Sherwin, G. H., & Schmidt, S. (2003). Communication Codes Among African American Children and Youth – The Fast Track From Special Education to Prison?.Journal of Correctional Education, 54(2), 45-52.

Youth and adults with disabilities are over-represented in most private and public correctional facilities across the country. In turn, a disproportionate number of African American males are placed in special education. It is possible that some at-risk students are over-identified for special education services due to ethnic variations in culturally endorsed communication codes because the function and meanings of these codes in discrete contexts are not fully understood by the personnel contributing to special education eligibility decisions. This research examines culturally intact communication codes that could lead to over-identification of African American males in special education and, ultimately, correctional facilities.

Full article can be found here:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/41971127