“Learning on the Job”: An Exploration of Teacher Educators’ Training and Comfortability With Disability Discussion

• In Event: Exploring the Implications of Disability With Preservice Teachers

Abstract

As schools worldwide move toward including students with disabilities, preparing teacher candidates who can discuss disability is crucial. Teacher educators (TEs) have potential to foster disability discussion with teacher candidates; however, little research has assessed their preparedness. To prepare teacher candidates to address disability as a human difference, mitigate discrimination, and recognize ableism, TEs must feel comfortable doing so themselves. Using a qualitative multi-case design, this study investigated how TEs (N=5) describe their training and comfortability regarding disability discussion. Additionally, the present study describes what TEs believe would help them to effectively facilitate disability discussion with teacher candidates.

Authors

• Nicole Hansen, Seton Hall University

• Christa S. Bialka, Villanova University

• Sarah Jin Wong, Bryn Athyn College of the New Church