Darren Minarik has spent over three decades advocating for inclusive practices in
social studies and special education. He is currently the secondary social studies
program area leader and he teaches courses and supervises students in both social
studies and special education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Minarik’s
courses focus on topics such as collaboration for diverse learners, teaching and transitioning
exceptional learners in the secondary general education curriculum, and methods for
social studies educators in grades 6-12.
Minarik is also co-director of the Virginia Inclusive Practices Center at Radford
University and serves as a national board member for Disability Rights Advocates (DRA),
a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights and inclusion of people with
disabilities through litigation, education, and advocacy. He is a frequent presenter
or invited speaker at state, national, and international conferences, and many of
his presentations involve his undergraduate and graduate students. He has also co-authored
multiple publications with his students. Minarik's current research focuses on the
intersection between the social sciences and special education, with a particular
emphasis on inclusive educational practices, self-determination, disability history,
and civic engagement. His awarded grants address professional development and coursework
to support inclusive education for students with disabilities and other high leverage
practices involving special education.
