University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School July 2020 The Culture of Learning Disabilities, Race and Athletics: An Examination of Student-Athlete Experiences in Predominantly White Institutions of Higher Education’s Division One College Football Programs Ashley L. White University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Special Education and Teaching Commons Scholar Commons Citation White, Ashley L., "The Culture of Learning Disabilities, Race and Athletics: An Examination of Student- Athlete Experiences in Predominantly White Institutions of Higher Education’s Division One College Football Programs" (2020). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/8495 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Culture of Learning Disabilities, Race and Athletics: An Examination of Student Experiences in White Institutions of Higher Education’s Division One College Football Programs by Ashley L. White A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Special Education Department of Teaching and Learning College of Education University of South Florida Major Professor: David Allsopp, Ph.D. David Hoppey, Ph.D. Jeannie Kleinhammer-Tramill, Ph.D. Cynthia L. Wilson, Ph.D. Edelyn Verona, Ph.D. Date of Approval June 1, 2020 Keywords: special education, ethnicity, Black/African American, educational experience, disability, label(ing)(s) Copyright © 2020, Ashley L. White Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iv Abstract ............................................................................................................................................v Chapter One ..................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem .....................................................................................................1 Background ..........................................................................................................................2 Students with Disabilities and College Sports .........................................................2 Revenue, Integration, and Scholarship ....................................................................4 Rationale and Purpose..........................................................................................................7 Research Question ...............................................................................................................7 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................8 Definition of Terms..............................................................................................................9 Race and Ethnicity ...................................................................................................9 Black, Blackness, and African American ................................................................9 Disability ................................................................................................................11 Dis|ability ...............................................................................................................12 Student-Athlete ......................................................................................................12 Marginalization and Minoritization .......................................................................13 Summary ............................................................................................................................14 Chapter Two ................................................................................................................................15 Literature Review...............................................................................................................15 The Progress of Special Education ..............................................................................16 Residential Segregation and School Segregation ........................................................22 Diversity, the Teaching Workforce, and Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices ..25 The National Collegiate Athletic Association .............................................................29 Contractual Obligation ...........................................................................................30 Other Significant Regulations ................................................................................31 Football and the Black/African American Student-Athlete .........................................32 Academic Concerns ...............................................................................................32 Conflict Between Institutions and Players .............................................................35 Interest Convergence Narratives ............................................................................38 Reproduction through Intercollegiate Athletics .....................................................42 A Final Note ...............................................................................................42 Football and Student Athletes with Learning Disabilities ...........................................43 The NCAA’s Stance on Student-Athletes with Disabilities ..................................43 Governing Laws .....................................................................................................44 Litigation and Consent Decree...............................................................................46 Compounding Factors ............................................................................................48 i Summary ....................................................................................................................50 Chapter Three ................................................................................................................................52 Research Methodology ......................................................................................................52 Research Design.................................................................................................................52 Participants .........................................................................................................................56 Data Collection and Analysis.............................................................................................57 Methods for Interviewing ......................................................................................57 Coding ....................................................................................................................59 Frameworks........................................................................................................................61 Ethical Considerations .......................................................................................................64 Limitations .........................................................................................................................65 Researcher Reflexivity .......................................................................................................66 Chapter Four ................................................................................................................................70 Findings..............................................................................................................................70 Participants .........................................................................................................................70 Participant One: Malachi .......................................................................................70 Participant Two: Wesley ........................................................................................75 Participant Three: James ........................................................................................80 Participant Four: Cedric .........................................................................................84 Themes and Codes .............................................................................................................94 Supports, Access, and Capital ................................................................................95 Familial Supports .......................................................................................96 Community Supports .................................................................................97 Academic Supports ....................................................................................98 Institutional Oppression .......................................................................................101 Knowledge and Understanding of Special Education Systems and Practices ...................................................................................................102