4: Special Education Practitioners: Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Frameworks

Disability is considered a form of human diversity and therefore warrants consideration by practitioners among applications of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in special education. To date, several pieces of significant legislation have laid the foundation for access to a continuum of necessary educational services for students with disabilities. However, given the multifaceted composite of students’ racial and ethnic identities, gender, and abilities, practitioners need to consider how the intersection of those characteristics may affect experiences and outcomes for students. To guide practitioner understanding and action toward diverse students’ most effective inclusion and equity in special education, the application of a series of related frameworks (such as culturally responsive and antiracist frameworks) may provide a valuable starting point. This chapter seeks to draw from existing frameworks in a holistic discussion of DEI educational practices for special educators that will ultimately foster environments that meet the needs of learners from multiply intersecting experiences and identities.