Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Its Possible Consequences for Special Education Policy

Overview & Synopsis

DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion, a social movement for promoting fair treatment and full participation in education and employment. Our comments are focused on how DEI might be interpreted and implemented in the context of special education's primary U.S. legal guide, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We concentrate on the meanings of diversity, equity, and inclusion as they apply to policies regarding the education of individuals with disabilities. We argue that policies related to DEI deserve careful scrutiny as they apply to special education. Hewing to the notion of disability as a particular kind of diversity defined by the IDEA is essential to achieving an appropriate and equitable education and the most meaningful type of inclusion for children with disabilities.