W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 2012 From the Inside Out: An In-Depth Look into the Lives of Students with Dual Exceptionalities Monique S. Sims College of William & Mary - School of Education Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Educational Psychology Commons, and the Special Education and Teaching Commons Recommended Citation Sims, Monique S., "From the Inside Out: An In-Depth Look into the Lives of Students with Dual Exceptionalities" (2012). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539272214. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-pgcc-1x15 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FROM THE INSIDE OUT: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO FROM THE INSIDE OUT: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO THE LIVES OF STUDENTS WITH DUAL EXCEPTIONALITIES A Master’s Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Education, Gifted by Monique S. Sims May 2012 FROM THE INSIDE OUT: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO ii FROM THE INSIDE OUT: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO THE LIVES OF STUDENTS WITH DUAL EXCEPTIONALITIES by Monique S. Sims Approved May 2012 by Carol L. Tieso, Ph.D. Chairperson of Master’s Committee FROM THE INSIDE OUT: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................v Abstract .................................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: Introduction........................................................................................................ 2 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 2 Background of the Study................................:.................................................................4 Methods and Procedures.................................................................................................. 7 Data Analysis .................................. 9 Limitations......................................................................................................................10 Summary.........................................................................................................................10 Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature............................................................................12 Giftedness and Special Education: Where it all began .................................................. 12 Dual Exceptionality........................................................................................................14 Gifted students with Learning Disabilities ..................................................................... 16 Gifted students with ADHD.................................................................. 17 Gifted students with ASD.............................................................................................. 18 Academic and emotional difficulties of students with dual exceptionalities.................19 Teacher Perceptions........................................................................................................21 Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Relationships................................... 23 Parental Resources and Support.....................................................................................24 Students with dual exceptionalities: The Purpose of the Study?................................... 25 Chapter 3: Methodology.................................................................................................... 27 Introduction.................................................................................................................... 27 Participants..................................................................................................................... 27 Materials..........................................................................................................................29 Procedures...................................................................................................................... 30 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................. 31 Chapter 4: Data Collection and Analysis....................... 33 Introduction........................................................................................................................ 33 Participant Demographics.............................................................................................. 33 Data Collection and Analysis.........................................................................................34 Patterns of Aptitude and Limitations..............................................................................35 Special Programs................................................................................ 39 Behavior in School................ ^....................................................................................... 41 Teachers and Administrators ....................... 43 FROM THE INSIDE OUT: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO iv Peer Relationships and Social Interaction......................................................................47 Awareness of Abilities................................................................................................... 48 Availability of Resources............................................................................................... 50 Advice for Educators..................................................................................................... 51 Summary........................................................................................................................ 53 Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions, Implications...............................................................54 Academic Experiences of Students with Dual Exceptionalities.................................... 54 Expressions of Behavior................................................................................................ 57 Student and Parent Interaction with Teachers................................................................57 Social Interactions and Students with Dual Exceptionalities.........................................59 Availability of Information..................................................................................... ;.....60 Awareness of Abilities and Limitations......................................................................... 61 Implications for the Field.................................................. 61 Recommendations for Further Research........................................................................63 Conclusion...................................................................................................................... 64 References.......................................................................................................... 65 Table 1 ................................................................................................................................71 Appendix A: IRB Approval ............................................................................................... 72 Appendix B: Request for Participants............................................................................... 73 Appendix C: Invitation to Participate................................................................................ 75 Appendix D: Consent/Assent Forms....................................... 77 Appendix E: Student Interview Protocol........................................................................... 79 Appendix F: Parent Interview Protocol............................................................................. 81 Appendix G: Interviews , ................. 83 FROM THE INSIDE OUT: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO v Acknowledgements First and foremost, I am so thankful for all of the participants who volunteered to be a part of this research study. Without them none of this would be possible. I want to thank them for allowing me to get to know them and share their stories. I would like to thank my thesis advisor, and professor, Dr. Carol Tieso. Dr. Tieso has guided me through every step of the thesis writing process and has encouraged me in my desire to learn more about students with dual exceptionalities. In many ways she has helped me to become a better writer and a better researcher, and has helped me gain confidence in my abilities as a student and as an educator. I would like to thank Dr. Tracy Cross, Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Education, who has been my professor for several classes during my time at The College of William and Mary. He has also encouraged me to pursue my interests in students with dual exceptionalities and has challenged me to become a more critical thinker. I would like to thank Dr. Mihyeon Kim, Director of Precollegiate Learner Programs at the Center for Gifted Education, for providing me with an avenue for securing participants for my study. I would like to thank Andrea