Absence Of Social Interaction Research Articles

Mental health, wellbeing and coping strategies of autistic adults during isolation

Purpose The negative effects of loneliness and isolation on mental health and wellbeing on the neurotypical population are well documented. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the effects of isolation on the mental health and wellbeing of autistic adults who were separated from friends and family for an extended period. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted shortly after the lifting of the third UK lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic with a sample of 7 people (mean age, 35) formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Findings The study explored effects stemming from the absence of social interaction. Thematic analysis led to the creation of three themes: The first, “Context affects perception of isolation: I’m going to continue on with my life as much as I possibly can” shows a negative impact on wellbeing, perceived through the filter of larger issues resulting from lockdown and the necessity of isolation. The second, “Being alone can be comfortable: Lockdown has been good for me” discusses the mental health benefits of isolation and participants feeling of being “primed” for that isolation. The third, “Challenges from isolation: ‘Changing routine’” explores the changes people made while isolated, with a focus on coping strategies and communication. Originality/value Findings reveal the importance of supporting autistic adults to maintain social contact during and after isolation and contradict research suggesting autistic people are not motivated to seek social interaction.

The relationship between anaemia and the use of treated bed nets among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Ghana.

Studies have indicated that the risk of malaria, particularly its association with anaemia in pregnant women, increases when treated bed nets are not used. This paper utilizes a statistical mechanical model to investigate whether there is a statistical relationship between the presence or absence of anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women and their decision to sleep under treated bed nets. Data from the Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey (GMIS), which includes both rural and urban malaria-endemic areas in Ghana, were employed in this study. A total of 2,434 women, comprising 215 pregnant and 2,219 non-pregnant participants, were involved. Among these, 4.76% of the pregnant and anaemic women and 45.89% of the non-pregnant and anaemic women slept under treated bed nets, while 0.86% of the pregnant and anaemic and 6.82% of the non-pregnant and anaemic women did not. The findings revealed that, in the absence of social interaction, non-anaemic pregnant women have a lower prevalence of choosing to use bed nets compared to their anaemic counterparts. Additionally, non-pregnant anaemic women showed a positive private incentive (30.87%) to use treated bed nets, implying a positive correlation between anaemia and the choice to sleep in a treated bed net. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that both pregnancy and anaemia status have a relationship with the use of treated bed nets in Ghana, especially when social interactions are considered. The interaction strength between non-pregnant and anaemic women interacting with each other shows a negative estimate (-1.49%), implying that there is no rewarding effect from imitation. These insights are crucial for malaria prevention and control programs, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to enhance the use of treated bed nets among both pregnant and non-pregnant women in Ghana's malaria-endemic regions.

Ethical and legal challenges of AI in marketing: an exploration of solutions

PurposeArtificial intelligence (AI) has sparked interest in various areas, including marketing. However, this exhilaration is being tempered by growing concerns about the moral and legal implications of using AI in marketing. Although previous research has revealed various ethical and legal issues, such as algorithmic discrimination and data privacy, there are no definitive answers. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating AI’s ethical and legal concerns in marketing and suggesting feasible solutions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper synthesises information from academic articles, industry reports, case studies and legal documents through a thematic literature review. A qualitative analysis approach categorises and interprets ethical and legal challenges and proposes potential solutions.FindingsThe findings of this paper raise concerns about ethical and legal challenges related to AI in the marketing area. Ethical concerns related to discrimination, bias, manipulation, job displacement, absence of social interaction, cybersecurity, unintended consequences, environmental impact, privacy and legal issues such as consumer security, responsibility, liability, brand protection, competition law, agreements, data protection, consumer protection and intellectual property rights are discussed in the paper, and their potential solutions are discussed.Research limitations/implicationsNotwithstanding the interesting insights gathered from this investigation of the ethical and legal consequences of AI in marketing, it is important to recognise the limits of this research. Initially, the focus of this study is confined to a review of the most important ethical and legal issues pertaining to AI in marketing. Additional possible repercussions, such as those associated with intellectual property, contracts and licencing, should be investigated more deeply in future studies. Despite the fact that this study gives various answers and best practices for tackling the stated ethical and legal concerns, the viability and efficacy of these solutions may differ depending on the context and industry. Thus, more research and case studies are required to evaluate the applicability and efficacy of these solutions in other circumstances. This research is mostly based on a literature review and may not represent the experiences or opinions of all stakeholders engaged in AI-powered marketing. Further study might involve interviews or surveys with marketing professionals, customers and other key stakeholders to offer a full knowledge of the practical difficulties and solutions. Because of the rapid speed of technical progress, AI’s ethical and regulatory ramifications in marketing are continually increasing. Consequently, this work should be a springboard for more research and continuing conversations on this subject.Practical implicationsThis study’s findings have several practical implications for marketing professionals. Emphasising openness and explainability: Marketing professionals should prioritise transparency in their use of AI, ensuring that customers are fully informed about data collection and utilisation for targeted advertising. By promoting openness and explainability, marketers can foster customer trust and avoid the negative consequences of a lack of transparency. Establishing ethical guidelines: Marketing professionals need to develop ethical rules for the creation and implementation of AI-powered marketing strategies. Adhering to ethical principles ensures compliance with legal norms and aligns with the organisation’s values and ideals. Investing in bias detection tools and privacy-enhancing technology: To mitigate risks associated with AI in marketing, marketers should allocate resources to develop and implement bias detection tools and privacy-enhancing technology. These tools can identify and address biases in AI algorithms, safeguard consumer privacy and extract valuable insights from consumer data.Social implicationsThis study’s social implications emphasise the need for a comprehensive approach to address the ethical and legal challenges of AI in marketing. This includes adopting a responsible innovation framework, promoting ethical leadership, using ethical decision-making frameworks and conducting multidisciplinary research. By incorporating these approaches, marketers can navigate the complexities of AI in marketing responsibly, foster an ethical organisational culture, make informed ethical decisions and develop effective solutions. Such practices promote public trust, ensure equitable distribution of benefits and risk, and mitigate potential negative social consequences associated with AI in marketing.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is among the first to explore potential solutions comprehensively. This paper provides a nuanced understanding of the challenges by using a multidisciplinary framework and synthesising various sources. It contributes valuable insights for academia and industry.

SOLITUDE LINKS WITH INDIVIDUAL AND RELATIONAL WELL-BEING: EVIDENCE FROM DYADIC DAILY LIFE ASSESSMENTS

Abstract Solitude, defined as physical aloneness or the absence of social interactions, has been associated with both positive and negative outcomes. Older adults spend a significant amount of their waking time by themselves (exacerbated during the pandemic), but they may be better equipped to regulate the negative emotions that are often linked with being alone. Additionally, solitude may provide a balance between social connectedness and autonomous needs. Using pandemic, end-of-day daily diary data across 10 days from 136 older Canadian adults and a close other of their choice (59% spouses, M = 66.49 years, SD = 13.26 range: 18-87 years, 88% White, 62% women), this project aims to examine associations of actor and partner solitude with relationship quality and daily affect. Multilevel models revealed that participants who reported more voluntary solitude experienced more daily positive affect and those who reported more negative solitude experienced both more negative affect and less positive affect at both daily and overall levels. We also found daily partner effects such that more voluntary solitude of the partner was associated with less actor negative affect and negative solitude of the partner being associated with less actor positive affect and more negative affect over and above actor effects. Finally, when partners reported more voluntary solitude, participants reported higher relationship support. Findings shed light on the benefits and drawbacks of how solitude is experienced in older adulthood, highlighting the influence social partners affect quality and relationship satisfaction.

Are video streaming services offering incomplete entertainment?

In this article, in which I focus on the changing possibilities of media entertainment, I examine the increasingly individualized viewing experience through the elements of enjoyment and fun. I argue that video streaming services, born out of the collapse of the public space concept and presented as an industrial option, focus on providing enjoyment, exclude fun, and fail to provide a complete entertainment environment. I coin the term “incomplete entertainment” to describe the viewing experience that takes place in this medium, characterized by isolation, and the absence of social interaction.

The Impact of Stress from Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Disorders: An Analysis from the Scientific Literature.

The COVID-19 pandemic generated, in addition to severe symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths worldwide, as well as stress from the fear of the disease and social uncertainties, from restriction measures and social isolation. Stress from social isolation impacts mental health, aggravating existing conditions and triggering neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals with biopsychosocial vulnerability. During and immediately after the period of social restriction imposed by the pandemic, the scientific community carried out several research protocols. These revealed results that relevantly demonstrate the harmful effect of the stress induced by the pandemic situation. This narrative review reports and discusses research results demonstrating impairments in psychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, dementia, eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. In this sense, the community has identified a significant negative influence of social isolation on the mental health of individuals through the modification of individual routines and the absence of social interactions. Moreover, the community identified perceived differences related to the impacts on men and women. In addition to studies showing the effect of social isolation on disorders, an evaluation of protocols with some possible therapeutic intervention strategies during times of social restriction was developed.

Positives and Negatives of Distance Education from the Perspective of Teachers with Practical Experience

The COVID-19 pandemic had overnight affected all areas of traditional life. In the field of education, the classic face-to-face teaching was replaced by distance education at all levels of the educational system not only in Slovakia but in all countries of the world. Teachers, pupils, parents, teaching assistants, special educators or professional staff had had no experience with distance education up to that point. In today’s vulnerable world, the possibility of a combined educational process, in which teaching would be divided between face-to-face and distance education, is being raised more frequently mainly in connection with the energy crisis. Setting the right balance between face-to-face and distance education requires, among other things, defining the positives and negatives of these forms. Given the existing extensive theoretical elaboration of the issue of face-to-face teaching, our study focuses on the positives and negatives of distance education, while using the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through interviews, we collected the views of primary school teachers experienced in distance education. We focused on questions dealing with advantages, disadvantages, forms, methods and overall attitudes towards distance education. The study concludes by categorising the advantages and disadvantages of distance education. Based on the analysis of the responses obtained through semi-structured interviews with six teachers, we found that distance education has more negative than positive aspects. The main negatives include the lack of physical contact and the absence of social interaction. Furthermore, we found that there is low motivation, skipping lessons and lack of attention among upper grade students. Parental support for pupils in the upper grades was rather low. Teachers mainly used Slovak online platforms for distance learning. This study was done in Slovakia.

Social isolation among adolescents and its association with depression symptoms

BackgroundSocial isolation can be defined as the absence of social interactions, contacts, and relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. According to some studies, social isolation was associated with depressive symptoms. At least one out of every five teenagers suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem that impairs their function. Saudi Arabia has a significant adolescent population; however, there are few studies conducted in Saudi Arabia to assess social isolation and its psychological impact among adolescents. This research is intended to study the prevalence of social isolation among adolescents in Riyadh and its association with depression symptoms.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 483 adolescents living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An online self-administered questionnaire was used, and it was composed of three sections which are sociodemographic characteristics, assessment of social isolation, and assessment of depression symptoms.ResultsThe study reported the prevalence of social isolation among adolescents was 10.14%. The prevalence of depression symptoms among adolescents was high (31.68%). There was a significant association between social isolation and symptoms of depression among the studied sample (χ2 = 12.3, p = 0.002). It was found that being a male, living with both parents, and having low income are significant predictors of social isolation among adolescents; with r2 = 0.08 and p-value < .0001. It was also found that low-income level had a more impact on social isolation among adolescents than other factors (estimate = 1.6).ConclusionsA total of 10% of adolescents in Riyadh are socially isolated. There is a significant association between social isolation and symptoms of depression among the studied adolescents. Symptoms of depression can be predicted by social isolation. RecommendationsThe Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia should work together to conduct educational intervention programs for adolescents about mental health, the importance of social interaction, and the drawbacks of social isolation. These topics should also be involved in the curriculum of secondary schools.

ANALYSIS OF EXTERNAL FACTORS ON RURAL ECOTOURISM ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CASE STUDY IN BOGOR REGENCY OF WEST JAVA)

The entrepreneurship aspect will determine the success of the development and development of rural ecotourism. Rural ecotourism products and services must be created and packaged by entrepreneurs in an attractive and highly competitive manner so that tourists are interested in consuming them. This study aimed to analyze the external factors that affect entrepreneurial capacity in rural ecotourism. The research location was in four tourist villages in Bogor Regency, namely Ciasihan, Sirnajaya, Watesjaya and Pabuaran Villages. Primary data was obtained through filling out a list of questions by respondents using a closed-ended questionnaire by applying the “one score one indicator scoring” system pattern . Data analysis was carried out in a quantitative descriptive manner based on the average value of each criterion/indicator. Analysis of causality between variables is carried out using logistic regression analysis. The results show that the external factors that significantly affect the performance of rural ecotourism entrepreneurship are dominated by social aspects (seven factors) and some aspects of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, namely 1) market, 2) finance and 3) business culture. The highest odds ratio is in the social interaction variable, which is 5.459, while the lowest odds ratio is in the group solidarity variable, which is 0.323. With the odds ratio of social interaction of 5.459, it can be interpreted that if social interaction in the tourist village increases, it will tend to cause the success in entrepreneurship 5.459 times higher than in the absence of social interaction.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Impediment or Opportunity? Considerations Regarding the Physical-Health Impact and Well-Being among Romanian University Students

The global COVID-19 pandemic that is ongoing because of the Coronavirus II (SARS-CoV-2) has had until now a great impact on physical education and sports, especially due to the closure of training facilities and people’s lack of motivation. In Romania, physical activity (PA) and physical education (PE) have also been highly affected, especially among university students. To our knowledge, this is the first study conducted in Romania regarding the influence of the lockdown on the physical health and well-being of university students. This study aims to determine if and how the pandemic affected the university students’ mental and physical health in Romania, but also to highlight new strategies and approaches suggested by them through a questionnaire to enhance and motivate their participation in physical activities. Based on a cross-sectional design, a survey designed in two languages—Romanian and English—was completed by the students from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and foreign students that were on a mobility study visit through the Erasmus+ program in Romania. The questionnaire was filled out by 836 university students (age = 18–24 years; males: 57.73%). The findings showed that quarantine in Romania led to a significant increase in sedentarism among students and a reduction in energy for physical activity, which also affected their psychological well-being. The absence of social interactions and onsite classes led to a sedentary lifestyle among students and increased their fear and stress levels. The cancellation of all sports events and PA also led to fewer students remaining physically active. Time off training and leisure time activities caused by the ongoing restrictions might be used for new purposes, such as goal setting, overcoming injury, improving mobility, psychological development, and emphasizing strength sports for health. During the COVID-19 lockdown, sedentarism increased dramatically, especially among young people.

Stochastic establishment of β-lactam-resistant Escherichia coli mutants reveals conditions for collective resistance.

For antibiotic resistance to arise, new resistant mutants must establish in a bacterial population before they can spread via natural selection. Comprehending the stochastic factors that influence mutant establishment is crucial for a quantitative understanding of antibiotic resistance emergence. Here, we quantify the single-cell establishment probability of four Escherichia coli strains expressing β-lactamase alleles with different activity against the antibiotic cefotaxime, as a function of antibiotic concentration in both unstructured (liquid) and structured (agar) environments. We show that concentrations well below the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) can substantially hamper establishment, particularly for highly resistant mutants. While the pattern of establishment suppression is comparable in both tested environments, we find greater variability in establishment probability on agar. Using a simple branching model, we investigate possible sources of this stochasticity, including environment-dependent lineage variability, but cannot reject other possible causes. Lastly, we use the single-cell establishment probability to predict each strain's MIC in the absence of social interactions. We observe substantially higher measured than predicted MIC values, particularly for highly resistant strains, which indicates cooperative effects among resistant cells at large cell numbers, such as in standard MIC assays.

A lternative societal models of peace education and innovation in the knowledge society

This article, in its final revisions at the time of the author's passing, seeks to explain how knowledge, organizational forms, and societal institutions interact to shape peace education and innovative learning capabilities. It focuses on peace education and training systems and types of organizations as key societal institutions shaping work organization and the knowledge base of the universities. The paper argues that tacit knowledge, which is difficult to create and transfer in the absence of social interaction and people’s mobility during pandemic circumstances, constitutes a most important source of learning and sustainable competitive advantage in the knowledge society. Institutions that can harness tacit knowledge as a source of learning are more likely to produce strong innovative capabilities. The analysis suggests that there are two alternative models of competence-building which are especially favorable to learning and innovation. The paper looks at cases of peace education as illustrative examples. It argues that societies with different institutional arrangements will continue to develop a variety of organizational forms and learning strategies that privilege some sectors and discourage others. Institutionalized variation in patterns of learning and innovation therefore reproduce distinctive regional or national patterns of specialization.

Alternative societal models of peace education and innovation in the knowledge society1

AbstractThis article, a work in progress at the time of the author’s passing in 2021, seeks to explain how knowledge, organizational forms, and societal institutions interact to shape peace education and innovative learning capabilities. It focuses on peace education and training systems, and types of organizations as key societal institutions shaping work organization and the knowledge base of the universities. Its central premise is that tacit knowledge, which is difficult to create and transfer in the absence of social interaction and people’s mobility during pandemic circumstances, constitutes a most important source of learning and sustainable competitive advantage in the knowledge society. Institutions that can harness tacit knowledge as a source of learning are more likely to produce strong innovative capabilities. The analysis suggests that there are two alternative models of competence‐building which are especially favorable to learning and innovation, and examines cases of peace education as illustrative examples. It argues that societies with different institutional arrangements will continue to develop a variety of organizational forms and learning strategies that privilege some sectors and discourage others. Institutionalized variation in patterns of learning and innovation therefore reproduces distinctive regional or national patterns of specialization.

Autonomy Matters: Experiential and Individual Differences in Chosen and Unchosen Solitary Activities From Three Experience Sampling Studies

Solitude––the absence of social interaction––can bring both positive and negative experiences. Drawing on self-determination theory, we conducted three experience sampling studies to investigate quality of experience and dispositions associated with activities varying on two dimensions––chosenness (chosen/unchosen) and social context (solitary/interactive). Participants (total N = 283) completed surveys 6–7 times each day over a 7-day period (total: 8,769 surveys). Multilevel modeling confirmed that participants reported the lowest quality momentary experiences when engaged in unchosen (vs. chosen) solitary activities. Further, individuals who spent more time on unchosen solitary activities reported lower meaning in life and satisfaction with life. Extraversion was positively associated with time spent on chosen interactive activities but negatively with chosen solitary activities. Post hoc analyses revealed that people low (vs. high) in extraversion reported lower productivity only during unchosen interactive activities. Chosen (vs. unchosen) solitary activities seem to have a relatively benign impact on quality of experience and well-being.

The role of oxytocin in regulating loneliness in old age

Loneliness is prevalent in old age and is associated with reduced positive social interactions. Building on studies showing that oxytocin (OT) levels rise during social interactions, we hypothesized that following participation in positive social interaction involving synchronized movements, OT levels would increase, while state loneliness levels would diminish. A total of 63 older adults (aged M = 78.93, SD = 9.99; Range = 65–101) participated in the study. Participants completed emotional and social loneliness scales and provided saliva samples pre- and post-participation in the “mirror game”, which requires movement synchronization and is known to promote connectedness and closeness. Results indicate a reduced state of loneliness following the mirror game. Importantly, the change in OT levels predicted the change in social loneliness, defined as the absence of social interactions with people in the social network. On the other hand, emotional loneliness, marked by deficient emotional contact, only decreased among participants who experienced high levels of closeness with their partner in the mirror game. Findings suggest that context-dependent change in endogenous OT may serve as biomarker for the social effects of oxytocin on loneliness in old age and can help in the development of targeted interventions for treating loneliness in old age.

A Qualitative case study on inadequate public transport system and its social impact on people in Dhaka

This case study research assesses the social impacts of inadequate transport facilities on the people of the city of Dhaka using the qualitative content analysis method. From livelihood to the urban communities' mobility, all life-related matters are directly or indirectly related to public transport. However, the transport system in this city is one of the worst in the world. Hence, there is an absolute necessity to examine the inadequate transport facilities of the present transit system and their social effects on the people living in this city. Vanclay's Social Impact Assessment was integrated to investigate the impact. In six specific gateways of Dhaka, in-depth interviews with 1800 respondents were carried out to know about the social impacts of insufficient public transport facilities. The social impacts of inadequate transport facilities create problematic conditions specifically for the low and middle-income communities of Dhaka, aggravating traffic danger, absence of protection and safety, social isolation, reduced mobilities, loss of social capital, cultural deprivation, absence of social interaction, family estrangement, travel cost, deficiency of transport accessibility. In the future, it will have serious repercussions for its residents.

Social interaction masking contributes to changes in the activity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and impacts on circadian rhythms

Light is the most powerful temporal cue that entrains physiology and behavior through modulation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. However, on a daily basis, individuals face a combination of light and several non-photic cues, such as social interaction. In order to investigate whether SCN activity and SCN-driven rhythms are altered by social interaction, adult male C57BLJ/6 mice were maintained in groups of 3–4 animals per cage or 1 animal per cage (socially isolated) under 12:12 h / light:dark (LD) cycles or constant darkness (DD). Analysis of the two anatomical subdivisions (ventral, v and dorsal, d) of the medial SCN revealed an effect of housing conditions on the d-SCN but not on the v-SCN on the number of c-Fos immunoreactive (ir) neurons. As such, 2 h after the light-phase onset d-SCN c-Fos-ir number was lower in single-housed mice under LD. Importantly, under DD there were no effect of housing conditions in the number of c-Fos-ir SCN neurons. Social isolation increased the amplitude and strength of SCN-driven rhythm of body temperature (Tc) entrained to LD and it advanced its onset, uncoupling with spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) rhythm, without altering endogenous Tc and SLA rhythms expressed under DD. Associated with reduced Tc in the light phase, single-housed mice showed reduced body weight. However, these phenotypes were not accompanied by changes in the number of c-Fos-ir neurons in the preoptic area (POA), which are known to regulate energy metabolism and Tc. Altogether, these results imply that the social interaction masking effect on the d-SCN is added to that of light stimulus, in order to achieve full c-Fos expression in the SCN, which, in turn seems to be required to maintain daily-phase coherence between the photo-entrained rhythms of Tc and SLA. There might be an inter-relationship between masking (social interaction) and entrainment stimulus (light) that impacts the circadian parameters of the photo-entrained Tc rhythm. As such, in the absence of social interactions a more robust Tc rhythm is shown. This inter-relationship seems to occur in the dorsal subdivision of the SCN but not in the POA.

Using zebrafish (Danio rerio) models to understand the critical role of social interactions in mental health and wellbeing.

Social behavior represents a beneficial interaction between conspecifics that is critical for maintaining health and wellbeing. Dysfunctional or poor social interaction are associated with increased risk of physical (e.g., vascular) and psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, and substance abuse). Although the impact of negative and positive social interactions is well-studied, their underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Zebrafish have well-characterized social behavior phenotypes, high genetic homology with humans, relative experimental simplicity and the potential for high-throughput screens. Here, we discuss the use of zebrafish as a candidate model organism for studying the fundamental mechanisms underlying social interactions, as well as potential impacts of social isolation on human health and wellbeing. Overall, the growing utility of zebrafish models may improve our understanding of how the presence and absence of social interactions can differentially modulate various molecular and physiological biomarkers, as well as a wide range of other behaviors.

Education Equity During COVID-19: Analyzing In-Person Priority Policies for Students with Disabilities

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools nationwide failed to provide essential supports and services to students with disabilities. Based on reviews of 115 school district reopening plans, this Note finds that numerous schools sought to remedy these gaps through in-person priority policies designed to return students with disabilities to physical classrooms before other students. This Note evaluates the legal and policy implications of such in-person priority policies through the lenses of critical race theory and DisCrit. This Note begins by identifying the structural barriers to learning that students with disabilities faced during school closures, including disparities in internet access and accessibility, removal or reduction of related services, absence of social interaction and structure, and heightened trauma and mental health concerns. While in-person priority policies are meant to mitigate these barriers, this Note argues that they ultimately create segregated classrooms and exacerbate already egregious disciplinary disparities. Consequently, these policies impose disproportionate harm on students of color with disabilities.Finally, this Note calls on policymakers to develop individualized approaches to in-person priority, adopt non-exclusionary disciplinary policies, and expand access to compensatory education and extended school year services. Beyond the current crisis, policymakers must commit to eliminating systems of stratification that categorically siphon students into segregated classroom settings. By centering students of color, schools can reimagine special education to ensure that all students receive the education they deserve.

Teaching Challenges and Opportunities in Higher Education during COVID-19

COVID-19 has forced higher educational institutions to make a fast change from face-to-face learning into online learning system. However, the latter provides many opportunities, but it encompasses many challenges. Thus, its implementation necessitates a careful flexible strategy based on a continuous evaluation. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the learning system in Lebanese higher educational institutions. Based on a sample of 263 students and 48 instructors from 10 universities, the result of this study reveals that the implemented online system during COVID-19 has some advantages like time management and flexibility for both instructors and students. However, several disadvantages of online learning have been revealed during the pandemic period in Lebanon like absence of social interaction, logistic problems, pressure on instructors, lack of training on online learning and difficulty of know-how transfer from instructors to students. With the appearance of COVID-19 Delta Variant, Lebanese universities have to improve their online learning methods to balance between health care conditions, instructors’ competences and students’ motivation.