Navigating School Choice at the Intersection of Disability, Race, and Class: Mothers of Students With Disabilities Accessing Information in Competitive Local Education Markets.

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Title: Navigating School Choice at the Intersection of Disability, Race, and Class: Mothers of Students With Disabilities Accessing Information in Competitive Local Education Markets.
Authors: Waitoller, Federico R. (AUTHOR), Lubienski, Christopher (AUTHOR)
Source: Exceptional Children. Jul2026, Vol. 92 Issue 4, p442-462. 21p.
Subjects: Students with disabilities, Access to information, Mothers, Race, School environment, School choice, Disabilities, Social classes
Abstract: In this study, we examine how mothers of students with disabilities (SWDs) from different racial and class backgrounds access information about schools in competitive local education markets (LEMs). We employ an intersectional approach to school choice that focuses on the labor of mothers and a qualitative design based on interviews and a focus group discussion to answer the following research questions: How do mothers of SWDs search for and find information about school options in LEMs? How and to what extent are their experiences searching for school information shaped by their intersecting social categories (e.g., race and class)? Mothers of SWDS participating in the study searched for information through three mediums: (a) searching at a distance for hard information (i.e., online search and calling schools), (b) campus visits during school open days, and (c) their social networks. Because schools respond to competitive pressures in ableist ways (i.e., offering either limited information relevant to parents of SWDs or information geared to dissuade them from enrolling), mothers relied heavily on information from their social networks, which created inequities in access to information according to parents' intersecting social categories (i.e., disability, race, and class). The length of experience of mothers in the school district mediated these inequities. We conclude by noting the problematic implications of these findings and recommendations for policy and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Exceptional Children is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Navigating School Choice at the Intersection of Disability, Race, and Class: Mothers of Students With Disabilities Accessing Information in Competitive Local Education Markets.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+disabilities%22">Students with disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+information%22">Access to information</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mothers%22">Mothers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Race%22">Race</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+environment%22">School environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+choice%22">School choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disabilities%22">Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+classes%22">Social classes</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: In this study, we examine how mothers of students with disabilities (SWDs) from different racial and class backgrounds access information about schools in competitive local education markets (LEMs). We employ an intersectional approach to school choice that focuses on the labor of mothers and a qualitative design based on interviews and a focus group discussion to answer the following research questions: How do mothers of SWDs search for and find information about school options in LEMs? How and to what extent are their experiences searching for school information shaped by their intersecting social categories (e.g., race and class)? Mothers of SWDS participating in the study searched for information through three mediums: (a) searching at a distance for hard information (i.e., online search and calling schools), (b) campus visits during school open days, and (c) their social networks. Because schools respond to competitive pressures in ableist ways (i.e., offering either limited information relevant to parents of SWDs or information geared to dissuade them from enrolling), mothers relied heavily on information from their social networks, which created inequities in access to information according to parents' intersecting social categories (i.e., disability, race, and class). The length of experience of mothers in the school district mediated these inequities. We conclude by noting the problematic implications of these findings and recommendations for policy and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Exceptional Children is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1177/00144029251386297
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 442
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      – SubjectFull: Students with disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to information
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Race
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      – SubjectFull: School environment
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      – SubjectFull: School choice
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      – SubjectFull: Disabilities
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      – SubjectFull: Social classes
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              Text: Jul2026
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              Y: 2026
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