Darren Minarik

Darren Minarik, Associate Professor of Special Education and Secondary Social Studies at Radford University, 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. Dr. 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.

Dr. 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. Dr. 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.