Publications by authors named "Beth A Ferri"
The purpose of this study is to examine how 4 teachers with learning disabilities (LD) negotiate multiple, complex, and sometimes contradictory discourses of disabilities in constructing their own understandings of LD. We chose to study teachers with LD because of their unique access to at least 3 different sources of knowledge about LD: (a) professional discourses on disability, (b) mainstream cultural messages about LD, and (c) insights gained from their own life experience. We drew on aspects of critical discourse analysis and narrative inquiry for this investigation.
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- Reid and Valle emphasize that the discourse in learning disabilities (LD) shapes what is considered knowledge and affects perceptions of disability.
- Their focus on the epistemological foundations reveals that unchallenged assumptions in the field have real-world consequences for individuals labeled with LD.
- The current discourse hinders educational transformation for all learners and prevents critical discussions regarding systemic issues, like the overrepresentation of students of color in LD classifications and the accessibility of general education environments.