Cover of STEM-Ability Perception vs. Potential: Dismantling Barriers in Education

STEM-Ability Perception vs. Potential: Dismantling Barriers in Education

STEM-Ability Perception vs. Potential: Dismantling Barriers in Education

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Summary
 In Part Two of the STEM-Ability series on The Odyssey of Care, host Erin Croyle and guest Dr. John Fife (Director of the Center for Innovation in STEM Education at VCU) unpack how perceptions - and misperceptions - shape educational opportunities for students with disabilities. Drawing from both lived experiences as parents and professional expertise, Erin and Dr. Fife dive into the systemic challenges plaguing special education and STEM fields: from underfunded mandates like IDEA to deficit-based models that fixate on limitations rather than strengths. They explore why standard "inclusion" isn't enough and why creating a genuine sense of belonging, nurturing self-determination, and holding high-expectations are critical to helping neurodivergent and disabled students build their own identity and thrive. What You'll Learn: Identity Construction: Why self-advocacy and a strong sense of identity protect students against bias and othering. Belonging vs. Inclusion: Why true connection matters far more than just placing a student in a classroom. Systemic Hurdles: How underfunded mandates and under-resourced educators create systemic gaps for families. Strength-Based Support: Shifting from deficit-driven labels to talent-focused frameworks in STEM and general education. Show Notes and Links: Listen to STEM-Ability Episode 1: Designing a Future Where Everyone Fits Learn more about: Center for Innovation in STEM Education or CISTEME Dr. John Fife VCU RRTC: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center TRANSCRIPT: 01;00;13;21 - 01;00;16;18 Erin Croyle Welcome to the Odyssey of Care. 01;00;16;21 - 01;00;19;13 Erin Croyle I'm Erin Croyle, the creator and host. 01;00;19;15 - 01;00;29;23 Erin Croyle The Odyssey is the same as it ever was, just with a slightly shorter name. This podcast explores how our lives change when a loved one has a disability. 01;00;29;26 - 01;00;32;13 Erin Croyle I was lucky enough to head down this less traveled road 01;00;32;19 - 01;00;36;06 Erin Croyle when my first child was born with down syndrome in 2010. 01;00;36;09 - 01;00;39;26 Erin Croyle At the time, I was a journalist working in Southeast Asia. 01;00;39;29 - 01;00;45;28 Erin Croyle My career and life shifted dramatically after Arlo and then his two siblings entered the picture. 01;00;46;01 - 01;00;50;22 Erin Croyle Now I'm a communication specialist determined to help people with disabilities 01;00;50;25 - 01;00;51;24 Erin Croyle and their families 01;00;51;24 - 01;00;56;15 Erin Croyle get the help, support and validation they need. 01;00;56;18 - 01;01;00;16 Erin Croyle This podcast explores the triumphs and hardships we face. 01;01;00;19 - 01;01;06;09 Erin Croyle We celebrate the joys that the odyssey of parenting, caregiving, and disability bring. 01;01;06;12 - 01;01;09;04 Erin Croyle we don't shy away from the tough stuff. 01;01;09;06 - 01;01;16;11 Erin Croyle Navigating education and transitioning to adulthood is at the top of the tough list for many. 01;01;16;13 - 01;01;19;00 Erin Croyle part two of our Stem ability series, 01;01;19;07 - 01;01;23;09 Erin Croyle which is doing a deep dive into an exciting new initiative 01;01;23;12 - 01;01;27;04 Erin Croyle to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities 01;01;27;07 - 01;01;28;25 Erin Croyle through evidence based training, 01;01;28;28 - 01;01;30;21 Erin Croyle emerging technologies, 01;01;30;23 - 01;01;32;27 Erin Croyle strategic employer partnerships. 01;01;33;00 - 01;01;39;21 Erin Croyle We're going to explore the role perceptions or perhaps misperceptions play in all of this. 01;01;39;24 - 01;01;42;17 Erin Croyle Joining me again is Doctor John 01;01;42;19 - 01;01;49;29 Erin Croyle associate research professor of Stem education and director of the center for innovation in Stem Education 01;01;50;06 - 01;01;58;12 Erin Croyle at Virginia Commonwealth University. 01;01;58;15 - 01;02;01;01 Erin Croyle Doctor Fife, welcome 01;02;01;04 - 01;02;03;13 John Fife Thank you so much. thank you for having me. 01;02;03;13 - 01;02;09;17 Erin Croyle For anyone who wants your full origin story, I highly recommend listening to our first episode in this series, 01;02;09;24 - 01;02;11;00 Erin Croyle which I'll link in the show notes. 01;02;11;06 - 01;02;18;01 Erin Croyle to summarize, can you give us a brief overview of what brought you here and your role with this initiative, 01;02;18;04 - 01;02;50;22 John Fife Absolutely. So as I mentioned before, I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. And of course, Trinidad was impacted by colonialism and Trinidad was colonized by the French, the Spanish and then the English and gained its independence in 1962. And I think that's relevant to my story, because the story of colonialism is a story of the privileged versus the non privilege, and colonialism is perhaps the best universally understood tool of marginalization to really think about it in that way. 01;02;50;24 - 01;03;25;24 John Fife I was raised to ...
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