Ep 10 Dr. Adai Tefera: Exploring the Layers of Inequity: Race, Disability, and Education

In this episode of Inquiry Oasis, Dr. Adai Tefera, an associate professor of special education at the University of Arizona's College of Education delves into her pivotal research on racial disparities in special education, examining the complex interplay of race, disability, language, and other social factors. We take a look at Dr. Tefera’s article she co-authored in the American Educational Research Journal - The Aftermath of Disproportionality Citations: Situating Disability-Race Intersections in Historical, Spatial, and Sociocultural Contexts, and explore the historical, socio-cultural, and spatial contexts shaping educational policies and their impact on students with disabilities. Dr. Tefera's insights illuminate the urgent need for transformative changes in educational equity and policy-making.Topics Discussed:Navigating Intersections: Race and Disability in EducationA Deeper Look: Disproportionality in Special EducationMethodological Insights: Uncovering Systemic InequitiesBreaking New Ground: Key Findings from Dr. Tefera's ResearchThe Construct of Defectcraft: Rethinking Disability and RaceUnveiling Histories: The Impact of Past Policies on Present PracticesShaping Futures: Implications for Education in Diverse CommunitiesResources:Disability and Difference in Global Contexts: Enabling a Transformative Body Politic – by Nirmala ErvellesToward an Interdisciplinary Understanding of Educational Equity and Difference: The Case of the Racialization of Ability - By Alfredo Artiles