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

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Federico R. Waitoller

03 February 2026

56m 23s

The Disproportionality Series Part 2: A Conversation with Rachel Fish

00:00

56:23

In the 10th episode of Dive In’s third season, host Federico Waitoller continues with the disproportionality series. In this show, he explores the complex issue of disproportionality in special education with sociologist Rachel Fish. Fish discusses her research on how racial and linguistic minorities are disproportionately represented, examining the roles of structural racism and social constructs in this disparity. The conversation highlights different perspectives and methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative research, to better understand this multifaceted issue. By considering factors like educational inequity and subjective diagnoses, the episode offers a nuanced take on how schools contribute to and perpetuate inequalities in special education settings.

Episode Transcript