U.S. public educational systems, just like the country itself, are founded upon certain ideals—a shared curriculum, equal opportunity, and universal access—ideals that, in practice, even the most well-meaning actors fall short of. The upcoming vitalvoices event "Empowering Every Learner Part 2: Reimagining Special Education for Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Communities," asks how families, educators, and communities might work together to make reality a bit closer to the ideal.
All are welcome to attend and participate in this meaningful conversation on how to better support bilingual learners with disabilities and create more just and welcoming spaces. The event takes place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in room C100 of the Commerce Street Building. Participants can also attend via Zoom.
The featured speaker, Dr. Todd Fletcher, is Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Outreach Professor in the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies at the University of Arizona. His research centers on culturally responsive educational practices for diverse learners in the U.S., as well as special education policy and inclusive education reform in Latin America—particularly in Mexico. Fletcher founded and directs Resplandor International, a nonprofit community center in Guanajuato, Mexico, that provides educational and cultural programs to children and families in rural communities.
Participants will explore the importance of language-responsive pedagogy, misconceptions about special education and bilingualism, and strategies educators can employ to better partner with families.
The discussion will also address how federal laws in the United States provide protections for students with disabilities and multilingual learners, and how assessment practices in public schools influence the services available to bilingual students with disabilities.
Interested in attending? RSVP here.