Countering the Unforgettable History of Exclusion: Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability (Stage 3, 2:08 PM)

• In Event: e-Lightning Ed-Talk Session 18 - Stage 3

Abstract

Students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are frequently overlooked in postsecondary educational spaces. Until the 1970s, U. S. policy on individuals with ID focused on exclusionary and discriminatory policies promoting the removal of people with ID from society through forced institutionalization, sterilization, and a general philosophy of eugenics (Nerney, 2017). A counter wave of rights and access for people with ID began in the 1950s on the wake of Brown v. Board of Education’s anti-segregation laws. This session outlines exploratory research on the historical trajectory, complex contextualizing factors, and current state of inclusive postsecondary education for students with ID. From grassroots efforts to postsecondary protection (HEOA, 2008) this emerging academic field reminds us of the importance of educational access for all.

Author

• Tamara H. Shetron, Texas State University