Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Special Education at San Francisco State University. I am honored to lead a community of passionate faculty, staff, and students dedicated to advancing opportunity, access, and belonging for all learners including those with disabilities.

These are critical times to reaffirm our mission and values. Across the country, shifts in priorities and reductions in oversight threaten the very protections and resources that make equitable education possible. For example, workforce reductions at key federal offices such as the Office of Special Education Programs raise urgent questions about the capacity to uphold the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other civil rights laws. Meanwhile, cuts to special education grants and freezes on essential funding streams jeopardize the supports that our students, districts, and states depend on.

In this national landscape, our responsibility is twofold:

1. Excellence in teaching, research, and service. We remain committed to leading innovations in inclusive pedagogy, instructional strategies, and assessment—ensuring that all individuals, including those with disabilities, have opportunities to thrive.
2. Bold advocacy. We must continue to support families, collaborate with schools and communities, inform policy, and amplify the voices of people with disabilities in shaping local, state, and national decisions.

Our work is grounded in the rights guaranteed by IDEA, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—cornerstones of equity that ensure students’ access to a free and appropriate public education and protect against discrimination. Yet these laws are only as strong as our collective commitment to their full and fair implementation.

If you are visiting our site because you are considering studying, teaching, collaborating, or advocating with us, know that you will be joining a community rooted in care, courage, and action. Together, we prepare educators and leaders who transform schools and systems toward greater inclusion and justice.

Thank you for being part of this essential work. Together, we can protect access, deepen inclusion, and build a more equitable future for all learners.

With commitment and hope,
Amber Friesen, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Special Education