Food Insecurity and Special Education
Daniel Krichker. Abstract: In recent decades, the coexistence of hunger, food insecurity, and special education has gained considerable attention from policymakers, researchers, and educators. Food insecurity, defined as inconsistent access to nutritious food, profoundly impacts children's mental, physical, and emotional development (Wang, 2021). Special education students are particularly susceptible, as their developmental needs demand proper nutrition for effective learning and socialization. Studies reveal that food insecurity elevates the risk of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues among children (Shor, 2021), which hinders their learning capabilities and necessitates specialized educational interventions. Furthermore, hunger and food insecurity can exacerbate existing health conditions in special education students, leading to absenteeism and poor academic performance (Banks, 2021). Consequently, it becomes crucial to address hunger and food insecurity among c...