How do issues related to race and disability intersect and affect the special education services that children in K-12 schools receive?

Over the last few decades, many members of the special education community have shared concerns that Black, Latinx, emerging Bilinguals, and Indigenous students have been inappropriately identified for and over-represented in special education services. In response to these concerns, federal legislators have mandated that educational policymakers work to address the over-representation of racially minoritized groups in special education.

However, some researchers in the special education community disagree with this assessment. These researchers suggest that racially minoritized students with disabilities are actually under-identified for special education services and do not receive the support that they need.

A year-long colloquium series, hosted by the University of Delaware's School of Education (SOE), examines the longstanding challenges that minoritized children and youth face in the special education system. Scholars from multiple disciplinary perspectives, such as history, education, disability studies, and sociology, consider issues of equity, access, and inclusion.

All presentations will be held virtually from 1:25 to 2:25 p.m. Audience members are also welcome to participate in a discussion following the colloquium.
• March 3: Robert L. Osgood, retired professor of education
• March 24: Sheresa Boone Blanchard, associate professor of human development and family science at East Carolina University
• April 14: Veronica N. Velez, associate professor of secondary education at Western Washington University
• May 5: Donna Ford, EHE Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University

For further information and to register, please visit to SOE website: http://www.education.udel.edu/colloquium-series/