Although social groups have "insiders," this construct has not been measured within the disability advocacy community. Examining 405 individuals who applied for an advocacy training program, this study examined the nature of insiderness within the disability advocacy community and ties to individual roles. Participants showed differences…

Parents of individuals with disabilities face many challenges in accessing appropriate school services for their offspring. While advocacy programs are becoming increasingly common, little is known about the nature of parent advocacy including its related constructs. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between motivation,…

Special education advocacy programs educate and empower individuals to become advocates for families of school-aged children with disabilities. Although special education advocacy programs are becoming more common across the globe, replication and wide scale implementation are needed to determine their credibility. The purpose of this study was to…

Despite a myriad of linguistic and cultural barriers, immigrant parents of children with disabilities in the United States have adopted a variety of advocacy strategies. Drawing upon the frameworks of Community Cultural Wealth and Ecological Systems Theory, this study explores how Korean immigrant mothers of children with disabilities advocate for…

As experts that have recently transitioned from practicing in the special education field, special education doctoral students are crucial levers that can influence special education policy and advocacy initiatives. This article details the unique role doctoral students play in this work, ways doctoral students can familiarize themselves with…

All children in the United States have a right to effective education. While an optimal learning environment is important for all students, children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to barriers to accessing high-quality learning environments. Many parents of children receiving special education services want to be strong advocates for…

The transition from early childhood special education into school-based special education services is often the first major educational change for children with special needs. Parents are critical to children's successful transitions. This systematic review compiled parent-reported data from 20 peer-reviewed quantitative and qualitative empirical…

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…

Becoming a special education teacher encompasses more than just learning how to teach. A large component of this position requires advocacy at the local, state, and national levels. Therefore, special education teachers need to be prepared to effectively advocate across all levels. This article examines the integration of advocacy into an…

Advocacy is important in educator preparation programs, equipping future teachers with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to support students, schools, and communities. Educators are critical in driving policy change and supporting students with disabilities. This article explores how educator preparation programs can engage in advocacy at the…

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…

This essential manual helps educators comfortably and knowledgeably deliver lessons in comprehensive sex education to young people with developmental disabilities in the context of special education. Drawing on firsthand experience and real-world examples, the first half provides background material and tools for how to effectively partner with…

The Individual with Disabilities Education Act specifies that families should be include in the special education process and they must provide informed consent. However, families from Spanish-speaking backgrounds, often report barriers to participation. In this study, we provided a forum for Spanish-speaking families to tell their stories using…

Special educators are increasingly drawing from intersectionality and Black feminist theory to make sense of the disproportionate deleterious outcomes experienced by racialized students labeled with disabilities. While intersectionality gains a stronger hold in special education discourse, agencies like the Florida Department of Education are…

Engagement in Early Intervention (EI) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) helps to support the development of very young children who might demonstrate delays or other challenges. Research documents underutilization of these essential childhood services. To understand how to increase engagement in EI and ECSE among eligible families,…