You Are Not a Failure, They Failed You: A Disability-Focused Approach to Education

Item

Title
You Are Not a Failure, They Failed You: A Disability-Focused Approach to Education
Creator
Sarah Stover
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Teaching (initial licensure)
Project Type
Action Research Project
Date
6/15/2025
Abstract
This action research project explores the implementation of disability-focused anti-oppressive pedagogy in a middle school Language Arts classroom. Conducted in a highly structured, military-style school, the study was conducted with two research questions in mind: How did one autistic teacher implement disability-centered anti-oppressive pedagogy in a middle school Language Arts course at a military-style school, and how did students enrolled in this Language Arts course respond to their autistic teacher’s disability-centered pedagogical foci? This research included lessons centered around disability representation, bias, and accessibility. Data collection included personal observations in a journal, gradebook analysis, student work samples, and surveys. Findings revealed three major outcomes: increased engagement, higher academic achievement, and deeper social emotional learning. This research suggests that disability-centered pedagogy is beneficial to all students, creating an asset-based learning environment that accommodates everyone. While limitations such as the military structure are acknowledged, this study advocates for the broader implementation of disability justice in classroom practice.
Keywords
disability education
asset-based education
Committee Member
Amy Bowden
Coley Lehman
Rights
Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 06/20/2025, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.
https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
Language
eng
Type
Text
Identifier
SarahStover_ARP_2025
Item sets
Graduate Work
Media
SarahStover_ARP_2025.pdf