Bilingual multicultural special education: An integrated personnel preparation program

Abstract: Addressing the needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have disabilities has become a growing area of concern, especially as the demographic composition of the nation’s public schools continues to change. The challenge to provide appropriate educational opportunities for stu-dsnts from diverse backgrounds is most directly addressed through personnel preparation programs. These programs need to be developed according to competencies that are specific to bilingual multicultural special education. In this article, the authors present guidelines for the development and implementation of a grad-uate program in bilingual multicultural special education. The program at New Mexico State University is described as a model. she population of students in bilingual mul-ticultural special education programs has grown dramatically in the past several years. The increase in this student population is most often attributed to demographic shifts nation-wide, population growth among people of African American and Hispanic descent, and continuous influx of immigrants from variou