Education Commons^™

Affirming Strength-Based Practices In Disability And Inclusion: A Shared Autoethnographic Study Of The Experiences Of A Teacher, Alina Kewanian, Edwin Creely, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

In this autoethnographic article we focus on the issues of “disability” and “inclusive education” and the challenges of being positive and affirming in this area of research and practice. As a teacher, I (Alina) continue to encounter regularly the dominant deficit view of “disability,” in spite of the extensive body of literature that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities as well as the benefits of inclusive education best built on strength-based thinking. The autoethnographic methodology allowed me to explore my experiences as an educator and reflect on specific events, presented through four vignettes that capture how my beliefs …