Online ISSN: 2325-7466
2006
Triannual
National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
United States

Articles

Inclusive Book Club: Perspectives of Undergraduate Participants

  • Shawnna Helf, PhD (Author) Winthrop University image/svg+xml
    Shawnna Helf is a professor of literacy at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. Her areas of interest are early reading intervention, instructional design, and teaching efficiency.
  • Debra Leach, EdD (Author) Winthrop University
    Debra Leach is a professor of special education at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. She is also the project director of the Winthrop Think College program, a post-secondary program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her areas of specialization are autism spectrum disorders, applied behavior analysis, positive behavioral interventions and supports, differentiated instruction, and inclusion from birth to adulthood.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.426
Abstract
We examined undergraduate students’ perceptions of peers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) before and after participating in an inclusive book club on the college campus. Over a six-week period, undergraduate students and students with I/DD enrolled in the post-secondary education program at the university engaged in an inclusive book club that involved coming together once a week for an hour to discuss a piece of literature. Results indicate that the perceptions of the undergraduate students changed as a result of their participation in the book club. Although, prior to the onset of the study, the undergraduates predicted that the students with I/DD would have difficulty with comprehension and participation, at the end of the study they reported that the students with I/DD did not have the difficulties they predicted and were able to successfully participate and contribute to discussions during each book club meeting. Implications of the findings for K-12 learning environments and post-secondary inclusive programs are provided.
Keywords
Attitude Change, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Books, Clubs, Developmental Disabilities, Intellectual Disability
References

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Hughson, E. A., Moodie, S., & Uditsky, B. (2006). The story of inclusive post secondary education in Alberta: Einal research report 2004-2005. Retrieved from http://www.steps-forward.org/The_Story_of_Inclusive_Post_Secondary_Education_in_ Alberta.pdf

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There are 7 references in total.
How to Cite
Helf, S., & Leach, D. (2020). Inclusive Book Club: Perspectives of Undergraduate Participants. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 15(2), 77-83. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.426

Spring/Summer 2020

Article Information

  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted May 20, 2020
  • Published June 15, 2020
  • Issue Spring/Summer 2020
  • Section Articles
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