXCLUSION HELD BY YOUNG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
05/2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007467
Abstract
While inclusion of students with disabilities in general education settings has seen marked increases in the last 20 years, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities are still likely to continue to receive special education services in restrictive settings (such as pullout instruction, separate classes, or separate schools). In the discourse regarding the benefits of placement in any school setting, the perspectives of individuals with disabilities are underrepresented. The purpose of this dissertation study was to explore the lived experiences of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who provided critical insight regarding the circumstances in which students experience the phenomena of belonging, inclusion and exclusion in K-12 and postsecondary school settings. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore two research questions: What are the lived experiences of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a variety of school settings? What emotions and tensions emerge for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they reflect upon their lived experiences in inclusive and restrictive settings? Across a series of semi-structured interviews with seven participants who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, six themes emerged: I notice and learn different social rules in different classroom settings; belonging and exclusion can happen across all educational settings; special education instruction was useful, but I didn’t learn grade-level curriculum; I’m determined to learn; I want the good things in life; I want others to honor my humanity. In addition to a summary of these themes and corresponding findings, I offer suggestions for future research and implications for practice.
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Details
- Title
- MORE WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH MY DREAMS
- Creators
- Kathryn O'Connor Sheridan-Stiefel
- Contributors
- Donald McMahon (Chair)Lauren P Bruno (Committee Member)Marcus Poppen (Committee Member)Joshua Taylor (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Teaching and Learning
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 222
- Identifiers
- 99901221150801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation