The rapid shift to online learning exposed significant gaps in special educators' preparedness and ability to adapt instruction for students with disabilities (SWDs) effectively. The study sought to develop an in-depth understanding of these challenges to inform training, resource allocation, and support for special education teachers providing…

The purpose of this study was to examine parents' lived experiences when considering the impact of their parental involvement and parenting styles on their ethnic minority youth with disabilities, transition outcomes, and mental health. Specifically, the research sought to explore how parents' levels of engagement in their children's education may…

While dually identified students are ever-present in the elementary classroom, historical policies and practices surrounding bilingual and special education in the United States have resulted in the exclusion of equitable and inclusive education for this population of students. The effects of the separation of bilingual education, special…

Significant disproportionality in special education is a persistent problem that has plagued the American public education system for over 50 years. Despite federal, state, and local efforts; this problem has yet to be solved. The persistence of this problem, despite intervention, suggests that significant disproportionality in special education…

Disabled individuals in Western history have encountered barriers, both physical and attitudinal, that limit their potential in society. These barriers are both constructed intentionally and unintentionally, according to disability studies. They have been unintentionally built as the disabled have been specifically excluded, making the need for…

Despite advancing efforts at integration, the segregation of students with disabilities from their nondisabled peers persists. In the United States, 34 percent of all students with disabilities spend at least 20 percent of their instructional time in segregated classrooms. For students with intellectual or multiple disabilities, segregated…

This mixed methods case study utilized institution theory, along with liberatory consciousness and DisCrit, to examine the ableist and racist ideologies about Black students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) perpetuated by the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), particularly within a predominantly…

High school graduation represents a pivotal milestone with far-reaching implications for an individual's future in social, economic, professional, and personal spheres. Despite its significance, only approximately 85.5% of students in the United States successfully earn their diploma each year, with groups such as black, Hispanic, American…

Neurodiversity is the celebration of the diversity of minds. It is the understanding that people think, sense, and behave in different ways, and the assertion that the non-normative ways which people and their minds operate are, in fact, good. Neurodivergent people are beginning to access higher education at much higher rates than ever before.…

Over seven million children in America receive special education services yearly, meaning millions of families participate in the special education process each school year (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA (2004), required that parents and educators collaborate within the…

Researchers and educators have explored representations of people with marginalized identities in children's picturebooks for over 30 years. Disability has not been widely acknowledged as a marginalized identity nor explored as an aspect of diversity prevalent in classrooms. In the United States, over seven million students are identified with a…

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to describe the development and implementation of a specialized Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) designed to enhance the knowledge and skills related to sustainability in students with Down Syndrome. This VLE serves as a means to make sustainable concepts more accessible and comprehensible to this specific…

In most countries, people with intellectual disability are largely excluded from competitive employment. Research has identified school- and workplace-related barriers that may hinder their participation in the labour market. Yet, information about available work opportunities for employees with intellectual disability is lacking. This study aims…

Professionals and communication partners report experiencing challenges with regard to developing the knowledge and skills needed to support individuals with complex communication needs who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These challenges can be exacerbated in rural and remote areas where access to resources and training may…

This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the implications for the inclusive natures of public-school settings. This study utilized Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles paired with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework as proponents of inclusive tools for special education teachers. Explicit training was provided to…