Bryn Harris

Performance on the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) among a large clinic-referred pediatric sample

Growing concerns with suboptimal effort in pediatric populations have led clinicians to investigate the utility of symptom validity tests (SVT) among children and adolescents. Performance on the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) was analyzed among a clinical sample of individuals ranging in age from 5 through 16 years. The 101 patients were referred for a variety of learning, developmental, psychiatric, and neurological concerns. All children were administered the TOMM as part of a clinical neuropsychological evaluation. Within the sample, 4 patients did not meet the adult cutoff criteria for passing the TOMM. Three of the 4 patients also demonstrated suboptimal effort on another SVT. Results revealed statistically significant correlations between TOMM performance and age, intelligence, and memory. Despite these correlations, 97 out of the 101 performed at or above the adult cutoff score. The findings suggest that children perform similarly to adults on the TOMM and that the TOMM is appropriate for use with pediatric clinical populations as young as 5 years.

Identifying English Language Learners for Gifted and Talented Programs: Current Practices and Recommendations for Improvement

While the number and relative proportion of English language learners (ELL) in public school systems is rapidly increasing, ELL students are often overlooked for gifted programs, and for this reason are grossly underrepresented in gifted and talented education programs. Identification practices that were implemented decades ago did not take into account the linguistic and cultural diversity of students that are present in schools today. This theoretical article examines current gifted identification practices related to ELL students in public schools nationwide. The authors identify necessary components to this process that are often overlooked for ELL populations. Recommendations for best practice and future research are provided.

Identifying Gifted and Talented English Language Learners: A Case Study.

With the sharp rise in students who are English language learners (ELL), research on identifying and serving the needs of gifted and talented (GT) ELL students offers fertile ground for best practice guidelines. The current study describes GT/ELL identification practices based on an in-depth case study of one diverse school district in the Midwest. School personnel, parents, and students participated in separate semistructured group interviews about their experiences regarding GT/ELL identification. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed for thematic content. Additionally, district and state policy documents about GT and ELL identification practices were reviewed. Results highlight the theoretical and practical barriers to identifying GT ELLs effectively. These include possible population challenges, state support, current programming, assessment practices, parental involvement, and staff challenges. Implications for school personnel and recommendations for future research are discussed.

An Analysis of State Autism Educational Assessment Practices and Requirements

States differ in the procedures and criteria used to identify ASD. These differences are likely to impact the prevalence and age of identification for children with ASD. The purpose of the current study was to examine the specific state variations in ASD identification and eligibility criteria requirements. We examined variations by state in autism assessment practices and the proportion of children eligible for special education services under the autism category. Overall, our findings suggest that ASD identification practices vary across states, but most states use federal guidelines, at least in part, to set their requirements. Implications and recommendations for policy and practice are discussed.

Evaluating Autism Diagnostic and Screening Tools for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness

While clear guidelines and best practices exist for the assessment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), little information is available about assessing for ASD in culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) populations. CLD populations might be misidentified and under-identified with ASD due to the assessment practices that we employ. Four autism diagnostic tools and six autism screeners were selected and evaluated for their cultural and linguistic responsiveness. Although the evaluation of ASD within CLD populations is highly complex, this study identified the need for improved autism assessment tools and practices. Without the appropriate assessment of these populations, CLD children will likely continue to be misidentified (or not identified at all) and will miss crucial intervention opportunities.

Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Practices in Psychoeducational Reports for English Language Learners.

Past researchers suggested there are a number of shortcomings in the psychoeducational evaluation process and practices used with English language learners (ELLs). In the present exploratory study, the authors descriptively examined the assessment practices used in the special education eligibility determination process for ELLs as documented in 34 psychoeducational evaluation reports in one southwestern state. The authors reviewed psychoeducational evaluation reports prepared by school psychologists to determine (a) the extent to which school psychologists adhered to legal and ethical guidelines in the evaluation of ELLs for special education eligibility and needs and (b) how school psychologists account for cultural and linguistic differences in the evaluation process. Results indicated that school psychologists rarely used culturally and linguistically responsive practices such as the use of interpretation and translation services and language proficiency data, as well as limited adherence to legal and ethical recommendations. We address implications for training and practice.

Strength-based RTI: Developing gifted potential in Spanish speaking English language learners

This article proposes a strength-based response to intervention (RTI) model for developing and identifying gifted potential in English language learners (ELLs). In the recent years, much has been written about RTI; however, the potential of RTI for meeting the needs of gifted ELLs has not yet been explored. This article seeks to address this void by proposing a multi-tiered system of supports designed to meet the unique learning needs of gifted, Spanish-speaking ELLs.

Gifted Law, Identification, and Programming in Mexico: An Overview for School Professionals in the United States.

The demographics in the United States are rapidly changing and the school-aged population is growing at an even faster rate, particularly within the Mexican population. In 2008, 12.7 million Mexican immigrants lived in the United States which is 17 times the number in 1970. In addition, Mexican populations are younger than other U.S. populations which directly impacts school systems and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. This article provides an overview of various concepts, frameworks, and services used by the Mexican education system that pertain to the gifted population. In particular, the topics covered are the Mexican education laws pertaining to gifted education, gifted identification practices, gifted programming strategies, and implications for practice with Mexican populations in the United States. To better address the underrepresentation of Mexican students in U.S. gifted education programs, a more thorough understanding of these constructs is warranted.

Autism services in Mexico: A qualitative survey of education professionals

Many countries are experiencing a dramatic increase of Mexican immigrants in recent decades, especially the United States. It is essential that professionals understand the cultural expectations and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic and intervention practices in Mexico to be better prepared to meet the needs of this population. In fact, immigrant children from Mexico face significantly more educational and mental health disparities than other immigrant populations. The purpose of this paper is to describe a survey of professionals working in Mexico regarding their ASD diagnostic and screening practices. The survey items were designed to elicit meaningful information regarding the ASD diagnostic and intervention practices in Mexico. This level of awareness and knowledge about current practices in Mexico is critical for supporting parent–professional collaboration during the ASD educational identification process in the United States as well as other countries with populations of Mexican immigrants.

Adolescent Racial Identity: Self-Identification of Multiple and “Other” Race/Ethnicities:

This mixed methods study focused on adolescents who rejected conventional singular racial/ethnic categorization by selecting multiple race/ethnicities or writing descriptions of “Other” racial/ethnic identities in response to a survey item asking them to identify their race/ethnicity. Written responses reflected eight distinct categories ranging from elaborative descriptions of conventional race categories to responses refusing the construct of race/ethnicity. Students’ endorsement of multiple or “Other” ethnicities, and the resultant categories, differed by gender, grade, school type, and school compositions. Findings support scholars’ concern that common conceptualizations of race may not capture the complexity of self-identified racial categories among youth.