This study investigated the self-reported school experiences of autistic students in Canada using a critical disability framework and a phenomenological research lens. Student perception data were collected using a mixed-method convergent parallel research design. Quantitative survey data (n = 72) and qualitative data (n = 19 open-ended responses…

In June 2024, the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) hosted a "Think Tank on Meaningful Inclusion for Students with Disabilities and Diverse Needs." The "Think Tank" sought to shift the frame for the conversation, asking what might happen when there is time and space to think beyond binaries and divisive positions. By…

Colleges and universities typically assist students with learning disabilities. In Canada, such programs are legally mandated to ensure equal access to educational opportunities. However, there is little in the current research literature on the experiences Canadian students with learning disabilities have with using assistive services provided by…

While there has been movement from disability, or special education needs (SEN), eligibility identification as a prerequisite for special education services, formal school-based identification remains critical in understanding the educational experience of students with disabilities. This study examined data from Ontario, Canada between 2006 and…

There is a strong and growing focus on self-determination in French-speaking countries, and this pilot study reports the technical adequacy of the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI:SR) French Translation. Data were collected with 471 French-speaking youth with and without disabilities in Canada (Quebec), Switzerland, France, and…

Access to equitable education for children treated for cancer is of growing international concern across education, medicine, and related fields. Neurocognitive late effects of childhood cancer and treatment are well established. This impact on cognition results in difficulties with thinking, learning, peer-relationships, and quality of life.…

Positive home-school relationships are essential for students with SEN, and this was especially true during the initial months of the pandemic lockdown, when parents took on more responsibility for schooling. Qualitative analyses suggested that principals and parents struggled to make connections during the first months of emergency schooling but…

Assessment accommodations are used globally in higher education systems to ensure that students with disabilities can participate fairly in assessment. Even though assessment accommodations are supposed to promote access, not success, they are commonly portrayed as potentially being "cheating" in that they provide certain students with…

Through examining nine Accessibility Advisors' (AAs) stories of becoming professionals in their field, this study provides an important entry point into understanding the individuals whose work is central to supporting students with disabilities within Canadian research-intensive post-secondary institutions. AAs function as Third Space…

Background: Parents of children with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disorders are a highly burdened group that faces additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this study, parents of children with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disorders (N = 600) living in Canada participated in a cross-sectional online survey.…

Students with autism spectrum disorder have been shown to benefit both academically and socially from inclusion in general education classrooms, but concerns remain about the persistence of separate special education settings around the world. Using special education program placement data from the Canadian province of Ontario and census data…

We provide a high-level overview of inclusive education developments in England, Australia, the United States, and Canada, the countries within which much of our research has been completed. For each country, we discuss the work that we have each done within that context, key policy initiatives, and identified levers of system change. Despite…

Many countries grapple with the tension between commitment to inclusive education reform and the closure of special schools. This tension is particularly problematic for countries, like Australia, that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD is clear that closing special schools is pivotal to…

Little is known about how grade 12 students with learning disabilities (LD) face the complex and emotional task of deciding what to do after high school. To expand on current research, we explored the experiences, emotions, and support of Canadian students with LD from the theoretical perspective of basic psychological needs (BPNs). We conducted a…

Promoting health equity necessitates the diversification of healthcare workforces. Disability is one aspect of diversity that is increasing in healthcare. While the number of Disabled students in health professions increases, barriers in their work integrated learning (WIL), such as placements in hospitals or clinics, persist. While literature has…