Let's make our special education schools more european – changing special education paradigms

Abstract

Educational systems in Europe are reforming from year to year. When we talk about the education of children with disabilities, the changes are even more visible. In all areas of science, even in special education and rehabilitation, there are changes, both because of new knowledge, as well as because of changes in society and the new demands of the society. On the one hand, in accordance with the inclusive concept of social development, children with disabilities attend "regular" schools, and, in such an educational environment, special education and rehabilitation has a different role. On the other hand, according to research, we have an increasing number of children with autism spectrum disorders and an increasing number of children with multiple disabilities. The majority of children with these disabilities are in special schools. These children need education that will focus on functional knowledge and functional skills, and it is therefore necessary to provide evidence-based support systems and evidence-based interventions. Within the framework of the EU-funded Erasmus+ program, Serbian NGO "Family Care" is implementing a project titled "Let's make our special education schools more European". The aim of this project is to improve special education and rehabilitation of children with disabilities in Serbia. The project name symbolically depicts our idea of a European dimension of changes in the education of children with disabilities in "special" schools in Serbia. The project team is working on it. This paper provides an overview of domestic and foreign practices, as well as guidelines for reforming schools for the education of children with disabilities. The presentation is illustrated with adequate videos.Educational systems in Europe are reforming from year to year. When we talk about the education of children with disabilities, the changes are even more visible. In all areas of science, even in special education and rehabilitation, there are changes, both because of new knowledge, as well as because of changes in society and the new demands of the society. On the one hand, in accordance with the inclusive concept of social development, children with disabilities attend "regular" schools, and, in such an educational environment, special education and rehabilitation has a different role. On the other hand, according to research, we have an increasing number of children with autism spectrum disorders and an increasing number of children with multiple disabilities. The majority of children with these disabilities are in special schools. These children need education that will focus on functional knowledge and functional skills, and it is therefore necessary to provide evidence-based support systems and evidence-based interventions. Within the framework of the EU-funded Erasmus+ program, Serbian NGO "Family Care" is implementing a project titled "Let's make our special education schools more European". The aim of this project is to improve special education and rehabilitation of children with disabilities in Serbia. The project name symbolically depicts our idea of a European dimension of changes in the education of children with disabilities in "special" schools in Serbia. The project team is working on it. This paper provides an overview of domestic and foreign practices, as well as guidelines for reforming schools for the education of children with disabilities. The presentation is illustrated with adequate video