Inclusion Dialogue

Martin Scanlan shares his journey into education and his research on inclusive schools. He discusses the importance of recognizing and addressing exclusionary barriers in schools and developing a comprehensive approach to social justice. He emphasizes the need for a schema, or a way of thinking, that goes beyond just having tools and techniques for inclusivity. Martin also highlights the significa...

In this conversation, Joanne Banks interviews Victoria Graf about her work in the field of inclusive education. Graf discusses her early career and how she became interested in working with students with disabilities. She also talks about the importance of teacher education and the challenges of creating inclusive education systems. Graf highlights the tensions and issues in inclusive education to...

This conversation explores the journey of inclusive education in South Africa, highlighting the evolution of the education system, the challenges faced in special education, and the impact of policy development. Judith shares insights from her research on teacher education, the role of funding, and the importance of parent advocacy. The discussion also emphasizes the need for tailored curricula fo...

Gordon Porter and Jodie Carr discuss their careers in inclusive education and what motivated them to work in this field. They highlight the importance of equity and fairness in providing education for all students, including those with disabilities. They emphasize the need for support and training for teachers to effectively implement inclusive practices in the classroom. They also discuss the rol...

The conversation discusses the development and importance of the Altitude Charter for Universal Design in Tertiary Education in Ireland. The charter aims to create inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities. It addresses the rising diversity in the student body and the need to adapt approaches to ensure inclusivity. The charter was developed through a collabora...

Alfredo J. Artiles shares his journey into inclusive education, the evolution of inclusive education globally, and the consequences of policy decisions. He discusses the justice paradox and the role of space in shaping educational experiences. He emphasizes the need to consider equity as embedded in assumptions, policies, and rules, and encourages cross-national exchange of research and ideas. Alf...

In this episode of Inclusion Dialogue, Dr. Rory O'Sullivan shares his extensive experience in the field of inclusive education and further education and training (FET) in Ireland. He discusses his early career, the evolution of FET, and the importance of inclusive practices for students with disabilities. Rory emphasizes the need for equity in education and the role of progressive policies in fost...

In this conversation, Professor Sujata Bhan discusses her journey into the field of inclusive education and her experience in teaching special education. She explains the teacher education qualifications in India for pre-service teachers, including bachelor's and master's programs in special education. She also highlights the challenges that pre-service teachers face when engaging with special edu...

Elizabeth Walton shares her personal journey and experiences in the field of inclusive education, highlighting the challenges and injustices faced by individuals with disabilities. She discusses the entrenchment of special schools in the South African education system and the impact of colonialism on inclusive education. Additionally, she explores the concept of inclusive education as a knowledge...

Michael Giangreco shares his journey into the field of inclusive education and the impact of his experiences at a summer camp. He discusses the evolution of his career and the different settings he has worked in, from institutions to community residences and segregated schools. Giangreco emphasizes the importance of inclusion and the need for adults to change their attitudes and expectations. He a...

Justin J.W. Powell has been Professor of Sociology of Education in the Institute of Education & Society at the University of Luxembourg since 2012. His comparative institutional analyses of educational systems chart persistence and change in special and inclusive education, in vocational training and higher education, and in science and research policy. His research—bridging sociology, political s...

Deborah Gallagher is Professor of Education at the University of Northern Iowa. She received her PhD in Special Education at the University of Virginia in 1992. Her research interest centers on the philosophy of science as it pertains to research on disability, pedagogy, and policy in education and special education. Among numerous articles and book chapters, she is the lead author of a book entit...

Professor Chris Forlin is a Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame Australia.  She is also an international education consultant specializing in supporting governments and school systems to implement effective and quality inclusive education. She has worked in the field of education for more than 40 years as a teacher, university lecturer and government advisor. Her extant research and pu...

Srikala Naraian is Professor of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. She locates herself in the disability studies tradition and is interested in qualitative inquiry in inclusive education and teacher preparation for inclusive education. Alongside her research in US public schools, Dr. Naraian has also prepared teachers for inclusive educ...

My guest this week is Professor Suzanne Carrington who is a Research Professor in the Centre for Inclusive Education QUT Australia. She has over 27 years of experience working in universities including teaching, research, international development, and various leadership roles. Her areas of expertise are in inclusive education, ethical and transformative leadership for inclusive schools, disabilit...

James M. Kauffman is Professor Emeritus of Education, University of Virginia, where he joined the faculty in 1970. His Ed. D. (1969) is from the University of Kansas, and in 2011 he received the distinguished alumni award from the University of Kansas School of Education. He is a past president of the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders and a former teacher of both general elementary st...

My guest this week is Professor Johan Malmqvist, Professor of Education at Linnaeus University Department of Pedagogy and Learning in Sweden. His work focuses on issues around school context and pedagogical approaches in inclusive education with a particular focus on the conditions and adaptations required for inclusive education. Johan is an expert for the Swedish National Agency for Education.

This week I speak with two guests, Drs Susan Gabel and Amanda Miller, on the topic of inclusive education from the US perspective. Susan and Amanda work in the College of Education in Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In this podcast we talk about their research which focuses on how school systems, policies, and practices impact girls of color, including girls who identify with or have...

Ines Alves is a Lecturer in Inclusive Education and the Programme Leader for the MEd in Inclusive Education at The University of Glasgow. She holds a PhD in Education from The University of Manchester, UK; a MA in Special Education (Inclusion and Disability Studies), Institute of Education, London; and a MA in Language, Ethnicity and Education from King’s College London. Ines is a co-convenor for...

Professor Dr. M. Tariq Ahsan has been working at the Institute of Education and Research of University of Dhaka since 2001. Tariq did his PhD in 2015 at Monash University, Australia on teacher preparation for inclusive education. Tariq has vast experience in the areas of equity and inclusion, ECCD, Education in Emergency, Adolescent Skill for the 21st Century and National Curriculum Framework Deve...

This week I talk to Sally Tomlinson, Emeritus Professor at Goldsmiths London University and an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Education, University of Oxford. She has spent nearly forty years teaching, research and writing about special and inclusive education, the politics of education, and race, ethnicity and education. Her most recent books are" A Sociology of special and inclusi...

Umesh Sharma is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, Australia where he is the Associate Dean (Equity and Inclusion). Umesh’s research programs in the area of disability and inclusive education span India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa as well as Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand.  He is the chief co-editor of the Australasian J...

My guest this week is Professor Brahm Norwich, Professor of Educational Psychology and Special Educational Needs at the Graduate School of Education in the University of Exeter. In this interview, we examine the developments of inclusive education in the United Kingdom over the past decades. Brahm describes the changing patterns of provision over time focussing on the role of local authorities in...

My guest this week is Dr Heidrun Demo, Associate Professor for Inclusive Education and Director of the Competence Centre for School inclusion at the Free University of Bolzano in Italy. In this interview we talk about inclusive systems of education and Heidrun discusses her work on the historical factors that shaped the Italian education system which operates a full inclusion model where all child...

 My guest this week is Dr Anke De Boer. Anke is Associate Professor at the Inclusive and Special Needs Education unit, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. She is particularly interested in optimising the educational setting to realize social inclusion and the wellbeing of students with special educational needs.  In this interview, she focuses on the importance of using interventions which e...