Practicing Disability Studies in Education: Acting Toward Social Change celebrates the diversity of contemporary work being developed by a range of scholars working within the field of Disability Studies in Education (DSE). The central idea of this volume is to share ways in which educators practice DSE in creative and eclectic ways in order to rethink, reframe, and reshape the current educational response to disability. Largely confined to the limitations of traditional educational discourse, this collective (and growing) group continues to push limits, break molds, assert the need for plurality, explore possibilities, move into the unknown, take chances, strategize to destabilize, and co-create new visions for what can be, instead of settling for what is. Much like jazz musicians who rely upon one another on stage to create music collectively, these featured scholars have been – and continue to – riff with one another in creating the growing body of DSE literature. In sum, this volume is DSE «at work.»

«This book offers a welcome and timely understanding of human differences which moves away from deficit-based and often derogatory assumptions, to understanding difference in historical, social, and cultural contexts. It demonstrates how DSE can create new understandings and bring about much-needed social change, and should be read by all those who wish to rethink current educational responses to disability.» (Sally Tomlinson, Professor Emeritus, Oxford University)
«This text adds meanings to disability studies we didn’t know were there. It reveals the usefulness and potency of the field. It stretches and expands our thinking, our practice, and our actions.» (Simi Linton, author of Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity and co-producer and co-director of the documentary film Invitation to Dance)
«This book offers a welcome and timely understanding of human differences which moves away from deficit-based and often derogatory assumptions, to understanding difference in historical, social, and cultural contexts. It demonstrates how DSE can create new understandings and bring about much-needed social change, and should be read by all those who wish to rethink current educational responses to disability.» (Sally Tomlinson, Professor Emeritus, Oxford University)
«This text adds meanings to disability studies we didn’t know were there. It reveals the usefulness and potency of the field. It stretches and expands our thinking, our practice, and our actions.» (Simi Linton, author of Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity and co-producer and co-director of the documentary film Invitation to Dance)

David J. Connor received his doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a professor at Hunter College, City University of New York. He has received several national awards and is the author/co-author of four other books.
Jan W. Valle received her doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is an associate professor at The City College of New York, City University of New York. She is the author/co-author of numerous journal publications as well as two other books.
Chris Hale received his doctorate at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and presently works as an assistant professor at the College of Staten Island. He is an advocate for ethical special education practice and writes and does research relevant to this issue.