Inclusive education has emerged as a focus area over the past two decades in the world of Education. These efforts are still ongoing to ensure that students with disabilities and diverse learning needs have equal access to quality education in many Asian nations, especially Southeast Asia. Inclusive education is about fostering and building an environment of learning that welcomes the diversity of its students, allowing learners with special needs or disabilities to engage in both educative platforms as well as society.

Nevertheless, differences in the implementation of inclusive and special education practices exist, leading to separate and often unequal policy enactment. Hence, the continuous research and innovation, along with cross-cultural collaboration among educators, researchers, policy makers and communities will strengthen inclusive and resilient special education ecosystems. ICSAR 2026: The 16th International Conference on Special Education in the Southeast Asia Region aims to share research, new practices, and cooperative efforts to promote equitable and resilient special education across the Asia region.