DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/VVK4-2G09

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7304-7120

Defense Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Special Education

First Advisor

Christine Spence, PhD

Second Advisor

LaRon Scott, EdD

Third Advisor

Wendy Rodgers, PhD

Fourth Advisor

Dorian Lee-Wilkerson, PhD

Abstract

My three-paper dissertation explored the interrelatedness between two critical issues in special education: interdisciplinary collaboration and sociocultural identity. I examined both through the perspectives of one discipline of specialized instructional support personnel (SISP). In the first paper, I conducted a systematic literature review examining the current empirical evidence on speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) collaboration in schools. A key takeaway from the literature review was the need for qualitative research to better understand the depth and breadth of collaborative experiences. In the second paper, I utilized an exploratory qualitative design and pilot data to discuss school-based SLPs’ shared collaborative experiences, identifying common facilitators and barriers to describe collaborative outcomes. One key aspect that emerged was the participants’ description of differing collaborative experiences based on the sociocultural identity markers of race, age, and years of experience. In the final paper, I present a qualitative study that explored the intersection of professional and personal identities in Black school-based SLPs, and the impact of intersecting identities on collaboration. The findings confirmed the importance of investigating the relationship between an individual’s identity and their collaboration on school-based teams. The implications for future research, practice, and policy are presented in each separate paper and discussed collectively in Chapter 5.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

4-26-2024

Available for download on Saturday, April 26, 2025

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