This article provides an introductory commentary to the papers in this Prospects special issue on inclusive education. In so doing, it stresses the need to be cautious as we read accounts of inclusive education from other parts of the world: whilst lessons can undoubtedly be learned from the accounts in this special issue, they must be adopted…

In 1994, when UNESCO adopted the Salamanca Statement and Framework of Action, it invited governments and non-governmental organizations to consider fundamental policy shifts to promote an inclusive education approach. This call to action resonated well with the efforts already being made by educators in New Brunswick. For more than 35 years, this…

Developments within education systems in many countries have been moving toward inclusion. Inclusion, however, is a contested term, understood differently by different individuals. How it is interpreted in practice also differs across local, regional, and country levels. This article discusses the development of inclusion and its understanding and…

Like most Western nations and regions, Flanders and Québec are characterized by increasing religious diversity and secularization. Accordingly, 'learning to live together' is a main objective in their public education programmes. In spite of this similarity, both regions seem to interpret the concept of 'living together' in a different way and…

In this reflective piece the author focuses on the meaning that he made of inclusion in a book that was published almost twenty years ago. He then reflects on the meaning he makes of the current situation. He explores the problematic nature of the concept of inclusion, whether labels actually enable inclusion, research-informed implications of…

Although Iowa is commonly associated with cornfields and White farmers, Southeast Asian refugees have a remarkable history in this region that is largely unacknowledged. The recognition of this history, through inclusion in the school curriculum and the popular imagination, could be a powerful way to disrupt normative Whiteness and xenophobia in…

In 1991, the Australian Government released the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report. Of the 339 recommendations, "Recommendation 62" identified that there was an alarming over-representation of Indigenous youth in contact with the criminal justice system. The report called for immediate action by governments to…

This case study looks at the University of Manchester Library Student Team (UMLST) as a model for inclusive community engagement. It examines the impact of working with students as co-creators and explores how the ideas, insights and value they bring serve to drive change in a way that enables the Library to deliver in relation to current student…

Despite considerable research on school social experiences among younger children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), little is known about the classroom social relationships of high school students with ASD without intellectual disability. Additional research in this area is necessary to refine and develop social skills interventions and outcome…

Globally, the future of the higher education sector is under increasing scrutiny, and questions are being asked about the relevance of universities as traditional sites of teaching and learning. In an effort to adapt to the complexities that beset the higher education environment, universities are exploring the utility and benefits offered through…

Schools of social work in the United States are responsible for training students to work with diverse clients and communities. These schools have an additional, yet often unaddressed, responsibility to prepare students to understand diversity in the workforce and to lead initiatives for diversity and inclusion in organizational settings. This…

The benefits of inclusive practices for students with intellectual disabilities have been demonstrated in several countries; however, large-scale inclusive practices remain elusive. Having a clear understanding of how researchers define the terms inclusion and intellectual disability would support more cross-cultural collaboration and facilitate…

The definition for special education needs (SEN) and the policies for its assessment varies widely between countries. This paper aims to investigate similarities and differences through a Swedish-German comparative approach. Based on the distinction between categorical and relational perspectives as expressions of specific thought styles, 58 SEN…

Little progress has been made in the last 20 years toward developing and sustaining effective inclusive programs for students with severe disabilities. An article by Agran and colleagues examines factors that contribute to this lack of progress and provides some initial discussion regarding alternatives for addressing this seemingly intractable…

This study focuses on the experience of 20 Spanish faculty members who teach students with disabilities. We conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews, and analysed the data using an inductive system of categories and codes. The results of this work describe the difficulties that faculty members encountered when including students…