This paper explores four memoirs written by or about individuals with learning disabilities (LDs), examining how their narratives can be interpreted as challenging traditional deficit-based models of disability through depictions of lived experience that highlight capability and contribution. Through a combined narrative and discourse analysis,…

Teachers' beliefs influence the educational experiences they provide for students with disabilities. Furthermore, beliefs are highly contextualized, necessitating careful attention to the contexts in which they are developed and deployed. Informed by DisCrit, we employed narrative analysis to explore the beliefs of five special educators working…

Providing multiple representations of mathematical ideas is an established strategy for supporting students in making connections between high-level conceptual ideas. One form of assistive technology that provides students with such representations is mathematics manipulatives. Virtual manipulatives, in particular, are backed by a growing research…

Children with intellectual disabilities often find acquiring age-appropriate reading skills difficult. We evaluated the impact of a structured online reading intervention on the reading skills of children aged 5-11 years in special educational needs (SEN) schools in England. A two-armed cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) compared…

This paper explores the experiences of Black, Deaf, and disabled students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through the lens of Disability Justice. It examines the historical and ongoing intersections of racism and ableism, highlighting the contributions of Black disabled activists and the need for affirming, inclusive spaces…

Background: Leadership is crucial for frontline managers leading direct support staff in intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services because it impacts both the staff and service users. Method: A systematic review using CADIMA software, guided by the 2020 PRISMA statement, analysed 32 articles from Scopus, WOS, PsycINFO and EBSCO…

Exclusionary school discipline is an emerging field of research in Australia, whereas it is more established in contexts such as the United States and United Kingdom. In this article we, therefore, seek to understand how exclusionary school discipline has been examined by Australian education researchers working across a range of disciplines. We…

This conceptual piece examines how prevailing notions of community in rural schools influence inclusive education practices for students with disabilities. While rural communities often emphasize care and belonging, these values can mask exclusionary practices when inclusion is treated as sameness or is assumed rather than actively cultivated. We…

Students with intellectual disability have encountered challenges related to inclusive placement, spending less time in general education classrooms, and experiencing slower progress in accessing inclusive settings. To support their needs and success in inclusive classrooms, research-based and effective interventions should be provided. We…

Background: Individuals with intellectual disability or autism exhibit suicidal behaviours at an equal or greater rate than the general population, yet little is known about associated risk factors. This study explores suicidality in these populations, focusing on their understanding of suicide and death and perceptions of their direct support…

Background: People with intellectual disabilities are rarely involved in end-of-life decisions. This study investigated and further developed approaches and resources to enable inclusive end-of-life care planning. Methods: A multi-centre, multi-method four-phase study, involving 195 researchers, participants, advisors and co-design members,…

Background: Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) can be associated with a plethora of neurological diseases representing a life-changing condition and, in severe cases, a life-threatening situation. It is, therefore, crucial that patients and caregivers are aware of its implications to implement the best strategies for safety and functional…

Background: Service culture refers to the practices, views and values within service organisations. Developing positive cultures has been thought imperative to improving social care, though day services and their cultures remain an under-researched area. For many autistic people with profound learning disabilities, day services are the sites at…

The compulsory education of students who have complex learning characteristics has received little attention in New Zealand research literature. This paper explores the positive educational experiences of a student who transferred from one high school to another in the same city, which resulted in him 'actually learning'. Using Appreciative…

Background: Burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are problems for the workforce supporting people with developmental disabilities. This study investigated hope as a potential protective resource for burnout and STS among the developmental disability services workforce. Method: One hundred and fifty-two non-supervisor caseworkers from a…