The Japanese Association of Special Education is the only scientific research group in Japan that was organized to work for the improvement and progress of scientific researches in the special education field. It was established in November, 1963 and more than 45 years has past since the 1st convention was held at Tokyo University of Education. Annual conventions have been held all over the country, with the next, the 47th convention is scheduled to be held in September, 2009 hosted by Utsunomiya University.

As stated previously, besides holding the annual conventions that aim to encourage and exchange member's researches, the issue of organs, " The Japanese Journal of Special Education", is a part of our main activities. Currently, it is issued 6 times a year, volume 1 to 6, and it would be said it is our trait to edit volume 6 as "English thesis special issue" that intends to send our researches to foreign countries. Also we organize Permanent Committees for the nature of association or the research and, based on the demand from the members, have done research activities on special education system or problems of the qualification so far and publish the results at permanent committees.

The number of members has reached more than 4000 as of August, 2008 (4,138 domestic members and 17 overseas members). Members of the Association are that professionals who make researches and practice in a broad range of fields, including the education for people with disabilities, correctional education for children who have behavioral problems, psychology, healthcare and medical science, rehabilitation or welfare, and they are supposed to belong to any of nine composed subcommittees.

In late years, inclusive education and normalization have progressed, according to individual educational needs, the concept or the range of the handicap of the children who become the object of a special education and support has extended, and moreover, the changes in seriousness, overlap and diversification of handicap are taking place.
Based on above matters, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in our country has converted from "Special Education" to "Special Needs Education" and the approach to the new support system of education is in the process.
The basic and practical researches in an approach to a specific field and object and an approach to various fields and cross-object will be required more and more in such a situation in the future.
In addition, the role of concrete and practical contribution to the local society by attempting to use the achieved result of research for the education or welfare site is expected of this academic society.

As just described, the Japanese Association of Special Education is the research group that makes researches on both fundamental and practice for independence and the social participation of the disabilities, consisting of concerned parties from the fields including the child care, education, psychology, medical treatment, healthcare, welfare or labor.
We will sincerely welcome the admission and participation of the people interested in the Japanese Association of Special Education from various fields to this academic society.