The Myth of Inclusion: Beliefs About Disability and the Influence on Special Education Service Delivery

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:40 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Kaleidoscopic Inclusion: Shifting Perspectives, Practices, and Teacher Agency (Table 9)

Abstract

This study examines how service delivery decisions for students with disabilities, particularly those with complex support needs (CSN), are made in a rural school district in Colorado. Utilizing observations, interviews, and document analysis, it reveals the subjective nature of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) determinations, influenced by ableist beliefs. Despite high rates of inclusive placements, services are predominantly provided outside the general education classroom. Factors like educator perceptions and lack of specialized resources contribute to exclusionary practices. Findings highlight the need to reframe the continuum of placements to a continuum of services, emphasizing inclusive practices and equitable service delivery for students with CSN in rural settings.

Author

• Katie Mae McCabe, Buffalo State University - SUNY