International Disability Research in Education and Teacher Training (IDRETT) – Research – Department of Teacher Education
International Disability Research in Education and Teacher Training (IDRETT)
Our mission is to enhance awareness and understanding of the disability experience in education by examining it from both national and international perspectives. We pursue this through research, literature work, practical initiatives, and symposia.
This research group was established to explore the disability experience in education from multiple angles. These perspectives may include diverse school settings (e.g., specialized, integrated, or home-based), a range of viewpoints (such as individuals experiencing disability or other relevant stakeholders), and different aspects of education (e.g., socialization processes, subject-specific content, and physical or environmental accessibility).
We use the terms disability and disability experience broadly, reflecting international variation in how disability is understood. As a group, we have adopted the United Nations definition of disability, which states that:
“Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”
-United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), p. 4.
Our work aligns with NTNU 2035, particularly its emphasis on addressing societal challenges through research and collaboration across contexts. In line with the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences Strategy, we combine research with student learning and cooperation with schools and practitioners. We focus on disability, participation, and barriers in education, aiming to support disability informed practices that foster inclusion. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and student involvement, the group contributes to ongoing research activity and disability-inclusive educational development at ILU, in alignment with the 2026–2029 period plan.
While our aim is to explore the disability experience broadly, our acronym (idrett is Norwegian for sport) reflects that the co-leaders and several contributors of the group have backgrounds in physical activity, sport, and physical education. As such, the work of the group will naturally reflect our positionalities.
Research Projects
Our research group prioritizes projects relating to disability experiences, stakeholder experiences, and disability representation or conceptualization. Please use the first three collapsible lists below to learn about the upcoming, ongoing, and completed projects that we are involved with. Expand the final list to find out more about an exciting umbrella project driven by data collected for our master students' theses.
Upcoming Projects
Upcoming Projects
Service Delivery Models for Students with Disabilities in Norwegian Schools
- Status: Upcoming
- Participants: Katie Holland, Steven K. Holland
Physical Activity for School Aged Children Experiencing In-patient Medical Care
- Status: Ongoing
- Participants: Katie Holland, Justin A. Haegele
Ongoing Projects
Ongoing Projects
Experiences of Elite Wheelchair Athletes in the United States
- Status: Manuscripts in Progress
- Participants: Katie Holland, Steven K. Holland, Cathy McKay
- Dissemination:
- Academic Presentations
- International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) | June 2025
- “I didn’t think I qualified”: Adult wheelchair basketball players’ journey to and experience in the sport
- “It’s like a big family reunion”: Parent experiences of a national wheelchair basketball tournament in the United States
- International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) | June 2025
- Academic Presentations
Understanding the Experiences of Youth with Intellectual Disabilities in Rural Norwegian Schools
- Status: Ongoing
- PhD Project: Rahel Fink
- Supervisors: Steven K. Holland, Katie Holland, Libe García Zarranz
- Funding: RRS (formerly RSO) position funded by the faculty of Social and Educational Sciences
Erfaringer fra og bruk av individuelt tilrettelagt opplæring (ITO) som ressurs i kroppsøving / Experiences from and use of individually facilitated education as a resource in physical education
- Status: Ongoing
- Participants: Steven K. Holland, Katie Holland, Rannveig Østbye Dale (Teacher, Trondheim Kommune)
- Funding: Seed funding from University Schools Collaboration in Trondheim (USSiT) 2025-2027
Kroppsøvingslærerstudenters erfaringer med tilpasset opplæring for elever med funksjonsnedsettelser / Teacher education students´ experiences with adapted learning for pupils with disabilities
- Status: Ongoing
- Master´s Thesis: Lars Vikaune, Karl Martin Rolstad
- Supervisors: Katie Holland, Steven K. Holland
Completed Projects
Completed Projects
Lived Experiences of Individuals with Cerebral Palsy in "Inclusive" Physical Education
- Status: Completed
- Participants: T. Nicole Kirk, Steven K. Holland
- Dissemination:
Type 1 Diabetes and Schools: Parent’s Experiences
- Status: Completed
- Participants: Justin A. Haegele, Steven K. Holland
- Dissemination:
Wheelchair Basketball in Conflict-Affected Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Status: Completed
- Participants: T. Nicole Kirk, Cathy McKay, Katie Holland
- Funding: Data collection expenses covered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- Dissemination:
- “Now We Can Speak”: Wheelchair Sport Participation in Areas of Armed Conflict (Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly)
- “A Kind of Therapy”: Wheelchair Sport Athletes and Health-Related Quality of Life (Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport)
- “Like a Family”: Coach Perceptions of Wheelchair Sport in Conflict-Affected Low- and Middle-Income Countries (The International Sport Coaching Journal)
- Internal Project Evaluation Report for the ICRC, delivered February 2023 (unpublished)
- Academic Presentations:
- International Organization for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) | May 2024
- European Congress of Adapted Physical Activity | June 2024
- North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity | September 2024
Students with Disabilities´ Perspectives Toward Integrated Physical Education
- Status: Completed
- Participants: Katie Holland, Justin A. Haegele
- Dissemination:
- “Everybody Wants to be Included”: Experiences with ‘Inclusive’ Strategies in Physical Education (Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities)
- “They’re Either Going to Find Ways to Include You or They’re Just Kind of Not”: Experiences of Students With Orthopedic Impairments in Integrated Physical Education (Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly)
- "You Don't Get to Have the Same Experiences:" Youth with Disabilities' Perspectives of Integrated Physical Education (The Physical Educator)
- Academic Presentation:
- European Congress of Adapted Physical Activity | June 2022
Critique of Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education
- Status: Completed
- Participants: Steven K. Holland, Justin A. Haegele, Anthony Maher
- Dissemination:
Inspirational and Worthy of Charity: (Mis)Representations of Disability in Sport Media
- Status: Completed
- Participants: Katie Holland, Steven K. Holland, Justin A. Haegele
- Dissemination:
- Inspirational and Worthy of Charity: (Mis)Representations of Disability in Sport Media (Communication and Sport)
- Academic Presentation:
- North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity Conference | October 2022
Experiences of Disabled, Trans Adults in PE and Extracurricular Activities
- Status: Completed, manuscripts in review
- Participants: Steven K. Holland, Justin A. Haegele
- Dissemination:
- Academic Presentation:
- European Congress of Adapted Physical Activity | June 2022
- Academic Presentation:
Umbrella Project
Umbrella Project
This project, Belonging and inclusion in Norwegian PE: An amplified analysis of supervised master’s theses, endeavors to combine and reanalyse data from supervised theses to explore disabled students’ feelings of belonging and inclusion within Norwegian PE. This is ongoing and will include data from completed, current, and future student projects. A complete list of all student projects included to date are below.
- Status: Ongoing
- Supervisors: Steven K. Holland, Katie Holland
- Dissemination:
- Academic Presentation
- International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) | June 2025
- Academic Presentation
Ball Sports and Belonging: An Examination of Visually Impaired Adults’ PE Experiences
- Status: Completed
- Master´s Thesis: Ingrid Thronæs Kissten
- Supervisor: Steven Holland
- Dissemination:
Adult Wheelchair Users´ Experiences with Ball Sports in Physical Education: A Retrospective Investigation
- Status: Completed
- Master´s Thesis: Maren Østby
- Supervisor: Katie Holland
- Dissemination:
"Noe annet enn det vanlige" Voksne med funksjonsnedsettelse sine opplevelser med svømmeundervisning i kroppsøving ("Something out of the ordinary” Adults with disabilities´experiences with swimming lessons in physical education)
- Status: Completed
- Master´s Thesis: Nora Oline Klaussen
- Supervisors: Katie Holland, Steven K. Holland
- Dissemination:
"Jeg har egentlig ikke fått muligheten til å prøve. Fordi dem har sagt at det er umulig." ("I haven't really had the opportunity to try because they have said it is impossible.")
- Status: Completed
- Master´s Thesis: Oda Innvær
- Supervisor: Steven K. Holland
- Dissemination:
- Norwegian Research Information Repository: I haven't really had the opportunity to try because they have said it is impossible."
- Academic Presentation:
- Nordic Network on Disability Research Conference | May 2023
- Nordic Network on Disability Research Conference | May 2023
Symposia
Our research group values the ability to learn from both our national and international colleagues. We endeavor to both participate in and host international symposia for research group members and other collaborators to disseminate research, share ideas, and strategically develop future projects. Please use the collapsible list below for more information about one such symposium.
Recent Symposium
Recent Symposium
International Understandings of Physical Education Supports for Students with Disabilities
- Location/Dates: Tralee, Ireland | 14-15 June 2025
- Hosts: NTNU´s IDRETT Research Group
- Attendees: Early career researchers of adapted physical activity representing Japan, Austria, Norway, United Kingdom, Canada, USA, and Chile.
- Funding: Strategic funds from NTNU´s Department of Teacher Education
Literature
Our research group members are actively involved in contributing to the knowledge base for students and researchers in our field. Please use the collapsible list below to learn about the academic writing projects that our group is involved with. (More details will be added after publication).
Book Chapters
Book Chapters
Individual and Focus Group Discussions with Disabled Children and Youth
- Status: Complete
- Authors: Josephine Blagrave (California State University, Chico, USA), T. Nicole Kirk, Katie Holland
- Book Title: Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Methods for Researching Disability in Physical Education
- Publisher: Routledge
- Editors: Anthony J. Maher, Justin A. Haegele, Janine Coates (Louborough University)
Understanding Orthopedic Impairments
- Status: In Press
- Authors: Katie Holland, L.J. Pisciotta (Henrico County Public Schools, USA)
- Book Title: Understanding Adapted Physical Education
- Publisher: Routledge
- Editor: Justin A. Haegele
Understanding Adapted Physical Education Outside of the Gymnasium
- Status: In Press
- Authors: Steven K. Holland
- Book Title: Understanding Adapted Physical Education
- Publisher: Routledge
- Editor: Justin A. Haegele
Bevegelse og aktivitet for barn med ulike fysiske forutsetninger / Movement and Activity for Children with Various Physical Abilities
- Status: In Press
- Authors: Nina Margrethe Lilo Fagertun Benden (NTNU), Katie Holland, Sylvia Söderström
- Book Title: Spesialpedagogikk på barnehagens verdigrunnlag
- Editors: Ingvild Åmot, Karianne Franck, Rune Hausstätter
Service
Service is an important focus area for our research group, and our planned activities for 2026–2030 follow the strategic directions of NTNU 2035, with its emphasis on research based collaboration to address societal challenges, the SU Faculty’s commitment to inclusion and community engagement, and ILU’s period plan prioritising practice relevant partnerships and disability inclusive educational development. If you are interested in contributing to resource development for teachers, in service activities or co developing a workshop, please contact one of our research group leaders.
In-service Activities/Workshops
In-service Activities/Workshops
Workshop on Integrating Parasport and Adapted Sport Concepts into Physical Education Sessions
- Status: In development
- Attendees: NTNU teacher education students
Consultation and Workshop on Working with Disabled Students in Physical Education
- Status: In development
- Attendees: Physical education teachers in Norwegian schools
Resources
Resources
Bruk av ASK som kroppsøvingsressurs / Use of AAC as a resource in physical education
- Status: Ongoing
- Master´s Thesis: Ingvild Røstad, Astrid Veske Rygh
- Supervisor: Steven K. Holland
Tilrettelegging for elever med funksjonsnedsettelser i kroppsøving/ Facilitating for students with disabilities in physical education
- Status: Ongoing
- Master´s Thesis: Silje Kristine Stjern
- Supervisor: Katie Holland
Internal Contributors
-
Rahel Fink PhD Candidate
+4740319857 rahel.fink@ntnu.no Department of Teacher Education -
Theresa Kerstin Ristad Assistant Professor
+47-73592217 theresa.k.ristad@ntnu.no Department of Teacher Education -
Sylvia Söderström Phd, Professor in Healthscience
+47-73412840 sylvia.soderstrom@ntnu.no Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science -
Marte Fossflaten Tørring PhD Candidate
+4797041183 marte.f.torring@ntnu.no Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science
International Contributors
- Martin Giese, Professor, Philips University of Marburg, Germany
- Justin A. Haegele, Professor, Old Dominion University, USA
- T. Nicole Kirk, Assistant Professor, University of Georgia, USA
- Anthony Maher, Professor, Leeds Beckett University, UK
- Cathy McKay, Associate Professor, James Madison University, USA
- Emma Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, University of Worcester, UK
- Sebastian Ruin, Professor, University of Graz, Austria
Student Contributors
Ongoing Master Projects
- Silje Kristine Stjern
- Ingvild Rostad
- Astrid Veske Rygh
- Karl Martin Rolstad
- Lars Vikaune
Completed Master Projects
- Ingrid Thronæs Kissten (2025)
- Maren Østby (2025)
- Nora Oline Klaussen (2024)
- Oda Innvær (2023)