special needs education – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

The Department of Education has undergone various changes, including closing regional offices of its Office for Civil Rights, since 2025. J. David Ake/Getty Images

September 25, 2026

What civil rights enforcement cuts mean for students with disabilities – fewer staff, closed offices, longer waits

David Edward DeMatthews, The University of Texas at Austin

Filing a civil rights complaint with the Office of Civil Rights can be parents’ last stop. Following cuts and restructuring, this federal office is no longer serving that same resource.

The South African Sign Language is offered as a school subject from pre-school until the final year of high school since 2015. GettyImages

September 23, 2021

South Africa has advanced the use of sign language. But there are still gaps

Assoc Prof Diane Bell, Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Schools and universities are embracing and promoting the use and teaching of South African Sign Language but more still needs to be done.

September 12, 2019

Schools are failing pupils with special needs, despite best efforts of dedicated staff

Cathy Tissot, University of Reading and Anna Tsakalaki, University of Reading

A new report has found funding shortfalls are forcing schools to make difficult decisions about which pupils get support.

There is a payoff of early quality childhood education for families, for communities and for economies but especially for child development. (Shutterstock)

March 4, 2019

New research shows quality early childhood education reduces need for later special ed

David Philpott, Memorial University of Newfoundland

A comparative study examining more than 50 years of data in Canada, the U.S. and U.K. finds quality early child education lessens the need for later special education.

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