Serving Clientele with Disabilities: An Assessment of Texas FCS Agents' Needs for Implementing Inclusive Programs

Authors

Rick L. Peterson, Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceFollow
Cheryl Grenwelge, Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceFollow
Michael R. Benz, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
Dalun Zhang, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
J. Aaron Resch, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
Geraldo Mireles, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
Lakshmi Mahadevan, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ServiceFollow

Volume

50

Issue

6

DOI

10.34068/joe.50.06.07

Abstract

This article reports on a qualitative study to assess Texas Family Consumer Science (FCS) Extension professionals' experiences working with individuals with disabilities and their perceived skills in promoting and delivering inclusive educational programming for this audience. Study results indicate that overall Extension educators viewed inclusive programming for individuals with disabilities as favorable but also reported a number of barriers to successfully implement inclusive programs. Educators' most pressing needs included: professional development in the area of disability, inclusive educational strategies and support funds for necessary accommodations. Implications for promoting and delivering inclusive educational programming for communities are addressed.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Peterson, R. L., Grenwelge, C., Benz, M. R., Zhang, D., Resch, J. A., Mireles, G., & Mahadevan, L. (2012). Serving Clientele with Disabilities: An Assessment of Texas FCS Agents' Needs for Implementing Inclusive Programs. The Journal of Extension, 50(6), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.50.06.07