DiveIn: Diving into Special Education's Most Complex and Pressing Debates

Podcast by Federico R. Waitoller

DiveIn: Diving into Special Education's Most Complex and Pressing Debates

Join Dr. Federico Waitoller for DiveIn, the podcast that explores the most complex and pressing debates in Special Education. Sponsored by the Division of Research of the Council for Exceptional Children, this series tackles critical and timely topics, including current policy debates, instructional design, disciplinary disparities, school choice, workforce diversity, and funding disparities. DiveIn does not shy away from tough conversations. Through thought-provoking discussions with experts and changemakers, DiveIn will challenge your current perspectives and deepen your understanding, offering actionable insights to drive equity in special education teaching, research, and policy. Tune in and be part of the movement to transform special education through an equity-driven lens. Are you ready? Let's DiveIn!

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Latest episodes

08 May 2025

The Promise and Peril of Charter Schools for Students with Disabilities

In this episode, I sit down with Naomi N. Shelton and Jennifer Coco to unpack the complex realities facing students with disabilities (SWDs) in the charter school sector. We explore the persistent patterns of exclusion that keep SWDs on the margins—and, more importantly, spotlight the powerful efforts underway to disrupt these inequities. Our conversation highlights community-rooted charter schools led by Black, Brown, and Indigenous educators and leaders, revealing the transformative potential of these models to redefine charter schools.

We also examine the shifting political landscape, discussing how recent policies and the Trump administration’s influence could reshape the capacity of charter schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Finally, we take a critical look at the growing movement for religious charter schools and the risks they pose for equitable, accessible education.

This is a must-listen for anyone invested in educational justice, disability rights, and the evolving charter school movement.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Some of my work on this topic

Excluded by Choice: Urban Students With Disabilities in the Education Marketplace

Can Charter Schools Address Racial Inequities Evidenced in Access to the General Education Classroom? A Longitudinal Study in Chicago Public Schools

A Longitudinal Comparison of Enrollment Patterns of Students Receiving Special Education in Urban Neighborhood and Charter Schools

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01:00:45

08 April 2025

What’s Really Happening at the Department of Education? How Policy Shifts Threaten IDEA

In this episode of 'DiveIn,' host Federico Waitoller explores the current tumultuous changes affecting the Department of Education under the Trump administration. With guest experts Kuna Tavalin and Kareem Thompson, the discussion focuses on proposed plans to dismantle the department, move IDEA programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and how these shifts impact students with disabilities. As administrative and legal staff faces drastic reductions and uncertainty looms, the podcast delves into the legal implications, congressional responses, and the overarching political landscape that affects special education across the U.S.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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50:43

24 March 2025

Beyond the Hype: AI, Disability, and Equity in Education

In this podcast, we tackle a pressing and timely issue: the growing role of AI in education. With Mary Rice, Joaquin Arguello, and Richard Carter Jr., I explore the potential benefits and hidden risks of AI technologies. Can AI help address long-standing inequities faced by students with disabilities and other marginalized learners—or could it deepen existing disparities? We examine questions of transparency, standardization, and the evolving relationship between AI, teachers, and students. Beyond critique, we also imagine what AI could be: a tool for transforming schools into more equitable, just, and inclusive learning spaces.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE

Resources

Let’s CHAT About Artificial Intelligence for Students With Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

The Use of Artificial Intelligence with Students with Identified Disabilities: A Systematic Review with Critique

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54:07

06 March 2025

Is Section 504 Under Threat? Diving into the State of Texas Vs Becerra Case

In this episode, I discuss with David DeMatthews the Texas Vs. Becerra court case- a case that threatens the existence of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. We explain the case's history, present, and potential implications. We also contextualize the case amid broader ongoing efforts to weaken civil rights protections for children, youth and adults with disabilities.

Related Episodes

What Does a Trump Administration Mean for Special Education?

School Vouchers and Students with Disabilities

Transcript of Episode 7

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33:18

21 February 2025

DiveIn Trailer

This is the trailer for DiveIn.

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00:49

13 February 2025

Dismantling de Department of Education: Implications for Students with Disabilities

This is a clip from episode four in which Mitch Yell and David Bateman talk about the implications of dismantling the Department of Education.

Transcript

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06:52