Making Research a Priority

The Applied Research Unit houses numerous research projects aimed at improving learning among children with special needs. It is here that researchers develop curriculum and assessment materials, promote research to improve classroom instructional methods, and train professionals to become leaders in their field.  Researchers and educators carefully monitor student progress and individualized educational programs based on these data.  

 Center researchers use these data to develop and disseminate sustainable instructional materials and teaching procedures, many of which have become recommend practices in special education.  For example, the classroom approach that is used to teach children with Down syndrome in the majority of our nation’s classrooms is a model curriculum that was initially developed at the Haring Center. For the past 10 years, research on children with autism has led to a model program that has already been replicated in school districts across the U.S. and in 17 other countries.  As a result of this work and the dissemination of the Center’s best practices and models, countless students are thriving in regular, integrated P-12 classrooms and are receiving the education they deserve.

Learn more about the researchers and their current research projects.