Bridging Language, Spirit, and Resistance: Transforming Bilingual Special Education

This session explores Spanish-English bilingual language development and Latina educators’ transformative resistance through testimonio, spirituality, and art. Presenters connect linguistic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of learning, offering educators strategies to support multilingual learners and affirm the voices of those navigating educational borders in special education contexts. Participants will be able to: 1. Identify key principles of Spanish-English bilingual language development and distinguish typical variation from potential language disorders in educational settings. 2. Apply culturally and linguistically responsive strategies to support multilingual learners and families within special education frameworks. 3. Reflect on testimonio, spirituality, and art as transformative tools for fostering equity, belonging, and resistance in bilingual special education practice.