Zachary Rossetti

Associate Professor

Dr. Zach Rossetti is an associate professor of special education at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Dr. Rossetti conducts research on social inclusion and belonging of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), specifically the contexts and dynamics of friendships and how educators and parents/caregivers can facilitate friendship opportunities between students with and without IDD. His research also examines the experiences of families with children with IDD by centering on participation and language access in IEP meetings, family-professional partnerships of culturally and linguistically distinguished families, family advocacy, community participation, and sibling roles and relationships. Inclusive education and community belonging are central to his research.

He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Education, an associate editor for Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities and Remedial and Special Education, and on the editorial board of Exceptional Children, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, and Inclusive Practices.

Pronouns: he/him

In the Media

Education

PhD, Special Education, Syracuse University
CAS, Disability Studies, Syracuse University
MEd, Special Education (Concentration: Severe Disabilities), University of New Hampshire
BA, Sociology, Middlebury College

Courses

WED SE 250 Disability, Education, and Public Policy
WED SE 533 Families of Children with Disabilities
WED SE 535 Understanding Autism
SED SE 805 Special Education Doctoral Seminar

Research

Principal Investigator, Spencer Foundation, Large Research Grant, Project Civic LeAdS: Enhancing Civic Engagement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families and Students with Disabilities: Legislative Advocacy in Special Education. $500,000 (10/1/20-8/31/26)

Principal Investigator, Boston University Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being, Partnership Grant, Navigating the Transition from Early Intervention to Public School: Experiences, Assets, and Challenges of Vietnamese Families. $15,000.

Principal Investigator, Spencer Foundation, Small Research Grant, Enhancing Civic Engagement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Parents of Children with Disabilities. $50,000 (1/1/18 – 12/31/18).

Principal Investigator, The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation, Friends Matter! Increasing and Improving Social Interaction Opportunities between Students with and without Intellectual Disabilities. $142,522 (1/1/17 – 12/31/19).

Selected Publications

Rosati, S. A., Rossetti, Z., Giani, M. V. (2026). Speaking with, not for: Methods for centering student voice in special education research. Remedial and Special Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/07419325261454872

Rossetti, Z., Bui, O., Figueroa, N., Kelly, R., Ramirez, M., Khanna, R. M., & Sauer J. (2025). Equal ground: Meaningful collaboration with culturally and linguistically diverse families of children with intellectual and developmental disability. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 35(2), 174-192. https://doi.org/10.1080/10474412.2024.2393855

Rossetti, Z. (2025). “Not sure how to approach them the right way”: Nondisabled students’ perspectives on friendship. Remedial and Special Education, 46(1), 66-78. https://doi.org/10.1177/07419325231221215

Baulier, K., Rossetti, Z., Leider, C. M., & Dobbs, C. (2025). “Normalizing a diverse environment”: Collective visions of authentic inclusion. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1177/15407969251396406

Best, M., Rossetti, Z., Hughes, O., Demissie, S., Kunzier, T., & Lindsay, R. (2025). Empowering self-advocacy: Youth with disabilities share their experiences and perspectives. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals. https://doi.org/10.1177/21651434251400309

Rossetti, Z., Lehr, D., Shaheen, T., Baulier, K., Burnette, K., & Taub, D. (2023). Parent perceptions of remote instruction for students with extensive support needs. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 48(1), 41-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/15407969231154166

Kim, J. H., Hughes, O., Demissie, S., Kunzier, T., Cheung, C. W., Monarrez, E., Burke, M. M., & Rossetti, Z. (2022). Lessons learned from research collaboration among people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 60(5), 405-415. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-60.5.405

Burke, M. M., Rossetti, Z., & Li, R. (2021). The efficacy and impact of a special education legislative advocacy program among parents of children with disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52, 3271-3279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05258-4

Rossetti, Z., Burke, M. M., Hughes, O., Rivera, J., Schraml-Block, K., Rios, K., Aleman Tovar, J., & Lee, J. (2021). Parent perceptions of the advocacy expectation in special education. Exceptional Children, 87(4), 438-457. https://doi.org/10.1177/0014402921994095

Sauer, J. S., & Rossetti, Z. (2020). Affirming disability: Strengths-based portraits of culturally diverse families. Teachers College Press. https://www.tcpress.com/affirming-disability-9780807763292

Rossetti, Z., & Keenan, J. (2018). The nature of friendship between students with and without severe disabilities. Remedial and Special Education, 39(4), 195-210. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932517703713

Selected Presentations

Rossetti, Z. (2026, February). Culturally responsive intervention in early childhood transition for Vietnamese families. Research on Tap- The Well-Being of Children in Immigrant Families: Research on Policy and Practice, Boston University Office of Research, Boston, MA.

Rossetti, Z., & Tekwani, S. (2025, November). The sibling experience [Invited panel presentation]. Transition Talks Family Workshops, Perkins Transition Center, Perkins School for the Blind (virtual). https://www.perkins.org/transition-center/transition-planning-resource-center/transition-talks-family-workshops/

Rossetti, Z. (2025, September). Prioritizing friendship in school and community [Invited speaker]. 21st Annual Goldstick Family Lecture in the Study of Communication Disorders, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. https://education.illinois.edu/alumni/the-goldstick-family-lecture

Rossetti, Z. (2023, March). Friends Matter: Developing authentic social relationships. Webinar presented during the Meaningful Lives Spring 2023 Webinar Series, TASH New England, virtual. https://tash.org/meaningful-lives-spring-2023-webinar-series

Conley, T., Rossetti, Z., Handler, N., & Tekwani, S. (2022, March). Sibling grief and loss. The Sibling Leadership Network Podcast, Episode 10, Sibling Leadership Network. https://siblingleadership.org/2022/03/14/sln-podcast-10-sibling-grief-and-loss

Rossetti, Z. (2021). All kids need friends. Good Things in Life for Kids with Disabilities Podcast, Good Things In Life, Ontario, Canada. https://goodthingsinlife.org/117-2

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