This article is part of a case study of U.S. federal leadership in special education from the perspective of those who served in the roles of Assistant Secretaries of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services and Directors of the Office of Special Education Programs or their equivalents in the former U.S. Office of Education and…

In the past, parents of children with disabilities have spearheaded several policies for individuals with disabilities. However, little is known about their experiences with legislators. To address this gap, focus groups and surveys about legislative advocacy were conducted with 127 parents of individuals with disabilities across four states. The…

The current study aimed to identify the reality of collaborative practices to facilitate access to mental healthcare by students with disabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Descriptive survey approach was used to obtain data from 71 teachers and specialists (n = 42 teachers; n = 29 specialists), who were identified using snowball sampling…

In England the 2014 Children and Families Act introduced wide ranging changes to the assessment of and provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Guidance underpinning implementation was then published in the Code of Practice. Our study focuses on a key component of that legislation, known as…

The introduction of a new Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice in 2015 marked one of the most significant reforms to the SEND statutory assessment process in England since its introduction over 30 years ago. This article presents the findings of a small-scale study that aimed to identify the extent to which the reforms…

This article describes the Brazilian juvenile justice system and the educational rights of incarcerated adolescents with learning disabilities, to discuss how and why they are "invisible" and deprived of adequate treatment for their specific needs. The main reasons reside (a) in the complex national legal structure of the juvenile…

Individuals who serve as surrogate parents fulfill an important role in the life of a child with a disability. Surrogates have become increasingly important in special education because a growing number of children are living outside their family for some period of their lives. Like parents, surrogates of children with disabilities are granted a…

Many countries keep official records of parliamentary debates. In the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Singapore, these transcriptions are referred to as Hansard, providing a rich resource for researchers exploring the historical and contextual background of governmental policy and legislation. This case study draws on the original…

Students preparing to emancipate from the foster care system face multiple challenges. For many formerly fostered teens, outcomes are relatively poor. Others have shown incredible resilience in the face of adversity. School psychologists can help address obstacles to postsecondary success for students living in foster care preventively while they…

Rationale: The rationale for this small-scale research project arose from discussions at a national youth offending special interest group for educational psychologists (EPs). The Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) was introduced following revisions to the SEND Code of Practice based on the Children and Families Act (2014) to support children…

Specific learning disability (SLD) identification and eligibility practices are evolving and sometimes contentious. This article describes the historical context and current status of the SLD definition, legislation, regulation, and case law related to the identification of students eligible for special education services. The first part traces…

This article considers the pedagogical implications of the idea that the ethical imperative to include others in education does not descend upon us in the form of rules or codes that must be followed, but originates in a perfectionist moment or responsibility that precedes all readily available answers to moral difficulties. By reminding us that…

This paper discusses the background, current situation and challenges of educational integration and inclusive education in Mexico and Chile. These countries obtained similar low results on the academic achievement of their students (Mexico last and Chile second last) among OECD countries; and above average scores, among Latin-American countries.…

Since the late 1970s, special education in the People's Republic of China has experienced significant reform and fast development. However, education for children with severe developmental disabilities, especially autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), is still the greatest challenge in the field. This paper aims to give readers an overview of what is…

The beginning of the 21st century is marked by systemic, economic and social transformations in Poland and Russia, that significantly affected the education system, including the education for persons with special needs. This paper is an attempt to present synthetically the changes relating to persons with disabilities. The current state of the…