The Fallacy of Choice: The Story of Nelly

Authors

  • Maggie Bartlett University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Keywords:

disability

Abstract

Through the lenses of a narrative study, assumptions of school choice and inclusion are interrogated as a mother of a child with significant multiple disabilities and complex medical needs traverses the educational landscape. In search of the best school environment for her daughter, this mother’s decisions were led by notions of safety for her daughter and fear of what may happen in its absence. Mediating factors that drove the mother’s decisions were the health of her daughter, peers in school, and the quality of professionals/caregivers. Throughout this narrative, it becomes evident that the mother’s options of schools are limited and level of inclusion of children with disabilities is low. Faced with two options, between a public and choice school, the mother decides the choice school is the best fit. This study questions the assumptions that school choice programs offer good options for children with disabilities and inclusion is always desirable.

Author Biography

Maggie Bartlett, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Exceptional Education Department

Assistant Professor

References

Clandinin, D. J. (2006). Narrative Inquiry: A Methodology for Studying Lived Experience. Research Studies in Music Education,27(1), 44-54. doi:10.1177/1321103x060270010301

Disability Studies in Education SIG 143. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2017, from http://www.aera.net/SIG143/Disability-Studies-in-Education-SIG-143

Hill, E. (2017). School choice may leave students with disabiltes no choice. Retrieved from: http://recent?blogCategory=BD5141C2-B45F-4EC2-B78FF9045AE715520

Pitre, S.A. (May 13, 2014). ‘School choice’-As long as your child doesn’t have a disability. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shayna-a-pitre/school-choicetrue-choice-_b_5318677.html

Riessman, C.K. (2008). Narrative methods for the human sciences. Los Angeles. Sage Publications.

Sandler, L. (December 2014). What is the Milwaukee k-12 school system. Public Policy Forum.

Seidman, I. (2013). Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. New York: Teachers College Press.

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Published

2019-12-24

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2019): Foggy Futures in Education: The Looming Storms of School Choice and Voucher Programs

Section

Articles (Peer Reviewed Research)

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