Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

We’Re Open Access—But Are We Accessible?, Matt Ruen, Jackie Rander

Jacklyn Rander

The open access movement, from the Budapest and Berlin declarations onward, has consistently focused on removing economic and legal barriers to scholarly information. While this has increased access to research for many, it implicitly assumes that content need only be online, free, and openly licensed for everyone to have access—an assumption which neglects the barriers that may lurk within content, preventing disabled or impaired users from enjoying the same access to scholarship.

This assumption is as prevalent in library open access services as elsewhere; like many other repository teams, we have focused on recruiting content, not evaluating it. This year, …

Film Review: Bullied: A Student, A School And A Case That Made History, Aaron D. Clevenger, Ryan Powell

Aaron D. Clevenger

"The film Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History (Brummel & Sharp 2010) is the true life story of Jamie Nabozny. The film documents the bullying that Jamie endured for years. Bullied is a free resource provided by the Southern Poverty Law Center and their anti-bias education project, Teaching Tolerance, available for order at www.tolerance.org. Narration of the movie is done by Jane Lynch; well known for her role as the narcissistic cheerleading coach on Glee. Lynch’s uncharacteristically somber tone, only serves to punctuate the seriousness of the movie’s topic."--From the article.

Race, Language, And Ability: Deconstructing, Reconstructing, And Transcending Borders Of Normal, Brooke Prichard, Subini A. Annamma, Amy L. Boele, Janette Klingner

Amy Boele

This commentary explores how conceptions of "normal" have been constructed around issues of race, language, and ability. By combining three theoretical frameworks, Critical Race Theory, Cultural Historical Activity Theory, and Disability Studies, the authors attempt to deconstruct, reconstruct, and transcend the perceived borders of normal.

Out Of "Dark Backrooms And Sheds", Marguerite Maher M.Ed

Marguerite Maher

Commitment to a single, inclusive education system has been the aspiration of reform in education in a democratic South Africa as articulated in White Paper 6: Special needs education: Building an inclusive education and training system (Department of Education, 2001, referred to hereafter as White Paper 6). Within a ‘barriers to learning’ approach to inclusive education, progress is being made with improved facilities and the implementation of AIDS awareness programmes. Managing the transition towards an inclusive education system has proved challenging in some areas, however, and the specific provision in policy documents directed towards children with disabilities is behind schedule. …

Service-Learning: A Valuable Component Of Pre-Service Teacher Education, Dianne J. Chambers, Shane Lavery

Dianne Chambers

There is recognition that involvement in service-learning can impact positively on the development of pre-service teachers professionally, culturally and academically (Billig & Freeman, 2010; Anderson, 1998). This article explores and describes the experiences of pre-service teachers in the School of Education at the University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA) who are undertaking two service learning units as part of their teacher education. This research is based on qualitative data collected from pre-service teachers on completion of their service learning units. Initially, service-learning as a concept is explored with particular reference to four basic elements identified in the literature (Jacoby, 1996; …

Integration Of Social, Behavioral, And Academic Initiatives: Part I, Hank Bohanon, Meng-Jia Wu

Hank Bohanon

Many schools are working towards improving their overall social and behavioral climate. This endeavor is undertaken for its own sake, and in the anticipation it will improve academic performance for students. School climate has been related to a lack of connection and commitment on the part of students towards the school, discipline problems, and dropping out (Zins & Elias, 2007). There appear to be at least three predominant schoolwide initiatives to frame improving school climate: Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS), Response to Intervention (RtI), and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).

Integration Of Social, Behavioral, And Academic Initiatives: Part Ii, Hank Bohanon, Meng-Jia Wu

Hank Bohanon

In part one of this series we discussed the connections among Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Response to Intervention (RtI). Specifically, we compared the processes and fidelity components of these approaches. We attempted to highlight the similarities in systems, practices, and data for each approach, with the understanding that nuances could found within the practices of each. The following section provides specific examples of the overlap in these approaches; the integration of systems, practices, and data; and factors related to core instruction.

Definitions, Principals, And Model Of Positive Behavior Support, Hank Bohanon

Hank Bohanon

This is an overview of the principles of positive behavior support.

The Adoption Of The Monarch Room As An Alternative To Suspension And Expulsion In Addressing School Discipline Issues Among Court-Involved Youth, Angelique G. Day

Angelique G Day

Suspension/expulsion is commonly used in schools, yet these practices can adversely affect students’ education well-being and do not improve student behavior. This study assesses the impact of the Monarch Room (MR) intervention, a trauma-informed alternative to school discipline suspension/expulsion policies, among a sample of 719 court-involved girls placed in residential care and enrolled in a public, chartered strict discipline academy over a three year period. MR use significantly decreased reliance on suspension/expulsion in addressing problematic behavior. School mobility and race were significant predictors of MR use, while school absences were not. Implications for policy and practice are also offered.

Masking Mentoring: Critical (Race) Care (For, From) Black Males In Special Education, Vonzell Agosto, Roderick Jones

Vonzell Agosto

This chapter addresses institutional racism as an impediment to the success of Black males in special education, whether they are students or faculty. Extrapolating from their personal narratives and relevant literature, the authors provide a counternarrative about the mentoring and care of Black males and by Black males that entails the practice of masking. The lenses of critical race theory (CRT) and care theory support the development of an ethical and moral leadership framework of what can be seen as critical (race) care, which includes ethics of care and risk and political clarity.

A Spectrum Of Support: Current And Best Practices For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) At Community Colleges, Kirsten R. Brown, Michael D. Coomes

Kirsten R. Brown, Ph.D.