Autism to Higher Education: Tools for Parents

Over the years, a marked increase in the number of students with High Functioning Autism (HFA) attending colleges and universities has occurred. This can be attributed to: (a) the passage of legislation such as the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA); (b) revisions to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM); and (c) early intervention and treatment (Pillay, 2012). Although the increase in enrollment may be an indicator that a more welcoming climate for individuals with HFA has been created, many institutions are not adequately prepared to accommodate these students and parents have not been given the tools to help their children succeed. Students with disabilities and those specifically with HFA have entered in higher education but have a low percentage of graduating. Parents find themselves ill-equipped and unprepared to advocate and ensure that higher education institutions are adequately addressing the cognitive, social, executive functioning, and behavioral deficits that impact their HFA student and their ability to succeed in a higher education academic environment, especially in circumstances where their child has chosen to leave home for college. This dissertation discusses symptoms and key features associated with autism that affect performance in an academic environment provides suggestions for possible accommodations and educational adjustments and offers strategies that support student success and retention for students with HFA transitioning into higher education

“It’s my body, I can have a say”: The development of a theory and evidencebased intervention to prepare and support adolescents with long-term conditions to participate in shared decision-making

Adolescents with long-term conditions (LTCs) often adopt a marginal role during healthcare consultations, which does not reflect their role in condition selfmanagement. Shared decision-making (SDM) gives adolescents a voice in their healthcare and treatment plans, improving the likelihood of selecting the best possible option for them. Literature in this area is limited, and much of the research to date has focused primarily on the views of parents and clinicians, with little attention to the adolescents’ perspectives. The work in this thesis describes the development and user-testing of an intervention informed by adolescents and relevant theory, which aims to prepare and support adolescents with LTCs to participate in SDM. Development and user-testing was guided by the MRC’s framework for developing complex interventions and the Person-Based Approach. A systematic review revealed that preferences of adolescents with LTCs around involvement in decisionmaking can vary substantially, but often go unmet. Reasons for the discrepancy between adolescents’ preferences and experiences were further explored in qualitative participatory interviews, and perceived barriers to, and facilitators for SDM were identified. The Intervention Mapping Approach was used to develop a theory and evidencebased intervention in the form of a 12-page booklet titled “It’s my body, I can have a say” which aimed to address the identified barriers. User-testing with adolescents with LTCs and clinicians revealed positive responses to the booklet’s key messages and design. Suggested changes were made to improve acceptability of the booklet, which included the addition of a short video and electronic format. Design for further feasibility testing was proposed. Overall, preliminary findings suggest that the intervention could be a useful tool for preparing and supporting adolescents with LTCs to be involved in SDM, and for addressing the perceived barriers to involvement. However, preparation for SDM must be paired with willing and skilled clinicians, supported by parents, and delivered within a supportive environment

Cosmetic Earnings Management in the Post-SOX Period: An Analysis of Entity Size

Cosmetic earnings management (CEM) takes place when income lies just beneath a benchmark (e.g., $2.98 billion) and management modestly enhances earnings to reach the goal (e.g.,$3.00 billion). U.S. studies show that CEM occurred prior to SOX but vanished afterward. Research on CEM after SOX, though, largely ignores the relationship between entity size and earnings management. This study tests for CEM post SOX but does so by separating the sample into quintiles based on entity size. While no evidence of CEM appears for the largest 80 percent of the company-years, significant CEM emerges within the quintile containing the smallest entities

Family Legacies: Constructing Individual and Family Identity through Intergenerational Storytelling

The current study focused on discovering the ways in which the intergenerational transmission of family legacy stories both enables and constrains individual family members’ sense of their own identities. Using semistructured interviews, 17 third-generation family members identified a multitude of both positive and negative family legacies. Both positive and negative legacies were influenced by the storytelling context. Positive legacies portrayed families as hardworking, caring, and cohesive while negative legacies were more idiosyncratic. Individual family members typically responded to their family legacies by embracing the positive and rejecting the negative. However, individuals’ responses also pointed to additional complexities in accepting or rejecting family legacies. Specifically, some individuals embraced negative family legacies and rejected positive ones; others accepted only portions of the legacies; and some reported their legacies as unembraceable

Optimization of Ectopic Gene Expression in Skeletal Muscle Through DNA Transfer by Electroporation.

Background Electroporation (EP) is a widely used non-viral gene transfer method. We have attempted to develop an exact protocol to maximize DNA expression while minimizing tissue damage following EP of skeletal muscle in vivo. Specifically, we investigated the effects of varying injection techniques, electrode surface geometry, and plasmid mediums. Results We found that as the amount of damage increased in skeletal muscle in response to EP, the level of β-galactosidase (β-gal) expression drastically decreased and that there was no evidence of β-gal expression in damaged fibers. Two specific types of electrodes yielded the greatest amount of expression. We also discovered that DNA uptake in skeletal muscle following intra-arterial injection of DNA was significantly enhanced by EP. Finally, we found that DMSO and LipoFECTAMINE™, common enhancers of DNA electroporation in vitro, had no positive effect on DNA electroporationin vivo. Conclusions When injecting DNA intramuscularly, a flat plate electrode without any plasmid enhancers is the best method to achieve high levels of gene expression

Housing Research Realities and Perceptions: A mixed model study of quantitative data for Sioux County, Iowa and Orange City, Iowa with qualitative data collected in Orange City, Iowa

A mixed methods study on housing affordability, availability, and quality of rental properties and single-family home properties gathered data for Sioux County, Iowa and Orange City, Iowa. With quantitative data about Sioux County and more focused qualitative research in Orange City. Quantitative research was conducted through examining and compiling existing data. Qualitative survey research included a clustered sample and stratified random sample of homes in Orange City. The qualitative research had four major themes and three minor themes. The major themes are: Unknown Needs and Bias: Hispanic Community, (Un)Affordability, Lacking Rentals, and Lacking of Housing Awareness among Homeowners. The three minor themes are: Neat and Tidy Community, Promising Developments, and Taxes are Taxing people. When qualitative and quantitative data were integrated, the lack of available and affordable housing became apparent, as well as stigmas against the renters and the Hispanic population. Government and community response action plans were suggested. The Orange City government was charged with the creation of a new community housing committee, providing incentives for the construction of more housing units, and the creation of an up-to-date rental database available to anyone in the community or looking to move in. The community actions suggested were increased housing awareness, advocacy, and the creation of a community-housing plan