Postgraduate-Qualified Teachers' Experiences Interacting with Educators of Their Own Disabled Children

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Postgraduate-Qualified Teachers' Experiences Interacting with Educators of Their Own Disabled Children
Language: English
Authors: Gavin Leslie (ORCID 0000-0002-6061-7286), Rachel Leslie (ORCID 0000-0002-0485-181X)
Source: Support for Learning. 2026 41(1).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Teacher Qualifications, Students with Disabilities, Parent Teacher Cooperation, Interaction, Barriers, Parent School Relationship, Advocacy, Power Structure, Expertise, Social Capital, Doctoral Degrees, Masters Degrees, Educational Attainment, Parent Background, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9604.70031
ISSN: 0268-2141
1467-9604
Abstract: Research and policy espouse the virtues of parent-school partnerships in delivering positive outcomes for students with disabilities, however an erosion of trust can lead to a breakdown in the relationship. Though, parents who share cultural capital with teachers experience more successful parent-school partnerships, parents who act as allies for their disabled children can be labelled as tricky or difficult. This article examines the experiences of four parents who hold postgraduate qualifications in education when interacting with the schools of their disabled children. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study explored how, when, and why parents with postgraduate qualifications in education experienced difficulties within the parent-school partnership. It was found that bringing their knowledge and expertise to the table when acting as allies to their children could deliver benefits, but often resulted in a partnership breakdown that positioned the teacher as the expert and the parent as the subordinate partner.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497459
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Research and policy espouse the virtues of parent-school partnerships in delivering positive outcomes for students with disabilities, however an erosion of trust can lead to a breakdown in the relationship. Though, parents who share cultural capital with teachers experience more successful parent-school partnerships, parents who act as allies for their disabled children can be labelled as tricky or difficult. This article examines the experiences of four parents who hold postgraduate qualifications in education when interacting with the schools of their disabled children. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study explored how, when, and why parents with postgraduate qualifications in education experienced difficulties within the parent-school partnership. It was found that bringing their knowledge and expertise to the table when acting as allies to their children could deliver benefits, but often resulted in a partnership breakdown that positioned the teacher as the expert and the parent as the subordinate partner.
ISSN:0268-2141
1467-9604
DOI:10.1111/1467-9604.70031