Center for Educational
and Social Equity

The Center for Educational & Social Equity is a research center based in the School of Education at Chapman University. The research focus of the Center is on investigating conditions which will allow greater inclusion of people with severe disabilities into the greater society. At times, this means investigating strategies to increase learning and at other times is means to break down the social barriers to school and community inclusion.

The Center currently is conducting research in several areas, including facilitated communication, methods of inquiry, and school and community inclusion. The Center also is a sponsor and active member of the Inclusion Network, a community and parent organization dedicated to the best strategies for school inclusion.

Facilitated communication is an alternative means of expression for people who cannot speak, or whose speech is highly limited (e.g. echoed, limited to one or a few word utterances), and who cannot point reliably. The method has been used as a means to communicate for individuals with severe disabilities, including persons with labels of mental retardation, autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.