Mediating Primary Source Documents for Students With and Without Disabilities

Social studies content, with its difficult content and often inadequate sources, can pose challenges for students with disabilities. Though secondary sources, such as textbooks, are a popular choice for instruction, primary sources may provide a more authentic view of history. This study examines the experiences of a U.S. history teacher and their students, with and without disabilities, in engaging with primary source documents in a secondary history classroom. Through qualitative analysis, three overarching themes emerged: strategies for access, engagement, and independence. The teacher employed various strategies such as guided questions and organization techniques to support student comprehension. Students, both with and without disabilities, preferred primary sources but acknowledged challenges in understanding them. The findings highlight the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and explicit instruction in literacy strategies and historical writing to enhance student comprehension and engagement with primary sources. Overall, this study underscores the value of primary sources in history education and the need for tailored instructional approaches to support student learning.