Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field Experience

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (SWIDD) often require academic, employment, and social support to be successful in inclusive postsecondary education programs. One way to provide support in these areas is via peer mentorship. In addition to SWIDD obtaining the support they...

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Main Authors: Jeremy Ford, Julianne Wenner, Andrew Scheef
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mason Journals 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.gmu.edu/jipe/article/view/3835
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author Jeremy Ford
Julianne Wenner
Andrew Scheef
author_facet Jeremy Ford
Julianne Wenner
Andrew Scheef
author_sort Jeremy Ford
collection DOAJ
description Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (SWIDD) often require academic, employment, and social support to be successful in inclusive postsecondary education programs. One way to provide support in these areas is via peer mentorship. In addition to SWIDD obtaining the support they need; peer mentors also benefit from the relationships that are established. This qualitative case study examined the impacts of a peer mentorship program associated with an inclusive postsecondary education program on Special Education Teacher Candidates (SETCs). The program existed as a service-learning portion of a course focused on secondary special education. Key findings included: 1) SETCs developed a better sense of disability; 2) learned to see SWIDD as peers; and 3) made connections to the importance of transition planning for students even while in elementary school. Based on the findings of this study, those who prepare special education teachers should consider providing SETCs with opportunities to work with SWIDD in inclusive postsecondary education settings. 
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spelling doaj-art-e7cf4023b68e4d2c9b445167d6a9aa5f2025-08-20T03:17:44ZengMason JournalsJournal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education2642-86792025-04-016210.13021/jipe.2024.3835Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field ExperienceJeremy Ford0Julianne Wenner1Andrew Scheef2Boise State UniversityClemson UniversityUniversity of Idaho Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (SWIDD) often require academic, employment, and social support to be successful in inclusive postsecondary education programs. One way to provide support in these areas is via peer mentorship. In addition to SWIDD obtaining the support they need; peer mentors also benefit from the relationships that are established. This qualitative case study examined the impacts of a peer mentorship program associated with an inclusive postsecondary education program on Special Education Teacher Candidates (SETCs). The program existed as a service-learning portion of a course focused on secondary special education. Key findings included: 1) SETCs developed a better sense of disability; 2) learned to see SWIDD as peers; and 3) made connections to the importance of transition planning for students even while in elementary school. Based on the findings of this study, those who prepare special education teachers should consider providing SETCs with opportunities to work with SWIDD in inclusive postsecondary education settings.  https://journals.gmu.edu/jipe/article/view/3835inclusionpostsecondary educationteacher educationintellectual disabilitydevelopmental disbility
spellingShingle Jeremy Ford
Julianne Wenner
Andrew Scheef
Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field Experience
Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education
inclusion
postsecondary education
teacher education
intellectual disability
developmental disbility
title Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field Experience
title_full Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field Experience
title_fullStr Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field Experience
title_full_unstemmed Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field Experience
title_short Special Education Teacher Preparation and Inclusive Postsecondary Education: Effects of a Peer Mentorship Field Experience
title_sort special education teacher preparation and inclusive postsecondary education effects of a peer mentorship field experience
topic inclusion
postsecondary education
teacher education
intellectual disability
developmental disbility
url https://journals.gmu.edu/jipe/article/view/3835
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AT juliannewenner specialeducationteacherpreparationandinclusivepostsecondaryeducationeffectsofapeermentorshipfieldexperience
AT andrewscheef specialeducationteacherpreparationandinclusivepostsecondaryeducationeffectsofapeermentorshipfieldexperience