Navigating our Current Context Together

After service as president-elect over the past year, I am honored to step into the role of president for CEC’s Division for Research (DR) in the upcoming academic year. CEC-DR is devoted to the advance­ment of research related to the education of individuals with disabilities and/or who are gifted. The goals of CEC-DR include partnership with practitioners in design­ing, conducting, and interpreting research in special education to inform practice and policy. As president, I am deeply com­mitted to this mission, especially in light of the recent and ongoing federal actions targeting services for students, families, and vulnerable populations. 

A few months ago, on behalf of CEC-DR, Past-President Jessica Toste and I put forward a response to federal actions targeting education, such as attacks on the Department of Education and its offices. Our response continues to be relevant in the upcoming year, and I am deeply committed to the goals we outlined. 

Research is the backbone of progress in special education. It allows us to identify effective practices, challenge inequities, and advocate for evidence-based policies that improve the lives of students with disabilities, their families, and the profes­sionals who serve them. Ongoing federal actions threaten to both censor and defund research, fundamentally limiting our ability to acknowledge, understand, and address the real challenges within our education system. These restrictions not only limit academic freedom but also weaken our ability to effectively advocate for the needs of students with disabilities, families and caregivers, professionals, and communi­ties. As special education researchers, we are part of a strong, innovative, and dedi­cated community—one built on scientific inquiry and forceful advocacy that rejects the historical exclusion and marginaliza­tion of individuals with disabilities. Now is the time to reaffirm our commitment to this mission, ensuring that research remains a powerful tool for progress. 

The future of our field depends on cultivating the next generation of leaders. Policies that restrict academic freedom, limit funding, and devalue expertise create a challenging landscape for early career scholars, doctoral students, and emerging researchers. Now more than ever, we must underscore our support for rigorous, qual­ity, and impactful work in how we support rising scholars. 

Listening to and advocating alongside individuals with disabilities must be central to our efforts. While research is central to DR’s mission, we cannot operate in isola­tion. The lives and livelihoods of those we aim to serve through our research are being harmed. We have a responsibility to use our voices, platforms, and privilege to challenge injustices, push for change, and stand in solidarity with those most vulnerable as a wide range of programs, policies, and protections continue to be targeted. 

In the upcoming year, I am deeply committed to working with the DR Executive Board in navigating the current educational landscape as we continue to advance DR’s mission and goals. You, as members, are pivotal in shaping the direction of DR’s work. Thus, I ask that you reach out to share your insights with me and the DR Executive Board. Also, if you are wanting to get more involved in DR, we have several committees that would welcome new members! 

Again, I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as president of CEC-DR and do not take on this role lightly. I look forward to working alongside the other members of our incoming presidential line: Am­ber Ray, vice president (University of Illinois Urbana- Champaigne); Jason Chow, president-elect (Vanderbilt University); and Jessica Toste, past president (University of Texas at Austin). It is through work with the Executive Board and members like you that DR’s mission can be realized—improving the lives of individuals with dis­abilities, their families, and educational professionals via quality and impactful research!