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Special education teachers are essential team members in the provision of services to students with complex communication needs. Professional competencies related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) practices have been outlined for special education teachers as part of their professional standards. Yet, it is unclear to what extent these professionals have knowledge and skills in this area. Given existing gaps in the literature, an anonymous, web-based survey was disseminated across the United States to gather information on special education teachers' self-reported knowledge and skills in AAC. A total of 1198 special education teachers from 46 states responded to the survey. Findings indicated that most special education teachers did not receive formal training in AAC during their teacher licensure preparation programs, resulting in low levels of self-reported knowledge and skills. Data also indicated that while influencing factors existed, special education teachers' knowledge and skills in AAC remained minimal. Implications and recommendations for stakeholders are discussed.

Forstudents with disabilities, participation in recreational sports could provide opportunities for them to be physically active while practicing self-determination skills. Although research has linked self-determination to improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities, limited research exists exploring the intersection of recreational sports and self-determination. The purpose of this paper is to provide practical ways to improve self-determination through recreational sports for adolescent students with disabilities. This paper highlights how adults can support adolescents in developing self-determination skills through strategies such as (a) setting goals, (b) helping them develop an action plan, (c) self-monitoring their progress, (d) adjusting their goals, and (e) advocating for themselves. Examples are provided for each of these self-determination strategies, and additional selfdetermination resources are provided. Keywords: Adolescents, self-determination, recreational sports, Daniel, a fifth grade student with a mild intellectual disability, enjoyed playing basketball but had never enrolled in a recreational sport. Daniel's physical education teacher, Mr. Lee, felt it would [...]