DefectCraft: An Interdisciplinary Framework to Analyze and Address the Stratifying Force of Disability

Dr. Alfredo J. Artiles introduces the concept of "defect craft" to explore how ideologies about disability intersect with racial disparities in education, particularly in the overrepresentation of students of color in special education. He argues that disability has a dual role: while it can offer protection, it has historically been used to marginalize and stratify certain groups, especially racial minorities. Defect craft challenges the view that these disparities are solely due to individual deficits, instead highlighting how cultural assumptions, institutional practices, and historical factors contribute to systemic inequalities. By examining how "othering" practices deny marginalized groups their full humanity, Artiles urges a more nuanced, intersectional approach that incorporates race, socio-economic status, and historical context. His research in a suburban school district shows how oversimplified explanations of racial disparities overlook the complex ways that policies, space, and resources are distributed, reinforcing cycles of disadvantage for socioeconomically deprived and racialized groups.