Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that persons with disabilities have the right to education and to be included in the general education system on an equal basis with others. The Convention requires that all children with disabilities must be provided with the necessary support and there must be an inclusive education system at all levels as well as lifelong learning. The EU and 27 Member States have ratified the Convention and it is a legal obligation to implement what is required under the Convention.
Inclusion is not the same as integration. Whereas integration requires the child to adjust to an education system, inclusion must be about making the system adapt to the needs of each children. Inclusive education contributes to developing the personality, talents and creativity of children with disabilities to their fullest potential. It is a prerequisite for them to lead a dignified and successful life as future citizens.
Inclusive education is also important to the quality of life of the family as a whole. It enables parents to take a different perspective on their child: it gives them the opportunity to raise and educate a child in light of the human rights model towards disability and advocate for their equal participation in society, just like any other children.
Inclusive education should enable parents to work in partnership with the educational system and professionals and to participate in the creation of inclusive learning atmosphere that positively contribute to the well-being of the child and the extended family.
Inclusive education challenges all education systems, calls them into question. It enables development towards more flexible teaching curricula, person-centred approach towards learning that can work for all pupils in the school system. It stimulates teachers, who improve their teaching methods, and energizes the school staff as a whole.
Finally, inclusive education supports a paradigm shift towards developing social inclusion by fostering autonomy and self-determination and implements the principle of non-discrimination of persons with disabilities.
RELATED NEWS:
On 30 May 2017, the European Commission presented its new strategy to support high quality, inclusive and future-oriented school and higher education. In its Communication School development and excellent teaching for a great start in life, the Commission identifies areas…
Anziani e non solo was one of the partners of the “work-based training” project, carried out from 2015-2017 under the Erasmus+ programme. The project aimed at contributing sustainable learning success and to secure the smooth transition from school to work…
COFACE Families Europe is happy to welcome NELFA, the Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations, as a supporting member. NELFA works to ensure that children raised in LGBTIQ* families in Europe are granted the same rights as children from other…
This year’s observance of the International Day of Families focuses on the role of families and family-oriented policies in promoting education and overall well-being of their members. In particular, the Day is to raise awareness of the role of families…
KMOP President and COFACE Families Europe vice-President Antonia Torrens says she is pleased with the results of the Care2Work programme which is shortly drawing to a close at the end of May, 2017. The Care2Work project aims to tackle the…
The Open Public Consultation on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) has been launched. A questionnaire and related documents for the consultation are available in all EU languages except Irish. The questions of the survey are…
Grandparents Plus are setting the 'Kinship Care Champion' scheme in the UK in an effort to highlight the vital role that kinship carers play in family life. They are looking for volunteers to give talks at organisations and schools and have…
Väestöliitto researcher Anna Rotkirch has co-authored a book called '’Grandfathers: Global Perspectives’ with Anne Buchanan on the overlooked role of grandfathers as child carers. Within the context of increased divorce rates, single parent families and healthier, more active elders, the books…
On 30-31 May the European Social Network (ESN) launched the study ‘Investing in Children’s Services, Improving outcomes’ at a two day event, which marked the end of a three-year project in 14 European countries. The study assesses how key principles…
As part of its work in the European Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care (EEG), COFACE Families Europe helped organize a training on deinstitutionalization (DI) for the European Social Fund Thematic Network on Social Inclusion in…
On 11th January, COFACE Families Europe spoke at a conference organised by the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament on “Winning the Fight Against Child Poverty: Implementation of a European Child Guarantee”. As part of a European child guarantee,…
Early years are key in the social and cognitive development of every child and the impact that play and toys have on child development contribute to shape the child’s behaviour, interests and choices that he/she will make in later life. Therefore,…
COFACE Families Europe is supported by the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) This website is produced with the support of the European Commission but does not necessarily express its views - Copyright © 2015 COFACE Families Europe aisbl - All Rights Reserved