Salih Rakap

Dr. Salih Rakap serves as Professor and Interim Department Chair of the Department of Specialized Education Services at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with expertise spanning early childhood autism interventions, teacher preparation, professional development coaching, and evidence-based special education practices.

His educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Special Education, University of Florida (Specialization: Early Childhood/Early Intervention – Minor: Research Evaluation and Methods)
• M.Ed. in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education, University of Pittsburgh
• B.S. in Elementary Education, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

Dr. Rakap's research critically examines inclusive early childhood education through single-case experimental designs, focusing on naturalistic instruction techniques, social-emotional development for children with autism, and the identification of evidence-based practices. His methodological work advances quantitative analysis in special education research, particularly in effect size calculations for single-subject studies.

His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to special education literature, with recent articles addressing the implementation fidelity of teacher interventions, completeness of Individualized Education Programs in inclusive settings, and evidence-based strategies for supporting children with autism spectrum disorder. These works appear in journals including Learning and Instruction, European Journal of Special Needs Education, and the Turkish Journal of Psychology.

As an educator and department leader, Dr. Rakap bridges research and practice through teacher preparation initiatives and professional development frameworks. His work prioritizes practical applications for preschool educators implementing evidence-based strategies in inclusive classrooms, with particular emphasis on coaching models that improve teacher implementation of interventions.