Advancing Inclusion: Humanizing Special Education from the US to Nigeria

In this episode of Rewriting the Narrative, host Ben Tillotson is joined by Dr. Joana Idakwo-Agha, member support officer for CEC’s Division of International Special Education Services, to explore what it takes to build inclusive, equitable special education across global contexts. Drawing on professional experiences in the United States, the United Kingdom, the UAE, and Nigeria, Dr. Idakwo-Agha reflects on common barriers she has observed worldwide, including delayed access to accommodations, low expectations for students with disabilities, and rigid definitions of success shaped by policy and systems rather than student potential. The conversation highlights how socioeconomic conditions influence access to transition supports and community partnerships, and why effective inclusion begins with families and culturally grounded understanding of disability. Idakwo-Agha also discusses tailoring educator professional development to local needs, the growing role of technology and social media in connecting families to resources, and the contrast between formal service infrastructures in the U.S. and more community-based supports elsewhere.   Rewriting the Narrative is produced by Association Briefings.