This phenomenological study sought to understand how members of a special education team account for and navigate successes and barriers faced during the planning and implementation of community experiences for students with severe disabilities. The needs and abilities of this population are vast and often difficult to accurately define, and there…

This mixed-methods study utilized qualitative analysis and cross-tabulation, to identify differences in proportions between pre- and post-lesson plans for 16 secondary preservice general educators after having received instruction on UDL. Participants' lesson plans were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated for the presence of UDL principles…

Due to shifts in society's attitudes toward special education and changes in U.S. federal policies, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and No Child Left Behind, more students with disabilities (SWDs) are beginning kindergarten in general education classrooms. As a result, schools and districts across the United States have…

This conceptual paper draws on a wide range of research and policy literature, providing a contemporary view of issues, factors and practices that affect education for digitally excluded populations. Concern for how education for digitally excluded populations can be supported is focal to this paper, with different sections offering key related…

This study aimed to understand how general pre-service educators, after having received instruction in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) implemented the principles of UDL to plan for and design lessons to support inclusion. This was a mixed-methods study that utilized quantitative and qualitative methods to assess general pre-service middle…

The history of the people, problems, and politics surrounding the establishment of federal special education policy is rich with useful illustrations for advocates and educators. As the 50th anniversary of IDEA approaches, we use a historical perspective to consider how the promise of the law -- to ensure access to a free appropriate public…

This essay provides a two-pronged critical assessment of a subset of the literature on racial disproportionality in special education: that which aims to estimate racial disparities among otherwise similar children. This body of research has shown that Black students are less likely than "comparable" White students to receive special…

The 2021 amendment to Türkiye's Special Education Service Legislation marked a milestone by repealing the statement excluding Special Education Vocational School graduates from pursuing higher education. This granted students with intellectual disabilities (ID) the right to attend higher education. However, both schools and universities lack…

In 2005, the Texas Education Agency implemented a new accountability measure for school districts that penalized those that had more than 8.5% special education enrollment. The policy that lasted for over a decade and its implications, which continue to this day, created inequitable access to services for students with disabilities of all…

This qualitative case study explored the integration of Multimedia Arts into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, transforming it into Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) for special education students. Grounded in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and John Dewey's…

Background: The demand for educational and social inclusion of children with intellectual disabilities continues to grow throughout the world. Factors contributing to the increasing demand include family advocacy efforts, shifting views about the nature of disability, and increased international recognition of the rights of children with…

Despite the preponderance of scholarly literature advocating the benefits of including students with disabilities in general education, students with ESN continue to be educated in restrictive settings. Limited research exists on how to facilitate access to inclusive opportunities in these segregated self-contained settings, yet this is primarily…

As institutes of higher education (HE) strive to meaningfully address diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a relevant and timely framework for course design to support all learners. Using UDL as an instructional design framework, educators can proactively address learner variability and reduce…

This article presents a review of the literature on the current policies and practices in the Arabian Gulf region related to the provision of education to students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the context of the movement toward inclusive education (IE). The six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)--Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,…

Over the years, the Spanish education authorities have proposed various measures, such as the creation of Open Educational Resources (OERs), to guarantee the inclusion of all students in the education system. However, the literature on this topic indicates the persistence of certain challenges relating to the accessibility of OERs. In this regard,…