DiveIn: Diving into Special Education's Most Complex and Pressing Debates

In this podcast episode, Federico Waitoller interviews Dr. Donna Ford, a distinguished professor in gifted and talented education, to discuss the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students in these programs. Dr. Ford highlights the pervasive issue of disproportionality, drawing attention to systemic biases ingrained in policies and educational practices. The conversation delves into the root causes and explores the differences in state policies that contribute to the disparities. Dr. Ford emphasizes the need for greater accountability and the importance of addressing both implicit and explicit biases to achieve equity in educational opportunities.Transcript of Episode This is the show Donna and I could not remember the name. Check this great clip ! https://share.google/r8i6PasKa5ByauV56

In the 10th episode of Dive In’s third season, host Federico Waitoller continues with the disproportionality series. In this show, he explores the complex issue of disproportionality in special education with sociologist Rachel Fish. Fish discusses her research on how racial and linguistic minorities are disproportionately represented, examining the roles of structural racism and social constructs in this disparity. The conversation highlights different perspectives and methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative research, to better understand this multifaceted issue. By considering factors like educational inequity and subjective diagnoses, the episode offers a nuanced take on how schools contribute to and perpetuate inequalities in special education settings.Episode Transcript

In this episode of Dive In, Federico Waitoller starts a new series delving into the controversial issue of disproportionality in special education. Joining him is Paul Morgan, a noted figure renowned for challenging conventional beliefs about minority representation. Morgan discusses the difference between descriptive evidence and disparities, emphasizing the importance of examining similarly situated children to uncover potential biases. He responds to critiques to his work and argues that the sweeping claims of systemic bias lack substantial empirical support. This conversation sets the stage for a thought-provoking series aiming to synthesize diverse perspectives on disproportionality.Engage with me and others in our Discord channel https://discord.gg/GCwtRwrE Check our related episode with Catherine Voulgarides https://divein.alitu.com/episode/5de361e4-ca33-4934-b217-2226fc08d5dcEpisode Transcript

In this episode of DiveIn, host Federico Waitoller invites Professor Aydin Bal to discuss the concept of interventions within special education. They explore the differing perspectives of traditionalists and critical approaches, examining how each group's approach impacts educational practices. The episode offers insights into his culturally responsive framework for interventions, emphasizing the importance of dynamic and collaborative approaches that center on the needs and knowledge of local community members.

In this episode of DiveIn, host Federico Waitoller sits down with scholar Dr. Catherine Voulgarides to unpack one of the most persistent—and politically charged—issues in special education: racial and linguistic disproportionality.Fifty years after the passage of IDEA, states are still required to identify and address significant disproportionality. But is compliance with federal rules enough to move the needle on long-standing inequities? Drawing on her multi-state research project and upcoming book Beyond Compliance: Reclaiming Agency in Special Education, Voulgarides offers a rare systems-level view of how monitoring actually works—across federal, state, district, and school levels—and why the current approach often falls short. This episode takes listeners inside the often-invisible policy machinery that shapes educational equity—and asks what it will take to move from compliance to actual change, providing recommendations for state and school administrators, practitioners, and researchers. Episode Transcript

In this episode of DiveIn, I sit down with Kuna Tavalin to discuss the termination of 95% of staff at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). We explore the implications of this near-shuttering of OSEP amid the ongoing government shutdown, and what it means for students with disabilities nationwide. We also talk about what’s next — and what you can do to take action and help stop these cuts.Call to Action Legislative Action Center | Council for Exceptional ChildrenCEC Position on the federal role on educationEpisode Transcript

In this episode of DiveIn, we bring you the season finale of Learning to Live Together, our special miniseries about school integration and inclusive education. Learning to Living Together is a four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the twenty-first century. Across the four episodes, we delve into the meanings, tensions, and practices of integration and inclusion in today’s context.In episode 4, we bring all our friends together to share their experiences with each other. , We discuss with all of our friends the commonalities and differences across social movements and struggles toward inclusion, whether it's disability, race, gender, and how these are playing out across the United States and the areas of convergence across movements that can service catalysts for collaboration.EPISODE TRASNCRIPT

This podcast episode explores the unique experiences and strengths that special educators with disabilities bring to their classrooms. Host Federico Waitoller and guests discuss how disabilities are valuable cultural repertoires of teachers that enrich work and the learning experiences that provide to their students. Insights from special educators, such as Hannah Benson, shed light on the transformative power of diverse identities in teaching. The episode delves into ongoing research by Dr. Amy Tondreau and Dr. Laurie Rabinowitz, highlighting the crucial role that acknowledging and supporting teachers with disabilities plays in fostering inclusive and effective educational environments.TranscriptRecommended readingsSustaining Cultural and Disability Identities in the Literacy Classroom, K-6Sustaining Disabled Youth: Centering Disability in Asset Pedagogies

In this episode of DiveIn, we bring you the third part of Learning to Live Together, our special miniseries about school integration and inclusive education. Learning to Living Together is a four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the twenty-first century. Across the four episodes, we delve into the meanings, tensions, and practices of integration and inclusion in today’s context. In episode 3, we focus on the practical aspects of integration and inclusion, focusing specifically on how to go about achieving integration and inclusion in school communities. We learn about the importance of funding, community buy-in, and the need to change mindsets if we are to experience integration. We also learn about a specific framework for integration developed by youth organizers that focuses on race and enrollment, resources, relationships, restorative justice, and representation. And perhaps most importantly, we hear about the importance of listening to students and involving them in school decisions and solutions, as well as developing relationships and caring for one another.EPISODE TRASNCRIPT

In this episode, we bring you the second part of Learning to Live Together. The miniseries was originally produced for the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance (MAP) Center with Sarah Diem, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri. Learning to Live Together is a four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the twenty-first century. Across the four episodes, we delve into the meanings, tensions, and practices of integration and inclusion in today’s context. In this second episode, our guests discuss important questions than those posed in episode one: Should we continue to strive for inclusion, school integration, or inclusive education? Is it an all-or-nothing approach, or should we be thinking about it differently depending on the context? Is it always worth it? What are the benefits and challenges?EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

In this first episode of the third season of DiveIn launch of this four-part mini series called Learning to Live Together. The mini series was originally produced for the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance (MAP) Center with Sarah Diem, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri. Learning to Live Together is a four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the twenty-first century. Across the four episodes, we delve into the meanings, tensions, and practices of integration and inclusion in today’s context. In this first episode, we discuss different understandings and terms that are used to describe similar longings. Terms such as inclusion and integration, and inclusive education are used depending on individuals’ social struggles and what kind of social group they may be discussing. In episode one, we hear from our interviewees as to how they define integration and inclusion, and how their experiences and identities impact these definitions. EPISODE TRNSCRIPT

In this episode of DiveIn, we provide crucial updates on key issues affecting special education. With special guest Kuna Tavalin, we give an update on the State of Texas vs. Becerra case, which challenges Section 504 as unconstitutional. Additionally, we discuss the unstable situation within the Department of Education, with staff reductions and ongoing court battles creating a strain on special education services. Finally, we unpack two debates taking place in Congress that have implications for the education of students with disabilities: the "Big Beautiful Bill" and the budget proposal from the Trump administration. Episode TranscriptOther Related EpisodesWhat’s Really Happening at the Department of Education? How Policy Shifts Threaten IDEAIs Section 504 Under Threat? Diving into the State of Texas Vs Becerra CaseSchool Vouchers and Students with Disabilities: A Conversation with Kevin Welner

In this episode, I sit down with Naomi N. Shelton and Jennifer Coco to unpack the complex realities facing students with disabilities (SWDs) in the charter school sector. We explore the persistent patterns of exclusion that keep SWDs on the margins—and, more importantly, spotlight the powerful efforts underway to disrupt these inequities. Our conversation highlights community-rooted charter schools led by Black, Brown, and Indigenous educators and leaders, revealing the transformative potential of these models to redefine charter schools.We also examine the shifting political landscape, discussing how recent policies and the Trump administration’s influence could reshape the capacity of charter schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Finally, we take a critical look at the growing movement for religious charter schools and the risks they pose for equitable, accessible education.This is a must-listen for anyone invested in educational justice, disability rights, and the evolving charter school movement.EPISODE TRANSCRIPTSome of my work on this topic Excluded by Choice: Urban Students With Disabilities in the Education MarketplaceCan Charter Schools Address Racial Inequities Evidenced in Access to the General Education Classroom? A Longitudinal Study in Chicago Public SchoolsA Longitudinal Comparison of Enrollment Patterns of Students Receiving Special Education in Urban Neighborhood and Charter Schools

In this episode of 'DiveIn,' host Federico Waitoller explores the current tumultuous changes affecting the Department of Education under the Trump administration. With guest experts Kuna Tavalin and Kareem Thompson, the discussion focuses on proposed plans to dismantle the department, move IDEA programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and how these shifts impact students with disabilities. As administrative and legal staff faces drastic reductions and uncertainty looms, the podcast delves into the legal implications, congressional responses, and the overarching political landscape that affects special education across the U.S.EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

In this podcast, we tackle a pressing and timely issue: the growing role of AI in education. With Mary Rice, Joaquin Arguello, and Richard Carter Jr., I explore the potential benefits and hidden risks of AI technologies. Can AI help address long-standing inequities faced by students with disabilities and other marginalized learners—or could it deepen existing disparities? We examine questions of transparency, standardization, and the evolving relationship between AI, teachers, and students. Beyond critique, we also imagine what AI could be: a tool for transforming schools into more equitable, just, and inclusive learning spaces.TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE Resources Let’s CHAT About Artificial Intelligence for Students With Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-AnalysisThe Use of Artificial Intelligence with Students with Identified Disabilities: A Systematic Review with Critique