Meaning Beyond Words
Meaning Beyond Words
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Mission
Mission
Meaning Beyond Words is a disability-led research and translation initiative that examines how educational systems interpret disabled communication and behavior. Through research, practitioner tools, and justice-centered training, MBW works to dismantle presumptions of incompetence and redesign educational practices around agency, authenticity, and structural equity.
Philosophy
Philosophy
We reimagine how schools interpret communication, resisting deficit framings and affirming students with support needs as fully human, agentic meaning-makers.
Vision
Vision
We envision educational systems where students with any level of support needs are recognized as fully human, agentic meaning-makers, and where communication, competence, and participation are defined through justice rather than normalcy.
Strategic Aims
Strategic Aims
Document how interpretive norms shape IEP language and educational trajectories
Develop practical tools for agency-centered goal-writing and instructional design
Provide interdisciplinary professional development grounded in disability justice
Center disabled lived experience as epistemic authority in educational reform
The Meaning Beyond Words Project draws on the Disability Justice principle of Leadership of the Most Impacted and so works to center the voices of disabled people and their active involvement in the creation of educational and advocacy materials.
For more about the 10 principles of Disability Justice, look for the work of Patty Berne and Sins Invalid.
Blog Posts
Blog Posts
The Meaning Beyond Words blog is where I share my research in an open and accessible format, sharing ideas outside of academia.
Social Media
Social Media
Follow Meaning Beyond Words on several social media platforms. I share a mix of research thoughts, daily life posts, advocacy resources, and more.
Bluesky
@jamiechase.bsky.social
@meaningbeyondwordsproject
Learning Series
Learning Series
The Meaning Beyond Words Learning Series will offer reflective, research-informed learning materials for educators, families, and others seeking more just and relational approaches to communication and learning.
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