Bringing Insider Perspectives into Inclusive Teacher Learning

Book excerpt: This fascinating text offers a compelling argument for the need to include insider perspectives of disability in teacher education programs, in order to enrich professional understandings and shed light on the reality of living with a disability. With contributions from a highly experienced team of authors from a wide range of educational settings, Bringing Insider Perspectives into Inclusive Teacher Learning includes case studies and research projects on how teacher educators gather, interpret and integrate insider perspectives into teacher education programs, along with practical strategies as to how educators can develop programs more sensitive to the experiences of ‘insiders’. Questions addressed include: How do teacher educator researchers gather insider perspectives? What are some of the barriers and challenges involved? What critical experiences and lessons can be learned from teacher educators who have integrated insider perspectives? How can insider perspectives bring about a more meaningful inclusion of students with disabilities? Offering a range of different methodologies to engage students, parents, teachers, school leaders and teacher educators, this thought-provoking book provides practical ideas about how insider perspectives can enhance teacher learning and support greater inclusive practices in schools. This text will be useful to university lecturers, teachers and education specialists, as well as students of educational studies and ITE courses from foundation degree level through to undergraduate and postgraduate study.