Music Educators’ Perceptions of Preparation and Supports Available for Inclusion

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate music educators’ perceptions of their educational preparation and the availability of instructional supports to work with students with disabilities in their classrooms/ensembles. Music educators ( N = 1,128) representing all 50 United States responded to a survey fashioned after a similar instrument used by Gfeller, Darrow, and Hedden. Results indicated slight positive increases over the past two decades in regards to types of course offerings, in-service attendance and availability, involvement in the Individualized Education Program process, placement decisions, consultation with special education experts, and provision of adequate preparation time and resource materials/adaptive devices. Results also indicated that current music education practices (e.g., music-specific coursework, workshops, and in-services) created greater feelings of preparedness to work with students with disabilities and increased attendance at additional educational opportunities. The discussion includes further results and educational implications.