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

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

29 January 2025

School Vouchers and Students with Disabilities: A Conversation with Kevin Welner

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Welner to unpack the complexities of school voucher programs and their impact on special education. We explore the different types of voucher systems, their legal implications under IDEA, ADA, and Section 504, and what research reveals about their financial effects, educational outcomes, and who benefits most. We also examine how vouchers intersect with issues of race, class, language, and gender, shedding light on their consequences for historically marginalized students. The episode wraps up with key policy recommendations for a more equitable education system.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Listen also to the following related episodes.

What Does a Trump Administration Mean for Special Education? A Conversation with Mitchell Yell and David Bateman

Navigating the Landscape of Anti-Woke Culture in Special Education Research

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56:13

20 December 2024

What does a Trump Administration Mean for Special Education? A Conversation with Mitchell Yell and David Bateman

In this episode of DiveIn we discuss with Mitchell Yell and David Bateman what a Trump administration means for special education. Is the IDEA or the Department of Education going away? Will special education experience severe budget cuts? What do expanding voucher programs and charter schools mean for students with disabilities? And How other policies, such as Title IX, can also affect the educational experiences of students with disabilities? We discuss this and much more in this timely episode.

Transcript

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54:19