Sometimes, innovation means recognizing and acknowledging when an approach needs to be refined and expanded in order to reflect new understandings about ourselves and society.

The goal of counselor training programs is to equip graduates to work with a wide variety of clients with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities. Multicultural competence is a required part of the 2016 CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) Standards, but disability lacks equitable inclusion in…

This paper assesses the dangers of the use of the concept 'culture' in present political and educational rhetoric. The first section offers a critique of the use of the term 'culture' in the so-called intercultural educational efforts. It asserts that 'culture' in its present use is a proxy for 'race' and supports views, which ignore diversity and…

Cultural and linguistic diversity (CLD) refers to interactions and comparisons between people within an environment, rather than specific characteristics of an individual (Barrera & Corso, 2003). Students who are typically included in this category are (1) African Americans; (2) Asian Americans; (3) Native Americans; (4) Hispanic Americans;…

"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?" (Albert Einstein). In "Diversity Issues in Special Education: Theory, Research, and Practice" I will define the diversity perspectives within the context of research, then I will develop an understanding and understand theory as it is related to…

The experience of initiating and sustaining a research-based dialogue on social justice and intercultural education in Europe requires both flexibility and focus. This article highlights the challenges facing convenors of one network, who wish to include researchers from diverse backgrounds, while at the same time enhancing the academic quality of…

Significant personnel shortages in special education have been noted in the 23rd Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of IDEA Act (USDE, 2002). With predictions of even more serious teacher shortages, there is an especially critical need for additional special education teachers for students with disabilities from culturally and…

This paper describes why more bilingual culturally responsive special education faculty are needed to meet the needs of the increasing number of culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities in the United States. In addition, the paper presents the successes and challenges in the journey to prepare university faculty leaders in…

This Fourth Edition contains many lesson plans that cover a variety of subject areas and grade levels (1-12), as well as action research activities that investigate the various dimensions of teaching. Many of the lesson plans are written by actual classroom teachers, and all of them have been examined by practicing teachers. More than simply a…

A project at the University of Kansas has analyzed, evaluated, and developed guidelines for multicultural emphasis in special education teacher education. The project has progressed from analysis of the department curriculum to development of a workshop model (the format of which is included). (CL)

This article describes a content analysis of 16 recent special education/human exceptionality survey textbooks to determine amount of multicultural content information. Results indicated that all 16 texts included some multicultural information and content. Five texts contained a considerably greater amount of such information and content.…

Multicultural education in teacher preparation programs seeks to sensitize preservice special education teachers to individual differences attributable to culture or ethnicity. Described are the goals and objectives of a multicultural module; teaching strategies; module evaluation; resources used; and such learning techniques as fishbowl…

The president of the Council for Exceptional Children urges special educators to respect students' varying cultural backgrounds; to differentiate between cultural differences, developmental delays, and true disabilities; and to use the individualized education program to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate programming. (DB)

Offers strategies for using children's books as tools for teaching able-bodied children about the unique needs of children with disabilities and how disabilities are an important aspect of cultural diversity. Notes five genres for conducting bibliotherapy: fiction, nonfiction, self-help books, fairy tales, and picture books. Provides an annotated…

Individuals with disabilities tend to experience fewer successful outcomes in postsecondary transition than do youth without disabilities. Ethnically diverse learners have added challenges, such as worldviews, values, language, family involvement, level of acculturation, expectations, decision-making style, meaning of work, importance of money and…