Focus on Research, and Stories
Join Forces with CEC’s Director of Policy & Advocacy Deborah Ziegler, CEC’s Interdivisional Research Group, and Friends of IES to advocate for continued—even increased-‐-‐research funding. Our voices matter, and are especially powerful in numbers. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we raise our collective voices to advocate for research aimed at improving the lives of children and youth at risk or identified with disabilities. We need to keep writing letters and keep calling our Senators and Representatives. Such actions have made an important difference in the past, and they MUST make a difference now.
Tell Stories. In special education, we have long valued practices that have a scientific evidence base: derived from systematic observation and hypothesis testing, and careful analysis and interpretation of data. There are quantitative and qualitative elements that help us answer complex questions-‐-‐not only what works, but for whom and in what contexts-‐-‐all guided by a process of systematic inquiry to ensure robust findings with an enduring impact.
While many of us believe that such an approach is critical for answering questions about learning and behavior and how best to meet the needs of children and youth with disabilities, scientific inquiry is not necessarily understood or valued in the current political climate. Thus, it is important that we seize every opportunity to explain what we do and why it’s important. Along with providing data as evidence of the significant
impacts that research can make, it is also critical to share stories about the schools, teachers, and families with whom we work, and the individuals our work is intended to benefit. Vivid testimonials are what seem to “stick” with people and can be quite persuasive; I believe they can be very effective in promoting the importance of conducting special education research. You can share your stories here: https://sites.google.com/a/uncg.edu/cec-‐dr-‐research-‐stories/. CEC-‐DR will make good use of these stories in our advocacy efforts.
Keep doing Good Work. The continued fight for research funding is likely to be a tough one, and the road might be long. I take comfort knowing that special education researchers will find ways to rise to whatever challenges come our way—we’ll keep doing our work, even if it is on a smaller, leaner scale-‐-‐and will continue to make a difference in the lives of children and youth with exceptional needs.