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

What does inclusive education actually mean? Is it a place, a practice, a political commitment—or an aspiration we may never fully achieve? In the first episode of Season 4 and the opening conversation of DiveIn’s special series on inclusive education, Federico talks with David J. Connor, Professor Emeritus at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and one of th...

This is the trailer for Season 4 of Dive in and the new series on inclusive education

As we gear up for DiveIn's upcoming season 4 and a new series on inclusive education, we're revisiting a conversation that offers the perfect starting point: a global perspective on inclusion, disability, and educational equity. In this episode, Federico talks with Maya Kalyanpur, professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of San Diego. Dr. Kalyanpur began her career te...

In the final episode of our DiveIn miniseries on school segregation in Spain, the story reaches the Basque parliament—and takes an unexpected turn. After organizing, gathering signatures, building alliances, and pushing educational segregation into the public debate, the grassroots initiative ( ILP ) finally presents its proposals to lawmakers. Their demands are bold: publicly funded schools must...

In this third episode of our DiveIn miniseries on school segregation in Spain, we move beyond the headlines and ask a difficult question: What actually causes school segregation in Spain and the Basque Country? After following the grassroots movement pushing the issue into the Basque parliament, we now dive into the deeper structural forces shaping who attends which schools—and why. Through conver...

In the final episode of DiveIn ’s Disproportionality Series, host Federico Waitoller welcomes back Alfredo Artiles—one of the leading scholars in the field and the very first guest ever featured on the podcast. Drawing on more than three decades of research, Dr. Artiles challenges listeners to rethink disproportionality beyond simplistic debates about over- and underrepresentation in special educa...

In this second episode of our DiveIn miniseries on school segregation in Spain, the story moves from idea to action . After introducing the grassroots initiative in the Basque Country, we now follow the organizers as they take a bold step: bringing school segregation to the political stage . What does it take to turn concern into change? In this episode, you’ll hear how activists mobilized parents...

In this episode, we bring to you a new miniseries. Host Federico Waitoller takes listeners on a journey to the Basque Country in Spain, where an initiative aimed at combating school segregation has been set into motion. The miniseries delves into the legislative efforts undertaken by local activists Sabin and Gonzalo to bring ethnic and class segregation into the public debate. Experts discuss the...

In this podcast episode, Federico Waitoller interviews Dr. Donna Ford, a distinguished professor in gifted and talented education, to discuss the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students in these programs. Dr. Ford highlights the pervasive issue of disproportionality, drawing attention to systemic biases ingrained in policies and educational practices. The conversation delves into the root...

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 episode of Dive In, Federico Waitoller starts a new series delving into the controversial issue of disproportionality in special education. Joining him is Paul Morgan, a noted figure renowned for challenging conventional beliefs about minority representation. Morgan discusses the difference between descriptive evidence and disparities, emphasizing the importance of examining similarly situ...

In this episode of DiveIn, host Federico Waitoller invites Professor Aydin Bal to discuss the concept of interventions within special education. They explore the differing perspectives of traditionalists and critical approaches, examining how each group's approach impacts educational practices. The episode offers insights into his culturally responsive framework for interventions, emphasizing the...

 In this episode of DiveIn, host Federico Waitoller sits down with scholar Dr. Catherine Voulgarides to unpack one of the most persistent—and politically charged—issues in special education: racial and linguistic disproportionality. Fifty years after the passage of IDEA, states are still required to identify and address significant disproportionality. But is compliance with federal rules enough to...

In this episode of DiveIn , I sit down with Kuna Tavalin to discuss the termination of 95% of staff at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). We explore the implications of this near-shuttering of OSEP amid the ongoing government shutdown, and what it means for students with disabilities nationwide. We also talk about what’s next — and what you can do to take action and help stop these c...

In this episode of DiveIn, we bring you the season finale of Learning to Live Together, our special miniseries about school integration and inclusive education. Learning to Living Together  is a four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the twenty-first century. Across the four episodes, we delve into the meanings, tensions, and practices of integration and inclusion in to...

This podcast episode explores the unique experiences and strengths that special educators with disabilities bring to their classrooms. Host Federico Waitoller and guests discuss how disabilities are valuable cultural repertoires of teachers that enrich work and the learning experiences that provide to their students. Insights from special educators, such as Hannah Benson, shed light on the transfo...

In this episode of DiveIn, we bring you the third part of Learning to Live Together, our special miniseries about school integration and inclusive education. Learning to Living Together  is a  four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the twenty-first century. Across the four episodes, we delve into the meanings, tensions, and practices of integration and inclusion in toda...

 In this episode, we bring you the second part of Learning to Live Together. The miniseries was originally produced for the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance (MAP) Center with Sarah Diem, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri. Learning to Live Together is a four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the...

In this first episode of the third season of DiveIn launch of this four-part mini series called Learning to Live Together. The mini series was originally produced for the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance (MAP) Center with Sarah Diem, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri. Learning to Live Together is a four-part podcast series...

In this episode of DiveIn, we provide crucial updates on key issues affecting special education. With special guest Kuna Tavalin, we give an update on the State of Texas vs. Becerra case, which challenges Section 504 as unconstitutional. Additionally, we discuss the unstable situation within the Department of Education, with staff reductions and ongoing court battles creating a strain on special e...

In this episode, I sit down with Naomi N. Shelton and Jennifer Coco to unpack the complex realities facing students with disabilities (SWDs) in the charter school sector. We explore the persistent patterns of exclusion that keep SWDs on the margins—and, more importantly, spotlight the powerful efforts underway to disrupt these inequities. Our conversation highlights community-rooted charter school...

In this episode of 'DiveIn,' host Federico Waitoller explores the current tumultuous changes affecting the Department of Education under the Trump administration. With guest experts Kuna Tavalin and Kareem Thompson , the discussion focuses on proposed plans to dismantle the department, move IDEA programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and how these shifts impact students wi...

In this podcast, we tackle a pressing and timely issue: the growing role of AI in education. With Mary Rice, Joaquin Arguello, and Richard Carter Jr., I explore the potential benefits and hidden risks of AI technologies. Can AI help address long-standing inequities faced by students with disabilities and other marginalized learners—or could it deepen existing disparities? We examine questions of t...

In this episode, I discuss with David DeMatthews the Texas Vs. Becerra court case- a case that threatens the existence of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. We explain the case's history, present, and potential implications. We also contextualize the case amid broader ongoing efforts to weaken civil rights protections for children, youth and adults with disabilities. Related Episodes W...

This is the trailer for DiveIn.