Inclusive Education Across Cultures

This comprehensive collection provides a global perspective on inclusive education. The existing literature delves into whether inclusive practice is about educating children with disabilities or children from diverse backgrounds. The articles in this compilation assert that it is both. Inclusive Education Across Cultures: Crossing Boundaries, Sharing Ideas brings together multiple perspectives to present a compelling case for inclusive practice in different areas of inclusive education, ranging from policy initiatives to practices on the ground level, and advocating and creating awareness. The articles present examples that are explicitly disability-focussed and at the same time present a vision of inclusion that is about societal reform. These articles provide a voice to the people living with disabilities and enable us to learn from their stories. They not only provide theoretical information, but also connect theory and practice by discussing implemented models and practical resources. This work will be a valuable resource material for all those involved in the study of education, social work and psychology.

Inclusive Education across Cultures: Crossing Boundaries, Sharing Ideas brings together multiple perspectives through multiple voices to present a compelling case for inclusive practices, across boundaries in different areas of inclusive education, ranging from policy initiatives to practices on the ground level and advocating and creating awareness. The book is about crossing those false boundaries - north / south, disabled / abled, academic / practitioner, parents / teachers. It encourages the divides we experience, whether they be system or role based, to be bridged. The editors utilize examples that are explicitly disability focused and at the same time present a vision of inclusion that is about societal reform. If we can successfully provide education to our most vulnerable children, the education of all children will improve. One of the main features of the book is the diversity that it portrays. Contributors from around the world have used their knowledge and unique perspectives to provide current research, policies, views, and opinions. Such multiple perspectives helps obtain a global perspective on people with disabilities and inclusion.

This book represents an original and innovative series of insights, ideas and questions concerning inclusive education and cross-cultural understandings. Drawing on historical and cultural material, policy developments, legislation and research findings, the book provides a critical exploration of key factors including inclusive education, human rights, change, diversity and special educational needs. The contributors focus closely on how these factors are defined and experienced within particular societies.

Inclusive education has become a phrase with international currency shaping the content of conferences and national educational policies around the world. But what does it mean? Is it about including a special group of disabled learners or students seen to have 'special needs' (them) or is it concerned with making educational institutions inclusive, responsive to the diversity of all their students (us)? In this unique comparative study, the editors have brought together an international team of researchers from eight countries to develop case-studies which explore the processes of inclusion and exclusion within a school or group of schools set in its local and national context. The study includes classroom observation, the experiences of the school day of students and interviews with staff, students, parents and school governors. Through an innovative juxtaposition of the case-studies and commentaries on them, differences of perspective within and between countries are revealed and analysed. The study arose from a dissatisfaction with previous research, which presents 'national perspectives' or seeks findings that have global significance. This book avoids such simplification and draws attention to the problems of translation of practice across cultures. The editors start from an assumption of diversity of perspective which like the diversity of students within schools can be viewed as problematic or as a resource to be recognized and celebrated.

Create inclusive educational environments that benefit ALL learners! As schools become more diverse with students of differing abilities and needs, this self-reflective and action-oriented guide helps you create and support more inclusive schools and classrooms that intentionally educate all students. Using the Five Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency as a roadmap, this book presents: Students’ learning differences as just that – differences rather than deficits Strategies that show you how to break though the common barriers to culturally proficient and inclusive schooling Assessments that gauge your awareness and show you how to best serve every student’s needs

First published in 2000. This book looks at 'inclusive' education in the context of policy and practice in a number of different countries, particularly in relation to children and young people of school age. At the heart of the idea of inclusive education lie serious issues concerning 'human rights', 'equal opportunities' and 'social justice'. The papers in this book will, hopefully, contribute to stimulating further debate and dialogue over both the conceptualisation and understanding of a cross-cultural approach to inclusion and exclusion.

This book provides a global and social examination of how disabilities are played out and experienced around the world. It presents auto-ethnographic perspectives on disability across cultures, societies, and countries by documenting individuals’ personal narratives, thought processes and reflections. Chapter authors share cross-cultural perspectives within and across various countries, such as India, Australia, United States, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Croatia, Brazil, South Africa, and Qatar. Adopting a self-reflective stance following qualitative research methodology, the chapter authors discuss the current challenges in the field. Next, they deconstruct disability identities, explore the complexities of communication with differently abled persons, examine inclusive policies, practices and interventions and present insights from caregivers. The book concludes with critical reflections and a look to the future of global diversity and inclusion.

Inclusive education has aroused heated debate among teachers, parents, politicians, and the general public, yet for many involved and affected the basic concepts and real goals of inclusion are unclear or misunderstood. Presenting research by scholars from the Czech Republic, France, Norway, Poland, Canada, and Switzerland on education, democratic citizenship, and the inclusive philosophies and politics of various countries, Cultures of Inclusive Education and Democratic Citizenship examines and clarifies the cultural, professional, and political issues surrounding the implementation of inclusive education. The first section of the book examines the epistemology of the inclusive process. The second section compares the logic of inclusion from an international perspective. The final section explores concrete problems encountered in the different states represented.