Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Addressing The Void Of Ai Policies In Education For Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Mikyung Shin, Fatmana Deniz, Latesha Watson, Cynthia Dieterich, Kathy B. Ewoldt, Friggita Johnson, Jennifer E. Kong, Sung Hee Lee, April Whitehurst

Education Faculty Articles and Research

The purpose of this study was to identify the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) policies in U.S. education and propose actionable recommendations through large language model–based topic modeling and Delphi surveys. Out of 12 policy documents released between 2015 and 2025, only two documents (National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2024; W.A. v. Clarksville/Montgomery County School System, 2024) specifically addressed learning disabilities. Policy documents addressing topics such as AI-driven risk assessment, data protection, legal risk management, and ethical guidelines covering other disabilities and general AI in education policy were provided as baselines that could be discussed and validated through …

P–12 District Equity “Shutdown”: Equity Directors’ Experiences Amid Anti-Equity Organizing, 2020–2022, Andrew Matschiner

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This article examines local experiences of the national attack on district equity work intended to better support Students of Color and LGBTQ+ students over the 2020–2022 school years. Drawing on theory on zones of mediation and interviews with over 70 district “equity directors” (EDs) nationally, I analyze how together national, state, and local pressure led to district equity “shutdown.” Forms of district equity shutdown included censoring equity-focused communication and language, eliminating district equity-focused programming or personnel, and restricting books and learning resources, with 40% of EDs reporting at least one form of district equity shutdown.

The Nctm/Cec Position Statement On Teaching Mathematics To Students With Disabilities: What’S In It And What’S Not, Sarah R. Powell, Marcia A. Barnes, Jenny Root, Elizabeth M. Hughes, Leanne Ketterlin-Geller, Gena Nelson, Megan Rojo, David H. Allsopp, Bradley S. Witzel, Jonté A. Myers, Margaret M. Flores, Erica S. Lembke, Matthew K. Burns, Jessica Namkung, Brian Poncy, Robin Parks Ennis, Lisa L. Morin, Tessa L. Arsenault, Christian T. Doabler, Vanessa Hinton, Rajiv Satsangi, Jennifer E. Kong, Bree Jimenez, Kaitlin Bundock, Robin S. Codding, Sarah King, Scott A. Dueker, Genesis Arizmendi, Deidre Gilley, Tasia Brafford, Elizabeth A. Stevens, Ben Clarke, Paul J. Riccomini, Corey Peltier

Education Faculty Articles and Research

A joint position statement issued in December 2024 by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) on teaching mathematics to students with disabilities lacked substantive, actionable, research-validated recommendations to support the work of practitioners in the field. Herein, we provide a rationale for ways in which the eight recommendations for teachers included in the position statement fell short, provided misleading information, and ignored the large body of research on providing mathematics instruction for students with mathematics disability or difficulties. In response, we offer seven actionable, research-validated recommendations, including: (a) use systematic, explicit …

A Meta-Analysis Of Technology Usage In Word Problem Solving Interventions For Elementary Students: An Application Of The Samr Model, Joelle Prate, Jennifer E. Kong, Lamiya Hoque, Trisha Sugita, Tanya Belom

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This meta-analysis assessed the effect of the usage of technology in math interventions on the math achievement of students in kindergarten to the fifth grade. The SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) (Puentedura, 2006) model was applied to evaluate the degree of technology integration within the math intervention. Twelve group studies met the criteria for inclusion in this meta-analysis. Overall, technology interventions yielded a significant positive effect on the math achievement of elementary-aged students with learning disabilities (LD) (ES = 1.34). While no significant differences in effect sizes were found by function of the SAMR model, the studies that utilize technology …

A National Analysis Of P–12 Equity Director Role Establishment, Andrew Matschiner

Education Faculty Articles and Research

District “equity director” (ED) roles have grown rapidly over the past decade. Drawing on interviews and surveys with over 70 EDs across nearly 30 states, this study documents dramatic ED role growth from 2018 to 2022 specifically and examines why, according to EDs, such roles were established locally. Findings, drawing on scholarship on social activism, demonstrate how insider influence from district educators and leaders; intermediate pressure from community coalitions, parents, and students; and external coercion from state and federal education departments and civil rights agencies spurred ED role establishment. Challenges to ED efficacy are discussed, including ED role establishment as …

Identifying Critical Employability Skills For Employment Success Of Autistic Individuals: A Content Analysis Of Job Postings, Amy Jane Griffiths, Amy E. Hurley-Hanson, Cristina M. Giannantonio, Angel Miles Nash, Wallace Walrod, Petersen Walrod, Rachel Torres, Raquel Delgado

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study aimed to examine the literature on the skill sets of autistic individuals and determine how these skills align with current and projected future labour market needs. Based on a literature review, researchers identified the following skill categories common to autistic individuals: visual skills, attention to detail and systemizing composite skills. Researchers then gathered aggregated data on occupations and industries from over 90 state and federal sources in the United States. Next, they collected data on the most in-demand jobs, their industries and relevant skills by analysing hundreds of millions of online job postings. The results indicate the most …

Disability, Race, And Origin Intersectionality In The Doctoral Program: Ableism In Higher Education, Theodoto W. Ressa, Scot Danforth

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This paper explores the experiences of a doctoral disabled student at a university to examine how ableist structures in graduate programs affect access to higher education and post-degree outcomes. Guided by the DisCrit framework and autoethnography approach, the article illuminates systems and processes that disadvantage graduate disabled students. Through intersectional analyses of disability, race, and origin, the article makes visible manifestations of disability microaggressions and systemic ableism, racism, and xenophobia. It interrogates the perpetuation and normalization of academic transgressions, including exclusionary practices that degrade and oppress graduate disabled students and hinder them from seeking success. Finally, the argument is made …

Are Deficit Perspectives Thriving In Trauma-Informed Schools? A Historical And Anti-Racist Reflection, Cora Palma, Annmary S. Abdou, Scot Danforth, Amy Jane Griffiths

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Mental health research concerning adverse childhood experiences and neurocognitive trauma has prompted many school districts to pursue the development of trauma-informed schools that attend specifically to the emotional and instructional needs of affected students. Researchers and practitioners are fast proliferating trauma-informed professional practices. Given research findings indicating disproportionate impacts of trauma on students of color and those living in poverty, in this article, we examine the risks of trauma-informed educational programs reanimating cultural deficit theories from the 1960s about marginalized students and families. Educators are challenged to thoughtfully fortify trauma-informed schooling by increasing awareness of deficit perspectives and incorporating critical …

Stability Of Learning Disabilities, Cognitive Growth, And L1 In English Learners: A Latent Class And Transition Analysis, H. Lee Swanson, Jennifer E. Kong, Stefania D. Petcu

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study investigated the stability of latent classes of students with learning disabilities among a heterogeneous sample of elementary-aged children whose first language is Spanish. To this end, children (N = 284) in Grades 1, 2, and 3 at Wave 1 (Year 1) were administered a battery of vocabulary, reading, math, and cognitive measures (short-term memory, working memory, rapid naming, inhibition) in both Spanish (L1) and English (L2). These same measures were administered 1 and 2 years later (Wave 2 and 3). Two stable latent classes of children at risk for learning disabilities (children with comorbid difficulties and children …

A Systematic Review Of The Literature On Inservice Professional Development Explicitly Addressing Race And Racism, Andrew Matschiner

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This systematic literature review examines research on U.S. professional development (PD) in which practicing teachers are asked to engage explicitly with race and racism. Using Kennedy’s PD theories of action, this review examines 64 studies published from 1981 to 2019 and analyzes race-related PD goals, pedagogical approaches, and documented outcomes of PD. The body of scholarship shows an array of PD program goals, often-limited pedagogical explicitness and detail, and descriptive and developmental outcomes. Recent scholarship has centered racial-equity-oriented teachers and teachers of Color and identified PD characteristics associated with positive outcomes. Extant literature has seldom directly documented PD transfer and …

“Well, What’S Wrong With The Whites?”: A Conversation Starter On Raising Expectations For Inservice Professional Development On Race With White Teachers, Mica Pollock, Andrew Matschiner

Education Faculty Articles and Research

In an era of increased demand for antiracist inservice professional development (PD) and pushback against it, antiracist PD needs evidence of strong outcomes and a high bar for success. To this end, in this conversation starter, we ask how often inservice PD addressing race and racism with White educators really expects participants to demonstrate next steps to grapple with race issues toward improving educational opportunities for their students—the field’s actual ideal. We describe self-critically how it can be quite easy to have low expectations for White teachers’ inservice development particularly, by failing to really expect sustained inquiry into supporting students …

Examining California’S Title 22 Community Care Licensing Regulations: The Impact On Inclusive Preschool Settings, Aja Mckee, Audri Sandoval Gomez, Sardis Susana Rodriguez, Janice Myck-Wayne, Scott Turner, Markus Trujillo

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Access to general education preschool in California has varied for children with disabilities. One reason for the disparity of educational placement is the preschool regulations outlined in California Department of Education’s Title 22: Community Care Licensing guidelines. These regulations, particularly in preschool, support or hinder preschool inclusion. Examining the preschool section of Title 22 through document analysis resulted in identifying three major themes that embrace or deter inclusive practices: (a) language (i.e., supportive language, antiquated language, and ambiguous language); (b) training, experience, and education; and (c) staff-student ratio. California’s educational leaders should consider these results to provide opportunities for preschool …

The Conflict Campaign: Exploring Local Experiences Of The Campaign To Ban “Critical Race Theory” In Public K–12 Education In The U.S., 2020–2021, Mica Pollock, John Rogers, Alexander Kwako, Andrew Matschiner, Reed Kendall, Cicely Bingener, Erika Reece, Benjamin C. Kennedy, Jaleel R. Howard

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"For this study, we reviewed documentation from and about the campaign’s loudest proponents, particularly national and local leaders. We analyzed anti 'CRT' websites, toolkits, Facebook groups, and media appearances to understand their shared language, tactics, and logic. We analyzed survey and interview data from educators affected through early fall 2021, drawing on survey responses from 275 members of a set of national teacher organizations that support teachers who tend toward teaching on race and diversity, as well as an interview study of 21 'equity officers' (EOs) in district diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles across the country. We also drew …

Developing Strong Transition-Focused Ieps Using Labour Market Data, Amy Jane Griffiths, Meghan E. Cosier, Rachel Wiegand, Sneha Kohli Mathur, Sara Morgan

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Employment rates and post-school transition outcomes for individuals with disabilities remain alarmingly low compared to peers without disabilities. Transition-Focused Individualized Education Plans (TF-IEPs) often centre on skills associated with employment experience opportunities that are immediately available to the individual with a disability. While the transition plans focus on the student's strengths and areas of interest, less attention is paid to the guidance and support a student might need in choosing a sustainable career. We contend that teams must develop transition plans with specific attention to projected labour market data. Using this information will ensure that we are preparing students with …

Independence, Dependence, And Intellectual Disability: From Cultural Origins To Useful Application, Scot Danforth

Education Faculty Articles and Research

American government educational policy and leading advocacy groups commonly espouse independence as a primary goal for young people with intellectual disabilities. An extensive philosophical literature of autonomy has focused mostly on analyses of cognition that achieve individual self-governance. But the loosely defined concept of independence used by disability policymakers and advocates provides a more malleable, social understanding that involves someone actively relying on the assistance of others. The purpose of this paper is to examine the cultural, historical origins of the notion of independence for disabled persons through an exploration of the biography of Ed Roberts, the father of the …

The Politics Of The Hero's Journey: A Narratology Of American Special Education Textbooks, Elise Assaf, Jennifer James, Scot Danforth

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This paper explores introduction to special education textbooks in order to illuminate how they portray the social and political work of special educators, especially in relation to disabled students and adults. This study analyzed five leading special education textbooks used in university teacher education programs using traditional methods of discourse analysis, including line-by-line coding and language-in-use with valuation. The analysis and coding tracked story plot components and characters associated with five phases evident in the narrative structure of a hero's journey: (1) the call to adventure, (2) supernatural aid, (3) threshold guardians, (4) trials and tribulations, and (5) the return. …

The Importance Of Inclusive Spaces In Social Skills Development: Drawing On The Lgbtq Educational And Disability Studies In Education Frameworks, Aja Mckee, Audri Sandoval Gomez, Kevin Stockbridge

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This manuscript highlights a major finding from a larger study conducted in the United States that used phenomenological interviews with adults with autism who typed to communicate. Participants shared their United States educational experiences before and after learning to type. This finding focused on how disability studies in education and the development of inclusive spaces, such as those designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) students, may change the way in which educators support students with autism in developing and sustaining natural and meaningful friendships. Thus, this paper examined the social experiences of one participant who …

Word-Problem-Solving Interventions For Elementary Students With Learning Disabilities: A Selective Meta-Analysis Of The Literature, Jennifer E. Kong, Christy Yan, Allison Serceki, H. Lee Swanson

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This meta-analysis assessed the effect of word-problem-solving interventions on the word-problem-solving accuracy of students identified as having a learning disability (LD) or at risk for an LD in kindergarten to the sixth grade. Eighteen randomized control group designed studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, word-problem-solving interventions yielded a significant positive effect on the word-problem-solving accuracy of students in elementary grades with LD (effect size [ES] = 1.08). Instructional components that underlie effective studies were also identified. Results suggest that peer interaction and transfer instructions yielded large effects on treatment outcomes. Results also suggested that intensive interventions (50-min sessions, 34 total …

Educator Perceptions Of Adult-Student Relationships, Racial Climate, And Associated Discipline Techniques, Annmary S. Abdou, Ashley M. Mayworm

Education Faculty Articles and Research

The overuse and misuse of exclusionary and punitive discipline practices in schools have been consistently linked to social and educational inequities across the globe, particularly for students of color. However, there is an ongoing need for a greater understanding of how school climate factors (e.g., adult-student relationships, racial climate) relate to the types of discipline approaches observed, particularly from the viewpoints of educators. The current study used hierarchical multiple regression analyses to investigate teacher, administrator, and staff (N = 168) survey responses from four junior high schools where discipline disproportionality for Latinx students had been previously established. Analyses explored …

Families And Schools Together: Designing A Model For University-Community Partnerships To Support Home-School Collaborations, Amy Jane Griffiths, James Alsip, Kelly Kennedy, Elena L. Diamond, Cora Palma, Annmary S. Abdou, Rachel Wiegand, John Brady

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Collaboration between school staff, families, and community partners is vital for ensuring all students’ success, particularly those with disabilities. In this case study, we will discuss a community-university partnership involving a university school psychology graduate program, several local school districts, and a specialized medical facility for children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. These partners came together to create the Families and Schools Partnership Program (FSPP). Facilitated by School Psychology faculty and graduate students, FSPP offers support to families and schools through a cohesive multidisciplinary approach to intervention. In this study, we examined the experiences of 700 families referred to …

Stem For Everyone: A Mixed Methods Approach To The Conception And Implementation Of An Evaluation Process For Stem Education Programs For Students With Disabilities, Amy Jane Griffiths, John Brady, Nicholas Riley, James Alsip, Vanessa Trine, Lauren Gomez

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Some students with autism spectrum disorder and other learning differences may have superior visual acuity, increased attentional focus, and logical thinking abilities, lending to an affinity for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. At the same time, economists report that, the United States will experience a 28.2% increase in STEM-related jobs between 2014 and 2024. Although students with disabilities (SWD) can help to fill those positions, 85% of SWD graduates are either underemployed or unemployed as they enter young adulthood. Thus, there is a need to develop, evaluate, and report outcomes of STEM preparation programs specifically tailored to SWD. …

Teaching And The Experience Of Disability: The Pedagogy Of Ed Roberts, Scot Danforth

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Ed Roberts was a renowned activist considered to be one of the founding leaders of the American disability rights movement. Although he engaged in numerous political strategies, his main form of activism was teaching in his prolific public speaking career across the United States and around the world. The content and methods of his pedagogy were crafted from his own personal experiences as a disabled man. His teaching featured autobiographic selections from his own life in which he fought and defeated forces of oppression and discrimination. This article examines Roberts’ disability rights teaching in relation to the experiential sources, political …

When Special Education And Disability Studies Intertwine: Addressing Educational Inequities Through Processes And Programming, Audri Sandoval Gomez, Aja Mckee

Education Faculty Articles and Research

The inception of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) in 1975 provided hope and the opportunity for equitable educational experiences for individuals with disabilities. Forty-five years later, the United States remains in a deficit-driven, medical model educational system with deeply rooted inequities continuing to segregate students because of their disability. A disability studies in education framework allows for complex components of teaching and programming for students with disabilities to be explored in a practical way that promotes inclusive education for all students. Examining special education practices through a social model of disability with a focus on ability and …

Star Performances: Ed Roberts On The Speaking Circuit, 1983-1995, Scot Danforth

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This article uses historical research methods to explore noted disability rights leader Ed Roberts' performances on the speaker circuit between 1983, when he left his position as director of the California Department of Rehabilitation, and his death in 1995. This article examines how he managed his performed identity, his self as presented on stage, in order to be a disability star. Using his own life story as a poignant example, he narrated an autobiography of how a paralyzed man could live a vigorous, successful, indeed a joyful life. His personal stories communicated his lived experiences of battling discrimination and stereotypes. …

Prevalence Of Autism/Asd Among Preschool And School-Age Children In Norway, Kamil Özerk, Donald N. Cardinal

Education Faculty Articles and Research

In recent years, there has been a considerable rise in prevalence rates for autism/autism spectrum disorders (ASD) around the globe. Understanding the patterns of prevalence is essential for policy development at national and local levels that effectively plans for medical, psychological, behavior analytical, and educational interventions. This study presents new data on the prevalence of ASD among preschool and school-age children (ages 1–16 years) in Norway. Based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria for diagnosis, the rate of ASD increased from 2014 to 2016. The study found a much higher increase in prevalence rate among preschool-age (1–5 years) …

An Investigation Of Increased Rates Of Autism In U.S. Public Schools, Donald N. Cardinal, Amy Jane Griffiths, Zachary D. Maupin, Julie Fraumeni-Mcbride

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study is intended to enhance our understanding of the dramatic increase in autism prevalence rates across the United States. A robust national and multistate sample of children and youth (5–22 years of age) was gathered and analyzed, using visual and statistical analysis of autism eligibility over a 15‐ to 17‐year period. Although the impact of environmental or genetic influences cannot be entirely ruled out, we identified significant shifts in eligibility trends that substantially contribute to the remarkable increase in autism prevalence. Assessment procedures and criteria for autism have sustained an indelible influence from this diagnostic migration, which has had …

Increasing Inclusive Education Through A Learning Center Model: A California Approach, Aja Mckee, Audri Sandoval Gomez

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Learning center models offer students with disabilities learning experiences in general education classrooms, while retaining support and services from special education personnel. The learning center approach examines existing educational perspectives, practices and structures, surrounding access to general education for students with disabilities. This study used a document analysis, a qualitative data method, to examine how two California school districts developed a learning center model to transform special education programming from segregated special education classrooms and practices to placement and access to general education. The findings inform educational programming for students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, to comply with …

Placement Of Students With Extensive Support Needs In California School Districts: The State Of Inclusion And Exclusion, Meghan Cosier, Audri Sandoval-Gomez, Donald N. Cardinal, Shayne Brophy

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Access to general education settings for students with disabilities varies greatly among and within states across the United States and worldwide. The variability in placement and lack of access to general education for students with disabilities, particularly students with extensive support needs, are reasons to identify factors associated with placement and then address the role of current policy. Explored in this study were the placement of students with extensive support needs in 938 school districts across the State of California in the United States and the relationship between placement and economic and demographic factors. Results suggest alarmingly low access to …

Inclusion And The Right To Access To Regular Classes For Students With Disabilities, Audri Sandoval-Gomez, Meghan Cosier, Donald N. Cardinal

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"In the past decades many countries have made progress toward increasing access to quality education for students with disabilities, yet The World Bank (2019) estimates that 85% of children with disabilities continue to lack access to any schooling. The right to access for K-12 students with disabilities has been recognized globally and locally in many countries across the world (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2016), with each country making decisions on how to increase access to regular classes based on local contexts and needs. The result is the development of innovative policy and practice that support access …

What He Learned To Think He Earned, Andrew Matschiner

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"This story offers an autobiographical counterstory examining different ways young white, middle-class children in the United States learn to accept and celebrate their place in a viciously unequal society. The story explores this process through the experiences of a young white student named Zack growing up in Cedar Grove and attending Cedar Grove Elementary.

The story focuses on what researchers call white racial socialization (Hagerman, 2018), socialization practices (Hughes et al., 2006), and white habitus (Bonilla-Silva, Goar, & Embrick, 2006). This counterstory attempts to pull back the curtain on how white children are socialized to accept and celebrate the status …