Listening to the Voices of Students with Disabilities: Can Such Voices Inform Practice?

• Published in: Australasian journal of special education Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 25 - 34
• Main Authors: Byrnes, Linda J, Rickards, Field W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australian Academic Press 01-07-2011
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Attention; Disabilities; Listening; Position Papers; Student Attitudes; Student Empowerment; Students
• ISSN: 1030-0112
• DOI: 10.1375/ajse.35.1.25

This article investigates issues to do with student voice. Much attention is given within the literature to including the voice of students without disabilities in educational debate. Indeed, clear connections have been made between the use of student voice and raising student achievement (Mitra, 2004). Given the validation of such voices, it is paradoxical that limited attention is accorded to the views of students with disabilities (Habel, Bloom, Ray, & Bacon, 1999). This position paper explores reasons why the viewpoints of students with disabilities are not routinely investigated or listened to, and puts forward a case for stronger attention to be given to such voices. The article concludes by offering suggestions as to how to collect such viewpoints.