US Education Department to Hold Summit on Support Strategies for Students With Disabilities & Those With Mental Health Needs
Categories: US Education News
The US Department of Education has announced that it is planning to host the first of its kind virtual summit, “Recovery to Thriving: Supporting Mental Health & Students with Disabilities,” to discuss steps that colleges and other educational institutions can take to support students with special needs and those experiencing mental health issues.The summit will be held on Monday, May 23, and will bring together educational leaders, disability advocates and coordinators, education professionals, and others, Erudera.com reports. According to a press release issued by the Department of Education, during the summit, participants will discuss issues affecting students with disabilities and those with mental health issues as the nation is trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said that now as the country recovers from the pandemic, it’s important to acknowledge that students with special needs in the US have struggled during the pandemic, adding that injustice between students with special needs and their peers happened back then. “Ensuring that our students with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education that meets their academic, social, and emotional needs isn’t just written into law, it’s a moral obligation. We must work together so that students with disabilities and mental health needs receive the resources they need to thrive,” Cardona said.He stressed that promising practices to support these students will be presented during the summit, adding that the summit will also demonstrate the department’s continued commitment to serve students with special needs as well as to provide educational institutions with the necessary tools to reevaluate education and make sure that every student succeeds.