Core Values, Technologies, Neuroscience, and Law/Policy: Next Big Things for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

The authors speculate only about relatively short-term advances in special education for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Speculation is confined to the overlapping areas of core values, technologies, neuroscience, and law/policy. In core values, the authors hope to see a resurgence of commitment to special, effective instruction and to practice aligned with scientific evidence. It is hoped that technologies will advance practices in instruction, improve the uses of artificial intelligence in teacher training and teaching, and encourage the appropriate use of artificial reproduction to avoid disorders. Neuroscience, it is hoped, will yield more reliable and helpful classification of disorders, better and more useful imaging, and more effective treatment of a variety of emotional, behavioral, and academic problems. In law and policy, the authors hope the Supreme Court's Endrew case will result in greater focus on challenging, appropriate education. Law and policy should also encourage trauma sensitivity in education, make whole-school approaches to trauma sensitivity the priority, and avoid universal trauma screening. Students' and families' legitimate interests in confidentiality and data privacy should be protected in newly constructed information-sharing infrastructures.

Citation

Kauffman, J.M., Mattison, R.E. and Gregory, M. (2021), "Core Values, Technologies, Neuroscience, and Law/Policy: Next Big Things for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders", Cook, B.G., Tankersley, M. and Landrum, T.J. (Ed.) The Next Big Thing in Learning and Behavioral Disabilities (Advances in Learning and Behavioral Disabilities, Vol. 31), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 125-147. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0735-004X20210000031009