Disability Justice in Practice: Co-Creating Teaching Tools for Inclusive Classrooms

TitleDisability Justice in Practice: Co-Creating Teaching Tools for Inclusive Classrooms
Faculty/College/UnitEducation
StatusActive
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2026
Project Summary

This project will create plain-language, multimedia teaching resources to make Disability Justice and inclusive education accessible and relevant across UBC’s teacher education program. Developed in collaboration with Disabled K–12 students, educators, teacher candidates, and community partners, these short, high-quality videos and companion materials will translate theory and research into practical, locally grounded tools. Currently, there is a lack of disability-affirming resources that position disability as a valued identity and integral part of classroom diversity. Most existing materials treat disability as a medical problem to be fixed, contradicting equity-oriented approaches and reinforcing deficit views. These new materials will form the pedagogical foundation for the new Inclusion through Disability Justice (IDJ) B.Ed. Option launching in September 2026, while also serving as entry points for instructors and students across the Faculty. Piloting will begin in EDUC 450/451/452 and EPSE 317, with future integration into EDUC 440, EPSE 308/310, and EDST 401.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2026/2027
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorLeyton Schnellert
Year 1: Funded Amount34,465
Year 1: Team Members

Leyton Schnellert, Associate Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Faculty of Education
Carly Christensen, Assistant Professor / Director, Undergraduate Programs, Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Faculty of Education
Surita Jhangiani, Associate Professor of Teaching, ECPS, Faculty of Education
Bathseba Opini, Associate Professor, Educational Studies (EDST), Faculty of Education
Johanna Sam, Associate Professor, ECPS, Faculty of Education / Tŝilhqot’in Nation
Jamilee Baroud, Instructional Designer, Learning Design and Digital Innovation, Faculty of Education
Sonya Woloshen, Program Manager, Learning Design, Teacher Education Office (TEO), Faculty of Education
Hazel Ryan-Sheehan, Program Manager, Student Services, TEO, Faculty of Education
Kimberley Sinclair, Post-Doctoral Student, ECPS / EDCP, Faculty of Education
Amy Caesar, PhD Candidate, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Belinda Chi, PhD Candidate, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Sarah Grace Friesen, PhD Student, ECPS, Faculty of Education
Sue Sterling Bur, PhD Candidate, UBC Okanagan
Ariane Faria dos Santos, PhD Candidate, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Bryan Gidinski, PhD Student, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Andrea Kellaway, M.A. Student, ECPS, Faculty of Education
Catrina Longmuir, M.Ed. Student, ECPS, Faculty of Education