The Disproportionality Series Part 2: A Conversation with Rachel Fish
From DiveIn: Diving into Special Education's Most Complex and Pressing Debates by Federico R. Waitoller
February 3, 2026 · 56 min · Season 3 · Episode 10
About this episode
The episode explores disproportionality in special education with sociologist Rachel Fish, focusing on the impact of structural racism and social constructs.
In the 10th episode of Dive In’s third season, host Federico Waitoller continues with the disproportionality series. In this show, he explores the complex issue of disproportionality in special education with sociologist Rachel Fish. Fish discusses her research on how racial and linguistic minorities are disproportionately represented, examining the roles of structural racism and social constructs in this disparity. The conversation highlights different perspectives and methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative research, to better understand this multifaceted issue. By considering factors like educational inequity and subjective diagnoses, the episode offers a nuanced take on how schools contribute to and perpetuate inequalities in special education settings. Episode Transcript
People in this episode
Host: Federico R. Waitoller
Guest: Rachel Fish
Topics covered
- disproportionality
- special education
- racial minorities
- linguistic minorities
- structural racism
- educational inequity
- qualitative and quantitative research
Keywords
- disproportionality
- special education
- racial minorities
- educational inequity
- qualitative research
- quantitative research
- structural racism
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Dive In, special education, sociologist
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