Race and Learning Disabilities: Barriers and Ramps to Ensure Robust and Appropriate Teaching and Learning

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Digital Promise.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

The intersection of race and learning disabilities presents school-imposed barriers and roadblocks for students of color. These roadblocks include misidentification, incorrect placement, and severe and inappropriate discipline measures. In one study, for example, Black students from non-low-income backgrounds had about twice the likelihood of being identified with intellectual disabilities or emotional disturbances compared to White students from non-low-income backgrounds. The NCLD report also cited research that found, “Black students, for example, are three times more likely than White students to be suspended or expelled,” with one study concluding that this disparity is at least partially due to internalized racial stereotypes held by teachers. 

In this edWeb podcast, we learn what the research says about the intersection of disability and race, what schools can do to more appropriately determine a student’s disability given racial and cultural uniqueness, and strategies for individual teachers to keep expectations high and ensure that students receive appropriate supports so they can meet their potential. During this edWeb podcast, listeners:

• Develop a better understanding of explicit and implicit racial bias and how that impacts students who have learning disabilities
• Learn about what the research says about barriers presented to students who are at the intersection of race and learning disabilities
• Explore strategies to ensure that students of color with learning disabilities are offered a robust education in a supportive environment with the appropriate supports
• Hear first-hand accounts from researchers and educators in schools

This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers and school and district leaders.

Digital Promise
Digital Promise's mission is to accelerate innovation in education to improve opportunities to learn

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