While sharing some characteristics with their general physical education colleagues, adapted physical educators also face unique challenges related to their role. For example, both general and adapted physical education teachers encounter stress stemming from the marginalized nature of their discipline but may navigate such experiences…

Journalists have reported large-scale lead poisoning affecting children in cities such as Flint, Michigan. Unfortunately, children's exposure to lead is not isolated and occurs throughout the country in both urban and rural settings. The effects of lead exposure can cause children to develop disabilities, potentially requiring special education…

In this series, we highlighted the importance of addressing the mental health needs of students with disabilities. The purpose of this final article in the series is to briefly summarize each article's recommendations for addressing children's mental health needs and to provide a compelling rationale for adopting those recommended practices. The…

Even though paid advocates exist in the field of special education, teacher advocates are important because their work is based on passion and a belief that change is warranted due to their own needs and experiences with students, not merely on the basis that they are being paid to advocate. Education policy in recent years has become more…

For education to be a means of social transformation that is equitable for all, including students with disabilities, it is important for educators to understand and infuse student's multiple social identities and culture into educational planning and preparation for life. Intersectionality theory is a way to understand inequities by acknowledging…

In a recent study, Bettini, Gilmour, et al. (2020) used the theory of conservation of resources to explain how educators balance access to resources and the demands of their job. In teaching, these resources manifest in the form of administrative support; colleague support; access to materials, such as curricular resources; and increased teaching…

As more schools move to adopt inclusive practices, special educators are expected to provide services to students in new settings, collaborate with their general education colleagues, and navigate various difficult situations. These new settings, models, and collaborative efforts can be stressful for the special educator because of the conflicts…

Although collaborating with families is essential to the success of students, especially those with disabilities (McConnell & Murawski, 2017; Yell & Bateman, 2020), it is a complicated relationship. It is a relationship bringing together people who care deeply about a child. These relationships can be emotional and include love,…

Twice exceptional (2e) students are often discussed broadly but frequently underidentified in U.S. schools. These students have "superior intellectual ability [and] exhibit a significant discrepancy in their level of performance in a particular academic area" (McCoach et al., 2001, p. 405). 2e students face significant challenges as they…

The Council for Exceptional Children studied the profession of special education and found that a substantial number of special educators rated their confidence as lower in culturally responsive instruction strategies (Fowler, et al., 2019). The recommendations in this article highlight how to confront the intersection of racism and ableism and…

Early-career special education teachers (SETs), often report feelings of role ambiguity and being marginalized from their administrators (Billingsley & Bettini, 2019). Dissatisfaction with administration is a leading cause of SET attrition (Bettini et al., 2020; Fowler et al., 2019). Special educators who leave teaching report feeling…

As schools seek to bridge the cultural and linguistic gap between special educators and students at the intersections of learning and language, the case described in this article illustrates how educators can continue to apply one of the key tenets of special education, the strengths-based approach. The hegemony of English has become so pervasive…

Minoritized special education teachers of color often report feeling isolated in their work environments, affecting their sense of belonging and decision to stay in their positions. Although these teachers struggle with their identity in majority White workplaces, they are also often the only voice advocating for students of color eligible for…

The emphasis on parents in addressing the needs of children with disabilities is of great importance as education enters the second decade of the 21st century. This involves a movement from parents being passive recipients of decisions being made about their child by those outside of the family (e.g., teachers, service providers) to being…

Special educators are responsible for a myriad of roles as part of their responsibilities as teachers. In addition to developing and monitoring individualized education programs (IEPs), co-teaching with general education colleagues, and engaging in direct instruction, they often also support students with behavioral needs. Although not all…