This ground-breaking book examines professional educators and administrators at national and local authority level in England, the USA and the Netherlands and questions how they recognise tensions or dilemmas in responding to student differences.

**Shortlisted for the nasen Special Educational Needs Academic Book award 2008** Inclusion has become very influential internationally in the field of schooling. This has involved the introduction of policies that pursue more provision for, and acceptance of, students with special educational needs or disabilities in ordinary school settings. However, these policies represent different and often conflicting values and approaches to education. The basic dilemma of difference is whether to recognise or not to recognise differences, as either way there are negative implications or risks associated with stigma, devaluation, rejection or denial of relevant opportunities. This is the first book to examine ideas about these dilemmas from a range of disciplines and fields about the nature and origins of such dilemmas as they apply to special and inclusive education. In particular these dilemmas are about: identification – whether to identify students as having special educational needs / disabilities or not? curriculum – how much of a common curriculum is relevant to these students? placement – can appropriate learning can take place in ordinary schools and classes or not? This ground-breaking book examines professional educators and administrators at national and local authority level across three countries – England, USA and the Netherlands – and questions how they recognise tensions or dilemmas in responding to student differences. Of interest to researchers, students, academics and professionals, this study will provide a much needed, balanced and powerful contribution to the inclusion debate.

This book, exploring the theoretical and practical implications of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), brings together an international and interdisciplinary group of leading researchers in the areas of philosophy of disability, disability law, and disability policy. It addresses both the philosophical foundations of the CRPD as well as complex contemporary legal and policy debates. With a comprehensive introduction outlining key milestones in the development and implementation of the CRPD, the book addresses the most fundamental questions the CRPD raises for the way we think about human rights, law, and disability, and how we operationalize rights in the legal and policy domains. The contributors traverse themes of personhood, equality, capacity, and intersectionality, explore the dilemmas involved in translating these concepts in practice, and reflect on the promises and limitations of the human rights project.

This title offers a critical overview on the history of inclusive education policy and practice developments, with suggestions for possible ways forward. "Inclusive Education, Politics and Policymaking" provides a critical and up to date overview on how far we have come in educational policy and practice in regards to inclusive education, and suggests possible ways forward. The author brings together and critically analyses a wide range of theories and research in exploring inclusion in education. To make this text fully engaging for the reader, activities are presented which have been used on Education Studies courses to encourage students to reflect on their own experiences enabling them to position themselves within the theory and research in this field. These activities are transferable to primary, secondary, further and adult education contexts. "Inclusive Education, Politics and Policymaking" serves as an ideal introduction to this contemporary issue and provokes a critical review and engagement with study in this field for students of Education Studies and MA Education courses. This series presents an authoritative, coherent and focused collection of core texts to introduce the contemporary issues that are covered in Education Studies, and related programmes. Each book develops a key theme in contemporary education, such as: multiculturalism; the social construction of childhood; urban education; eLearning and multimedia; and, language and literacy. A key feature of this series is the critical exploration of education in times of rapid change, with links made between such developments in wider social, cultural, political and economic contexts. Further, contextualised extracts from important primary texts, such as Bourdieu, Piaget and Vygotsky, will ensure students' exposure to dominant contemporary theories in the field of education. Grounded in a strong conceptual, theoretical framework and presented in an accessible way with the use of features such as case studies, activities and visual devices to encourage and support student learning and the application of new concepts, this series will serve well as collection of core texts for the Education Studies student and lecturer.

Placing a student on the autism spectrum in a busy classroom with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and an aide to deal with the inevitable meltdowns is often done in the name of 'inclusion', but this is integration and not inclusive. How can teachers and schools create genuinely inclusive classrooms that meet the needs of every student? Research evidence indicates the strategies that make schools inclusive for students with disability benefit all students. Yet many schools are still operating under twentieth-century models that disadvantage students, especially those with disability. Inclusive Education for the 21st Century provides a rigorous overview of the foundational principles of inclusive education, and the barriers to access and participation. It explores evidence-based strategies to support diverse learners, including specific changes in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment practices, and the use of data. It addresses the needs of children with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, as well as those with complex learning profiles, including mental health issues. With chapters from leading experts from Australia and the UK, Inclusive Education for the 21st Century addresses common issues in both primary and secondary schools. Underpinned throughout by research evidence, it is designed to assist educators to develop the deep knowledge required to make inclusive education a reality in all schools.

Thoroughly revised throughout, this bestselling book returns in a new edition to take an even more comprehensive look at the question: How can teachers and schools create genuinely inclusive classrooms that meet the needs of every student? Inclusive Education for the 21st Century provides a rigorous overview of the foundational principles of inclusive education and the barriers to access and participation. It explores evidence-based strategies to support diverse learners, including specific changes in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment practices, and the use of data. It addresses the needs of children with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, as well as those with complex learning profiles, including mental health issues. This second edition is rich with new content, including six new chapters which address learning from international experience, multi-tiered systems of support, leading inclusive education reform, the importance of language and supporting friendships. A new section has been added to provide explicit support for implementing systemic inclusive education reform from the policy level right through to classroom practice. A new series of podcasts, featuring interviews with expert chapter authors, offers an engaging complement to the chapter topics and content. With many schools still operating under twentieth-century models that disadvantage students, this book presents the deep knowledge, tools and strategies to better equip pre- and in-service teachers and leaders to make inclusive education a reality in all schools.

'This is probably one of the most accessible books I have read lately in relation to SEN and Inclusion, and I intend to make it an essential core text for my inclusion module. It would be very accessible to students who are relatively new to the theoretical aspects behind the idea or concept of inclusion' - EsCalate Complex and diverse, special educational needs and inclusion can be a difficult area of study to approach for undergraduate students. Understanding the current context of SEN and inclusion means getting to grips with an often perplexing mix of social, political, ideological, educational and personal perspectives. This book explores and critically examines the field, providing a detailed introduction to the topic for students - helping them to develop understanding, without assuming any prior knowledge. Part One defines the concepts of SEN and disability and how the concepts have been defined through ideological models that have developed over time. It examines provision for SEN across the UK, and looks at how attitudes of teachers, parents and children have affected inclusion. Part Two explores the historical development of SEN internationally, including a comparative look at legislation and practice in England and a number of other countries. The third part details how SEN practice in England works, including the Every Child Matters agenda and the roles and responsibilities of education, health and social care professionals. Each chapter includes short case studies, points for reflection, student activities and suggestions for further reading.

Covering a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities this book examines the perspectives of teachers, teaching assistants, children and parents with a focus on specific educational aspects, such as curriculum and pedagogy. Referencing recent policy changes in the special needs and inclusive education context, the book offers an introduction to the special needs and inclusive education field for teachers, SEN Coordinators and other allied professionals (e.g. speech and communication therapists, educational psychologists) as well as parents and policy makers, by: • Examining the lived experience of parents, teachers and children/young people with special educational needs/ disability in education • Illustrating some of their experienced tensions and how they deal with them • Exploring the significance of these experiences for policy and practice The book features 12 engaging case studies that are based on in-depth interviews with parents, teachers or teaching assistants and children or young people, exploring their experiences as regards their education. These accounts emphatically highlight positive models of practice as well as negative practices to avoid. In this way the book contributes to the professional learning of teachers and allied professionals. "A critical part of understanding any complex social phenomenon is to listen (really listen) to the views of the stakeholders – the children and young people, the parents and the professional educators. In this thoughtful book, Brahm Norwich, a leading scholar in the field of Disability and Special Educational Needs, faithfully presents these views through 12 insightful case studies. The stories told are direct and share the tensions, dilemmas, balances and dynamics of life. It is a very thought provoking book and an excellent addition to the field." Dr. Graeme Douglas, Professor of Disability and Special Educational Needs, University of Birmingham, UK “An invaluable book about the importance of getting to know each and every child, comprising up to date case studies that contextualise the experiences of 12 learners identified with special educational needs.” Professor Lani Florian, Bell Chair of Education, University of Edinburgh, UK “In the era of person-centred planning, this book is a timely and essential key text for both general and specialist practitioners working for children and young people with special educational needs and/ or disability. The structured case study format provides accessible, comprehensive and detailed insights across a range of ages and types of educational placement. Whilst evidence from the individual experiences of children, their families and teachers are its main substance, the book also draws together case study themes, including advice directly given by parents and teachers to the readers. Professor Norwich is to be highly commended for providing this original, scholarly and useful research to the international field of special education.” Professor Kevin Woods, Professor of Educational and Child Psychology, University of Manchester, UK “In his new book of 12 case studies of children and young people with a range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Brahm Norwich skilfully presents the perspectives of the young people themselves, their parents, and the teachers and teaching assistants who support them. These careful, illuminating accounts bring to life the realities, complexities, challenges - and also the positive aspects - of the young people themselves and those that care and support them. They remind us all of the importance of seeing each child as an individual. Required reading for all who work with children with SEND.” Professor Geoff Lindsay, Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR), University of Warwick, UK

Exploring the theoretical, policy and classroom (pedagogical) dimensions of transformative change within the context of inclusive education policy and practice, this book documents how ideological presuppositions and professional practice should be transformed in order to meet learner diversity in effective and non-discriminatory ways.

Internationale Entwicklungen und Impulse fordern dazu auf, Bildungssysteme gerecht und inklusiv auszugestalten. Das vorliegende Buch greift dies auf und fokussiert das häufig unscharf diskutierte Verhältnis zwischen inklusiver Bildung und Bildungsgerechtigkeit. Durch die Zusammenstellung von aktuellen Forschungsergebnissen und theoretischen Beiträgen aus mehreren europäischen Ländern zu dem Thema schaffen die Autor*innen einen übergreifenden Diskussionsrahmen.