Decolonizing Possibilities in Special Education Services

Authors

  • Nikki L. Yee University of British Columbia
  • Deborah L. Butler University of British Columbia

Abstract

Colonial contexts continue to shape the experiences of Indigenous students, especially in special education, even as educators work to respond to Indigenous perspectives. In this article we first apply a decolonizing critique to consider how colonialism affects special education programming, then survey Indigenous and decolonizing scholarship to (re)imagine how educators may start to address these concerns. Our analysis suggests that educators (1) engage in critical self-examination, (2) adopt holistic assessment strategies, (3) explore teaching practices emerging from decolonizing perspectives, and (4) examine and (re)imagine service delivery models. Educators may use these ideas as a springboard for exploring more contextualized decolonizing possibilities.

Keywords: inclusive education, special education, decolonization

Author Biographies

Nikki L. Yee, University of British Columbia

Ph D Candidate, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education

Deborah L. Butler, University of British Columbia

Professor, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education

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Published

2020-12-18

How to Cite

Yee, N. L., & Butler, D. L. (2020). Decolonizing Possibilities in Special Education Services. Canadian Journal of Education/Revue Canadienne De l’éducation, 43(4), 1071–1103. Retrieved from https://journals.sfu.ca/cje/index.php/cje-rce/article/view/4403