Interdisciplinary Research

Logo - Stylized Infinity Symbol with NEST Center for Neurodiversity Education, Support and Training.

A diverse group of researchers are affiliated with the Center for Neurodiversity Education, Support and Training (NEST) including faculty from Economics, Education, Music, Nursing, and Psychology. Our priorities include:

  • Incorporating the voices of neurodivergent individuals in the work we do, particularly through our Consultants group where neurodivergent adults advise on all aspects of our research projects.
  • Partnering with members of our Affiliates group, which includes neurodivergent adults, family members and professionals in the field, to ensure our work aligns with their needs.
  • Prioritizing research that reduces disparities among underserved populations.
  • Working with service providers in our local communities to support neurodivergent individuals and their families.

Caregiver Experiences with Special Education in Massachusetts: Evidence of Broken Promises?

John W. McKenna, Meghan Burke, Hsien-Yuan Hsu, Ashleigh Hillier, and Joseph Veneziano.

Read the working paper: Parent/Guardian Experiences with Special Education in Massachusetts.

Introduction

Research suggests that schools experience significant challenges providing a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities. There are also power imbalances that impact the quality of home-school partnerships in special education. In Massachusetts there are concerns that many children who receive special education services are not provided an appropriate education and that the state has not provided appropriate oversight of school practice. These concerns are now being investigated by the federal government.