Nicole Eilers: Critical Disability Studies and Real Inclusion [IEP 201]

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today’s show covers the topic of critical disability studies as they relate to creating inclusive early childhood environments. We will take a hard look at what inclusion really means and why it’s not happening in many classrooms. Join us for a closer look!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nicole Eilers lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. She studied child development and family studies and went on to work as a special education teacher in a PreK classroom. Her next position was as a special ed teacher at a hospital school for students with long-term hospitalizations and those who were homebound with an identified disability. Her role was to support the students as they transitioned back into classrooms, which she did while working on her master’s degree in early intervention and family studies. Reading more about disability studies in education coupled with the work she was doing made her question how we are approaching inclusion and special ed. Nicole is now pursuing her Ph. D. full-time at UNC-Chapel Hill.</span></p> <p><strong>Show Highlights:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Highlights of critical disability studies focusing on three areas: external factors, how we perceive “normal,” and the lived experiences of the students</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">What it means to have an inclusive classroom</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How teachers can allow students to better understand each other and have meaningful connections, especially those with disabilities</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How our attitudes are inadvertently teaching kids not to talk about disabilities</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Why teachers need to dedicate time in th