Društveni kontekst, posebne potrebe/invaliditet/teškoće u razvoju i edukacijsko uključivanje
Social context, educational inclusion, children with special needs

Summary/Abstract: Theoretical models do have the power to influence the disabled people’s inclusion in the society depending on the view!aspect they take. Medical and statistical models are likely to contrast normal with pathological or normal with deviant creating the basis for "handicappism", labeling, segregation, negative attitudes and prejudice. Social models assume that disability is the result of interaction of a person and his/her social environment, suggesting that the environment is responsible for a position a disabled person takes, contrary to the view which considers the problem of an actual disabled person as his/her sti uc- ture’s own responsibility. Thus disability, considered "the consequence of the impairment on the functioning of a person", becomes "decreasing or loosing the opportunity to participate in life". Accepting this viewpoint means transferring the responsibility onto society. The absolute meaning of the term "disability" is completely rejected and the importance of culture of a certain environment when naming/defining the persons with "special needs" (disabled, developmentally disordered) is stressed. The above mentioned environment should, in that case, be free of barriers, and disabled persons should be active advocates of then own rights. With regard to educational inclusion of children with special needs in England, United States and in Croatia, the influence of social context on the position of "different" in school reforms, educational policy and readiness of a community and professionals to change is considered. Analyzing the effect of scientific research to date, and professionals work in the field of special needs, we observed that there is an ultimate need for new directions in investigations, with persons with special needs as subjects. Thus the social context will be analyzed, as well as its possibilities for change, and the results shall contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of persons with special needs.

• Details
• Contents