The Inclusion of Children With Special Education Needs

This chapter represents a literature review of inclusion policies and practices for children with special needs into the mainstream education system of Romania. The authors provide a structured analysis of the main inclusion practices, with an emphasis on the criticism of the current practice. The main criticisms come from teachers, informal caregivers, students with disabilities, and stakeholders. The analysis is backed up by official documents (reports and legislation), empirical research, and other papers of Romanian professionals in the field of special and inclusive education. After approximately two decades of inclusive schooling in Romania, the authors conclude that there is still a lot of room for improvement. Inclusion is an uninterrupted process that requests resources, structure, and scientific evidence, all embodied in technical and material means, diverse teaching strategies, and well-trained professors that are able to face the challenges.

Challenges in Primary Level Inclusive Education in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s step towards inclusive education was given incentive by its involvement in major international declarations. Bangladesh agreed with the declaration of Education for All, in which education is to be provided to all children with an inclusive approach. In addition, Bangladesh is also committed to achieve Millennium Development Goals, which articulated the rights of all children into education through uniform system. It is important to note that the trend of enacting inclusive education policy and legislation in Bangladesh is mainly based upon the international treaties. The purpose of this paper is to highlight challenges in inclusive education for the policy formulators, implementers, and future researchers to take measures accordingly to universalize inclusive education in the country. The challenges identified in inclusive education concerned unfulfilled requirements of children with special needs, unfriendly situation, inadequate material and non-conforming curriculum, misinterpretation and mismanagement by stakeholders, restricted political and social backing, and adverse physiography. Pre-service training of teachers, along with continued assessment, collaboration and coordination to overcome challenges of inclusive schooling is recommended.

Socially Just Education: A Theoretical Insight into School Leadership

The socio-economic changes and neoliberal trends of the twenty-first century have been creating many profound impacts in the education industry, provoking the emerging need for an integrated environment where all individuals and organizations from different classes, backgrounds or communities are expectedly empowered with equal opportunities in order to develop to the fullest. Toward the ideals and goals of social justice in education, the function of leadership practitioners has been strongly challenged and critically redefined for a couple of decades. By theoretically investigating how the global research community has addressed this issue from various angles of view, this article hopes to remind current leaders of educational institutions to grow more sensitive to possible unjust occurrences and build up an inclusive schooling culture by putting learner-related values into the center of their work, addressing existing stereotypes in education, boosting active interactions with socially disadvantaged groups, adopting the perspectives of various stakeholders, as well as delivering other timely administrative reforms during their leadership practices.

Socially Just Education: A Theoretical Insight into School Leadership

The socio-economic changes and neoliberal trends of the twenty-first century have been creating many profound impacts in the education industry, provoking the emerging need for an integrated environment where all individuals and organizations from different classes, backgrounds or communities are expectedly empowered with equal opportunities in order to develop to the fullest. Toward the ideals and goals of social justice in education, the function of leadership practitioners has been strongly challenged and critically redefined for a couple of decades. By theoretically investigating how the global research community has addressed this issue from various angles of view, this article hopes to remind current leaders of educational institutions to grow more sensitive to possible unjust occurrences and build up an inclusive schooling culture by putting learner-related values into the center of their work, addressing existing stereotypes in education, boosting active interactions with socially disadvantaged groups, adopting the perspectives of various stakeholders, as well as delivering other timely administrative reforms during their leadership practices.

The Surplus Effect in Adaptive Behaviour in Down Syndrome: What Can Promote It?

Background: In Down syndrome (DS), adaptive behaviour often shows a “surplus effect” (i.e., higher adaptive abilities than expected from cognitive skills). As inclusive schooling has become mandatory in Italy, we studied the impact of school inclusion on the surplus effect of adaptive behaviour in adult DS, considering potential confounding factors such as parental education. Methods: All consecutive DS individuals from three different sites were queried prospectively regarding type of schooling (inclusive and non-inclusive). Demographic data were documented; cognitive abilities and adaptive behaviour were assessed (Coloured Progressive Matrices and Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales). The aim was to establish the presence of a surplus effect in adaptive behaviour, primarily in the overall level and secondarily in the main domains and subdomains. A multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model was used for the association of schooling, and parental education. Results: The majority (65%) showed a surplus effect in adaptive behaviour and had attended inclusive schools (85%). Higher adaptive skills as well as early and longer functional treatment programmes were more readily available for younger individuals. In the group of inclusive schooling, the surplus effect on overall adaptive behaviour was present in 70% as opposed to 38% in the group without inclusive schooling, significant when adjusted for gender and maternal education. This was also observed in socialisation, written, and community, and after adjustment in playing and leisure time. Conclusions: Adaptive behaviour showed a surplus effect in the majority of DS adults, even more so after inclusive schooling. Younger adults showed higher adaptive skills. Moreover, female gender and higher maternal educational level significantly enhanced this surplus effect.

The Salamanca Declaration in Practice: Inclusion in Europe 2008-2012

Educating all children in local schools (inclusive schooling) was agreed by the Salamanca declaration in 1994. Progress has been uneven with evidence from the USA that rural areas achieve higher rates of inclusion possibly due to socio-economic factors. This paper considers whether individual jurisdictions in Europe are making progress, and which socio-economic factors may be relevant. A novel statistical analysis to identify outliers and economic and Social Progress Index data were used to determine likely sources of variation. There are significant differences across Europe both in the level of inclusion and in the progress towards inclusion. No economic or social indices predicted levels of inclusion. The most likely explanation for the one consistent outlier was a legislative one. The results are discussed with reference to data from the USA, and proposals are made for further analyses that might elucidate the reasons for differing levels of inclusion in education.

"If only they want to hear us out" Parents with Same-sex Sexuality Children and their Experiences with School Involvement

The parental involvement strategies in the education of their child are crucial to improve learning at home and in school. However, concerning issues of samesex sexuality in South African schools, it is uncertain how schools engage with parents whose child identifies with a non-heterosexuality. We were interested in investigating and exploring the parents experience with school involvement, where the parents under investigation affirm their children s sam-seex sexualities. Using a qualitative research design, through a case study methodology, we conducted, semi-structured interviews with six (6) parents who affirm their children s sam-seex sexuality in the Free State Province (3rd largest Province in South Africa) and t h e Gauteng Province (Largest Province in South Africa). Our findings suggest from our study that the parents who affirm and embrace their child's same-sex sexuality were antagonized with gender binaries, heteronormative, and heterosexist school culture. Their children faced insurmountable acts of discrimination daily. For this specific reason, these parents wanted to be active agents in creating a safe, enabling, and inclusive schooling space for their non-normative sexuality children. The Parents in our study recognized that the idea of such a secure and enabling learning environment did not realise due to traditional cultures, along with the constructions of gender and sexuality. These parents were exposed to negative experiences due to the unwillingness of school authorities, insufficient strategies and values, and norms. We thus endorse a structured approach to parental involvement for all learners regardless of gender expression and sexual orientation. We further advise school governance bodies should affirm learners with diverse sexual orientations through the various policies and legislations.

Integration to Inclusion in Hong Kong: Not an Easy Progression

This article describes the evolution of inclusive education in Hong Kong, moving from segregation via integration to inclusion. The outside influence of education policies and trends from Britain, Australia, and the United States are identified, and the current situation is described. In particular, obstacles that are encountered on the route to inclusion are compared with those found in other countries. These obstacles include large class size, teachers’ often negative attitudes, parents’ expectations, teachers’ lack of expertise for adapting the curriculum and for providing differentiated teaching, and ongoing conflicts between the notion of ‘inclusive schooling for all’ and the ‘academic standards agenda’.

Meeting Diverse Information Needs: Students with Disabilities

This paper presents the results of a four-year study conducted in primary and secondary schools from all sectors in two Australian states, Victoria and New South Wales. The study investigated the impact of inclusive schooling on the provision of library and information services to students with disabilities. The methodology used in the study incorporated both survey and case study. Empirical data collected by survey concentrated particularly on the current level of service provision to students with disabilities, whilst case study investigations also looked at management factors. The focus was on the relationship between the school library staff and the special education staff, and the effect this had on school library provision and the acquisition of information skills by students with disabilities. The discussion includes the level of service provision to students with disabilities, as well as the managerial approach of teacher-librarians and their awareness of appropriate resources, teaching approaches and technology.