Two faculty members visited India over the summer for an event with IU Gateway and visits to schools, all in an effort to discuss how to better educate students with disabilities. 

Associate Professor Sarah Hurwitz and Professor Adam Maltese spent the first part of their trip hosting an event with IU Gateway in New Delhi. The event was designed as an exploration circle with the theme “Rethinking the Purpose of Education: Beyond Inclusion, Towards Belonging.” Hurwitz and Maltese met with Indian policymakers, ministers of education, and leaders of disability groups, among others. They also met with staff from organizations that write textbooks used around the country who are trying to make their books more accessible.

The second part of the trip included traveling to schools in different parts of India to learn more about how they meet the needs of their students. Hurwitz’s research interests include special education, and she helped educators at the schools make connections to opportunities to help their students with disabilities. 

“One of the issues is they’re struggling to meet the needs of the population there,” Hurwitz said. “They’re doing a great job of developing school programs that meet the needs of learners they have, but there’s not as many opportunities for learners with disabilities.”