The purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine three elementary music teacher’s perceptions of preparation to work with students with disabilities. Research questions included the following: How do elementary general music teachers define preparedness for working with students with disabilities? What challenges do elementary general music teachers face in their work with students with disabilities? What resources do general music teachers identify as helpful? Based on major themes that emerged from the analysis, I concluded general music teachers need more preservice preparation and ongoing professional development focused on students with disabilities, more time to collaborate with special education professionals, more consistent communications and recommendations about how to work with students who have disabilities, and access to assistive technologies.
The purpose of this instrumental case study was to observe music educators and special education paraprofessionals (SEPs) in a learning community that examined their perceptions and necessary practices needed to teach music to students with disabilities. The primary question of this study was: How may a community of practice (CoP) offer collaboration and instructional support for music educators and SEPs? Participants found the collaborative nature of the group to be the most beneficial. While instructional practices were moderately impacted, participants’ perceptions of their colleagues were changed. Participants also discovered similarities between their positions and shared concerns over systemic issues in education which impacted their positions within their school communities.
Students with disabilities (SWDs) in the United States have a right to the least restrictive learning environment as enshrined in federal law. Until recently, conceptions about educating SWDs have drawn from medical models of disability (i.e., that the student must be accommodated to interact with the environment) rather than a social model of disability (i.e., that the environment can be cultivated for all kinds of individual needs). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework that music educators can use to shift their planning and instructional practices surrounding SWDs to encompass a social model of disability. Here, we define UDL principles, describe UDL implementation in music classroom contexts, and provide resources for further reading.
There are many barriers to collaborative planning between music educators and special education paraprofessionals (SEPs). While allocated collaborative planning time would be best, the reality for many music educators and SEPs is that they are not given this time. I provide three alternatives to collaborative planning that were suggested by music educators and SEPs who participated in an informal learning community. Suggestions for advocacy as well as an advocacy sidebar are provided.
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