Call for Chapters

www.equityequality.org

CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS
Proposal Submission Deadline: 1^st Submission Deadline February 15, 2017                          2^nd Submission Deadline March 15, 2017
Equity, Equality and Reform in Contemporary Public Education

A book edited by Marquis C. Grant (Grand Canyon University)

Introduction

The American pubic education system has predicated upon the idea of equality. The values embedded in our academic institutions, dating back centuries to a time much different than our own. Our focus on EQUALITY instead of EQUITY may have contributed to the marginalization of the very children that we have sought to eradicate. Equality means giving individuals the exact same things. Equity is giving individuals what they need to promote fairness. By focusing on giving our children the SAME opportunities, instead of FAIR opportunities, would this explain:

•              Persistent achievement gaps?

•              Low performing schools?

•              Disproportionality in special education?

•              Low graduation rates?

•              High drop-out rates?

Objective of the Book

Equality and equity are often mischaracterized, albeit erroneously, as interchangeable terms in public education. This may explain why efforts towards reform and restructure are often not met with any real measure of success. This book will offer discussions about equity, including historical and social contexts of equity, rationale (if any) for continued focus on equality, school reform as a form of equity and the how a Eurocentric curriculum prohibits an equitable distribution of resources and opportunities in modern education. 

Target Audience
The target audience of this book will be composed of professionals and researchers working in the field of in various disciplines, e.g. education, sociology, policy and administration, cultural studies, legal theory, education, curriculum & development, race theory, and gender studies. Moreover, Equity, Equality and Reform in Contemporary Public Education will provide insights and support educators and policy makers concerned with improving the current contexts of education and supporting measures of reform that will support student achievement in public education.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

·         Equity & Equality: Race (Brown vs. Board of Education)

·         Equity & Equality: Disability (IDEA, ADA, Section 504)

·         Equity & Equality: Socioeconomics (ESEA, No Child Left Behind)

·         Special Education Funding: Idealism vs. realism in special education programs

·         Achievement gaps and low performing schools

·         The impact of poverty and socioeconomics and student achievement

·         Disproportionality in special education

·         Race-based disciplinary actions

·         Multicultural education/cultural responsiveness

·         School reform and the race towards equity

·         Charter schools and voucher programs

·         Gender biases in education (STEM)

·         Feasibility of a Eurocentric curriculum in a diverse society 

Submission Procedure
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before February 15, 2017 a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. The link for proposal submissions is http://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for-papers/call-details/2514.

Authors will be notified by April 15, 2017 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by June 30, 2017, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at http://www.igi-global.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication, Trust in Knowledge Management and Systems in Organizations. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-blind peer review editorial process.

All proposals should be submitted through the E-Editorial Discovery^TM online submission manager.

Publisher
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), an international academic publisher of the “Information Science Reference” (formerly Idea Group Reference), “Medical Information Science Reference,” “Business Science Reference,” and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. IGI Global specializes in publishing reference books, scholarly journals, and electronic databases featuring academic research on a variety of innovative topic areas including, but not limited to, education, social science, medicine and healthcare, business and management, information science and technology, engineering, public administration, library and information science, media and communication studies, and environmental science. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2018.

Important Dates
February 1, 2017 & March 15, 2017: Proposal Submission Deadline
April 15, 2017: Notification of Acceptance
June 30, 2017: Full Chapter Submission
September 30, 2017: Review Results Returned
October 15, 2017: Final Acceptance Notification
October 30, 2017: Final Chapter Submission

Inquiries can be forwarded to
Dr. Marquis C. Grant
Grand Canyon University

Email: Marquis.Grant@my.gcu.edu

October Is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Let's raise awareness about Down Syndrome 365 days a year!

Disability & Bullying

Check out a preview of the video lesson on disabilities and bullying that I wrote for The Entertaining Oddballz @ https://youtu.be/wHrLgn1BY3o

I♡Matka

Check out the new blog site IheartMatka (matkalife.wordpress.com), created for women who are mommying children with special needs. Have questions, comments or blog ideas? Email them to iheartmatka@gmail.com. All moms are special, but mothers of children with special needs ROCK!

Alex Bean, Boy Wonder

Whether he's fighting off scary creatures or flying off to save the day, Alex Bean is a little boy who won't let his disability stand in the way! Available at Lulu.com Alex Bean, Boy Wonder (ISBN 978-1-329-70141-0).

Autism Awareness, Acceptance & Support

Check this out on Pinterest. My Life My Autism - www.pinterest.com/drmarquisgrant4/my-life-my-autism/?s=3&m=blogger

The Problem with Special Education

Is "special" education really one big oxymoron? Check out this article: http://www.wnyc.org/story/301679-the-special-education-problems-we-arent-solving/

New Podcast

I feel like My Life My Autism sounds pretty good, what do you think? http://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-cs58f-5c9799

Let's Kick Things Into Shape

I've said it before. We can't just sit back and wait for others to take action. It's up to each and every one of us to push for what is right, what is fair and what is just.
When my children were diagnosed,  I realized the importance of advocacy when I started to question their respective places in our society. Ideas like acceptance and awareness began to take shape and I understood, for the first time in my life, what it truly meant to fight.

So I'm fighting for all children,  all individuals with autism...with different abilities. I'm fighting for a society where the word normal is not used to describe human beings. A society where acceptance is not optional. A society where my children are not outsiders standing on the outside looking in.

Things don't have to be the way they are. We can kick things into shape...

Disability Acceptance and the "It Crowd"

"To no human charter am I indebted my rights..." This quote really struck a cord with me because there are so many of us in society who are fighting for acceptance.  I am an advocate for autism acceptance in hopes that my children will be given the same opportunities in this world as everyone else...but is acceptance something that we should be fighting for? Is it something that should be earned? The answer is NO!

Acceptance should be automatic...something we have without the interference of others. A foregone conclusion. We are not indebted to others for our rights, yet we're placed in these categories of "normal" and "regular" with a "them" and an "us" mentality.

Our society is and has always been one huge clique...you either fit in or you don't. It's like trying to get accepted by the it crowd at school based on their standards, at their discretion of whether you have what it takes to fit in with them.

My children and so many others with disabilities or whatever the situation should not have to fight for acceptance. They should just be allowed to live life! If we are not indebted to others for our rights, why does the need for acceptance even exist?

Parent 2 Parent

Being the parent of a child with a disability, there are a few things that you should know: No one can do what you do as a parent. No one will ever love your children, defend your children or cry for your children the way that you do.

Even in moments of self-doubt (and there will be plenty!), know that you were CHOSEN to be the parent of an amazing child. Like me, you worry about your children's present as well as their future. You're ready to fight for your children's needs, their happiness at all costs...even if it means you're perceived as "difficult." Trust your instincts when it comes to what is in your child's best interest, even if others around you do not agree.

From one parent 2 another, you are awesome...you are strong...you are my hero!

Single Parenting Children with Special Needs

Please check out my guest blog at www.themogulmommies.com in the Health & Wellness section.

Invisible Disabilities: Why Can't People Understand?

It amazes me when people tell me, matter-of-factly,  that my children do not look disabled. I actually had an intense conversation with a friend where he blatantly told me that there was nothing wrong with my sons and if he was in a relationship with me, I would not be saying that my children have autism. He went on to point out that when he was a child, his mother told him that he could be anything he wanted to be. He was implying that a)I was somehow a bad mother for saying my children have autism and b) children with autism cannot also be successful.

The sad part about all of this is that it isn't uncommon for people to make these types of comments when a disability dies not manifest itself in a physical way. Saying little Johnny doesn't look disabled doesn't change the facts. Furthermore, it's insulting to a parent to make such statements.

I,  for one, have nothing to gain by saying my children have autism. I am not receiving any disability benefits ( but if I was, so what?) nor am I exhalted to some higher level of being. The fact is, all disabilities are not visible. People should be more respectful and practice more compassion when talking to others about their child's state of being. I never associate autism with anything negative nor do I want it to define who my children are as human beings.

We live in a society that still has a long way to go when it comes to disability awareness and acceptance...and I intend to remain on the frontlines when it comes to raising awareness.

Making a Difference: Disability Awareness

Let's make a difference in the coming new year to raise awareness and support acceptance of all disabilities. The simple fact that people with disabilities have to ASK to be understood says a lot about our society and the emphasis we place on " normal", "regular", and "typical".

So, as 2015 winds down, let's all make a commitment to take up the cause,  whether it's autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc. No matter how small, we can make changes happen! Looking forward to this next chapter of raising awareness!

What's So "Special" about Special Education?

Today was one of THOSE days. It's sad when you have to literally fight so that your child can live his "normal." People seem to be content with the idea that children with disabilities are a burden, particularly in the inclusion classroom. Even with the protection of the law, children's rights are often denied in the academic setting. To add insult to injury, parents are often painted as "crazy" or overzealous when they advocate for their children. I often ask the question: what's so "special" about special education? #onetiredmom