Ableism in Education: Rethinking School Practices and Policies

Gillian Parekh

Aug 2022 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Chloe Dolandis

About this audiobook

How we organize children by ability in schools is often rooted in ableism. Ability is so central to schooling-where we explicitly and continuously shape, assess, measure, and report on students' abilities-that ability-based decisions often appear logical and natural. However, how schools respond to ability results in very real, lifelong social and economic consequences. Special education and academic streaming (or tracking) are two of the most prominent ability-based strategies public schools use to organize student learning. Both have had a long and complicated relationship with gender, race, and class. In this down-to-earth guide, Dr. Gillian Parekh unpacks the realities of how ability and disability play out within schooling, including insights from students, teachers, and administrators about the barriers faced by students on the basis of ability. From the challenges with ability testing to gifted programs to the disability rights movement, Parekh shows how ableism is inextricably linked to other forms of bias. Her book is a powerful tool for educators committed to justice-seeking practices in schools.

About the author

Gillian Parekh is an educator, assistant professor, and Canada Research Chair in inclusion, disability, and education within the Faculty of Education, York University. She has conducted extensive system and school-based research in Toronto in the areas of structural equity, special education, and academic streaming.

Chloe Dolandis is a dynamic voice actor and singer/songwriter, with a career encompassing national radio/TV voice-over, on-camera appearances, live performances, and audiobook recordings. She has been an Audie finalist, and her work has earned her several Voice Arts Award and One Voice Award nominations.