Special Education Through the Parent's Lens

Session Type: Poster Session

Abstract

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal law that mandates a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities and positions parents as stakeholders in their child’s education (20 U.S.C. § 1400, et. seq.). However, parents are not equally granted an opportunity to engage, especially when compliance to federal mandates overruns inclusive fidelity to the intent of law. This study proposes an analysis of parents’ experience in special education as a resource into understanding disproportionality in special education. Anticipated findings for this phenomenological case study include deeper understanding of the experiences of parents of color in special education and insights into ways in which students of color are systematically placed and retained in special education.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Law and Education

Chair

• Raquel Muñiz, Boston College

Papers

• Special Education Through the Parent's Lens - Lydia Gandy-Fastovich, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Discussant

• Satasha L. Green, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities