Disability Studies Commons^™

The Social And Cultural Challenges Experienced By Children With Send Through Quasi-Inclusion Practices In Two Mainstream Primary Schools In Postcolonial Guyana, Lidon Lashley, Clevelon Gordon

IALS Journal

This ethnographic study investigates the sociocultural experiences of 36 children with SEND and two non-SEND peers in two rural mainstream primary schools in Guyana. Through interviews, observations, and situational analysis, the study explores how ableism, colonial legacies, prejudice, poverty, linguistic barriers, and inadequate educational support shape the experiences of children with SEND. Findings reveal persistent stigmatization, discrimination, marginalization, exclusion, and "fated failure" discourses that negatively affect learning, participation, agency, and wellbeing. The study concludes that teachers require greater support, training, and specialist resources to foster genuine inclusion within Guyana's mainstream schools.

Accessible & Inclusive Music-Making, Lincoln Byass

Postgraduate

This research project aimed to assist musicians with intellectual disabilities in the collaborative music-making process. By designing and implementing accessible techniques, the study addressed the question: "What songwriting and music production techniques can support musicians with intellectual disabilities to create original music?" The outcome was a framework of techniques and three original compositions created in collaboration with these musicians.

Using qualitative methods such as autoethnography, action research, observations, and music-specific practices, the project involved multiple collaborative sessions where participants actively engaged in music composition and recording. Techniques included pre-production interviews, influence analysis, instrument experimentation, and lyrical exploration. The findings highlight …

Lead With Your Heart, So You Don't Lose Your Mind, Larry S. Tomiyama

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Using our trauma-based model I have witnessed minor and major miracles happen with students. Come hear my heart wrenching and/ many times hilarious stories I had the privilege of experiencing. Using brain based research to reinforce conclusions and recommended strategies my message reminds people why we chose to be teachers.

How Theatre Produced By Autistic People Dismantles The Medical Model Of Disability, Ira Eidle

Symposium of Student Scholars

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that has a long history of being misunderstood. Said misunderstandings have led to falsehoods about autism and autistic people. The stigma surrounding autism encourages non-autistic people to see themselves as the best advocates for autism, leading to non-autistic people speaking over autistic people constantly. This has come to be known as the medical model of disability. Most autistic people do not consider autism to be a mental illness or disorder. (Kupferstein 2019) That is why when autistic people become informed on these aspects and band together, those misunderstandings can be mitigated. One such way is …

Adhd: A Personal Struggle, Julianna Vanvalin

KUCC -- Kutztown University Composition Conference

This paper attempts to show my struggles with ADHD and how not receiving proper care can hinder someone.

Thrive: Taking Health Right Into Varied Education, Grace Okorie '21, Addison Henikoff '21, Osayenmwen Omozusi '21

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX)

THRIVE (Taking Health Right into Varied Education) is a weekly program designed to help teenagers with autism improve their social skills by working with other kids in their situation. We aim to give kids with autism an opportunity to improve their social skills through a program that runs on every Saturday of the month. We wanted to do this program because we feel that there is not enough action in our communities and there is a negative stigma about people with Autism, therefore they do not get the help that they need. We need to combat this issue and we …