Thickening Borders Through Least Restrictive Environment: The Case of an Immigrant Kindergartner With Disabilities

• In Event: Reenvisioning Early Childhood Education at the Intersections of Disability

Abstract

This paper explores the “least restrictive environment” (LRE) determination for one Mexican immigrant kindergartener with disabilities. Drawing from DisCrit and Foucault’s (1984) notion of “biopower,” I use case study methodology to explore how racism and ableism influenced the construction of LRE for this child. Specifically, the educators working with the child used physical subjection, language, and data collection to construct his LRE as a special day class instead of a general education classroom. Mirroring current nationwide thickening of borders, these processes turned the child into “a public charge,” a burden on the general education system. This study calls on educators to examine their LRE determination practices if they are to accept responsibility to educate all children, including immigrants with disabilities.

Author

• Soyoung Park, Bank Street College of Education