Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education
The Initiative on Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education is an interdisciplinary research, training, and policy effort focused on improving the lives of millions of children and adults with diverse learning needs worldwide.
It leverages the expertise of Stanford faculty and partners to understand and address the complex factors behind learning differences. It engages a new generation of researchers to advance knowledge about disabilities and drives innovation in early identification and support strategies to help all learners achieve their potential and fully participate in society.
Seizing New Opportunities
Recent advances in brain and learning sciences, technology, data collection and analysis, and sociocultural factors that influence learning have created opportunities to design better educational strategies for all learners.
Stanford can accelerate the pace of discovery and innovation through collaboration across fields that are traditionally siloed in special education. We are bringing together experts in education, sociology, linguistics, policy, engineering, business, medicine, neuroscience and psychology to create a distinct hub of talent and creativity. Through these networks, our scholars help build school capacity to better serve students and families, translate research findings into effective and impactful curriculum, inspire measurable adoption and expansion of inclusive pedagogies, and advance our knowledge of how people learn and the best ways to teach.
Children with learning differences are often marked by stigma. Special education research is often siloed. Our focus is on inclusion, collaboration, and expanding opportunities for all.
The Way Forward
The Initiative on Learning Differences and the Future of Special Education drives change through research, education, policy engagement, and outreach.
Advancing Discovery
Bridging Research, Policy, & Practice
We create and disseminate new teaching strategies, research paradigms, inclusion methods, and policy recommendations as well as develop tools for personalized learning.
Research Stories
Discoveries made at Stanford inform teaching practices, generate new ideas and innovation, evaluate policies and change lives.
