Spotlight on Children and Young People with Complex Special Needs

Abstract

As Donald Rumsfeld, former US Secretary of Defense stated in February 2002, “there are known knowns … there are things we know that we know … there are known unknowns … that is to say, there are things that we now know we don’t know.” There are an estimated 1 billion persons around the world who live with complex special needs. Multidisciplinary special music education practitioner teams devote extraordinary time and energy to nurture musical communities that are inclusive of diverse cohorts of children and young people. In this chapter, Allan, Laurence, Catherine, Karen, Mary, and Brigit help tell the story. The chapter focuses on this question: What and where are the challenging, sometimes-controversial dilemmas, cultures, and big issues for those who share a common mission and vision of quality musical experiences and activities for all? The chapter undertakes a systematic review of some of the relevant information and scholarly evidence-based research in a diversity of disciplines. There appears to be cause for cautious optimism despite noisy contests of challenging, sometimes controversial dilemmas, cultures, and big issues. Provision of quality musical experiences and activities for benefit of all students appears to have progressed.