The fundamental role of legislation for inclusive education

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46502/issn.2792-3681/2025.9.6

Keywords:

inclusive education, legislation, re-socialization, children’s home, social inclusion

Abstract

Inclusive education is a term we encounter more and more often. The main objective of our article is to present the results of qualitative research that investigated whether residential support workers in children's homes are familiar with legislation related to inclusive education. Although residential support workers have already implemented the ideals of inclusive education in their practice, they need to be aware of its legal implications. Based on our results, we will discuss the need for greater awareness of inclusive education in the school sector and in other areas of our lives. We will also outline the benefits of inclusive education in the economic and social spheres. Above all, we will point out that inclusive education can only be achieved with adequate legislative support. In the conclusions, we suggest that inclusive education goes beyond simple academic goals to represent a social ideal, which is expressed in the idea of a community where mutual respect and empathy flourish. In any scenario, the symbiotic connection between schools and families is essential for the achievement of inclusive education.

Author Biography

Alois Danek, AMBIS University, Prague, Czech Republic.

Department of Education AMBIS University, Prague, Czech Republic.

References

Alase, A. (2017). The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA): A guide to a good qualitative research approach. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 5(2), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9

American Psychological Association. (2021). Inclusive language guidelines. https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/language-guidelines

Amor, A. M., Hagiwara, M., Shogren, K. A., Thompson, J. R., Verdugo, M. Á., Burke, K. M., & Aguayo, V. (2019). International perspectives and trends in research on inclusive education: A systematic review. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23(12), 1277–1295. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1445304

Avradimis, E., & Norwich, B. (2002). Teachers’ attitudes towards integration/inclusion: A review of the literature. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 17(2), 129–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856250210129056

Basit, T. N., & Tomlinson, S. (Eds.). (2012). Social inclusion and higher education (1st ed.). Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1t891n1

Bates, H., McCafferty, A., Quayle, E., & McKenzie, K. (2015). Review: Typically-developing students’ views and experiences of inclusive education. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(21), 1929–1939. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2014.993433

Bowers, T. (1997). Supporting Special Needs in the Mainstream Classroom: Children’s perceptions of the adult role. Child: Care, Health and Development, 23(3), 217–232. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.1997.tb00965.x

Brady, K., & Woolfson, L. (2008). What teacher factors influence their attributions for children’s difficulties in learning? British Journal of Educational Psychology, 78(4), 527–544. https://doi.org/10.1348/000709907X268570

Cook, B. G., Cameron, D. L., & Tankersley, M. (2007). Inclusive teachers’ attitudinal ratings of their students with disabilities. The Journal of Special Education, 40(4), 230–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224669070400040401

Czech Republic. (1993). Constitution of the Czech Republic. https://www.usoud.cz/fileadmin/user_upload/ustavni_soud_www/Pravni_uprava/AJ/Ústava_ČR_angl.pdf

Danek, A. (2022). Social integration of young adults leaving institutional care: Personal experiences. AD ALTA: Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 12(2), 32–34.

Danek, A. (2023). The impact of a parent’s incarceration on a child in care: A qualitative research study. AD ALTA: Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 13(1), 67–69.

Danek, A., & Klugerová, J. (2023). Inclusive education as an instrument for preventing social exclusion. AD ALTA: Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 13(2), 142–144.

Deppeler, J. M., Loreman, T., Smith, R., & Florian, L. (Eds.). (2015). Inclusive pedagogy across the curriculum (Vol. 7). Emerald Group Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-363620157

Dewsbury, B., & Brame, C. J. (2019). Inclusive teaching. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 18(2), fe2. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.19-01-0021

Disman, M. (2021). How Sociological Knowledge Is Made: A User's Guide (5th ed.). Prague: Charles University, Karolinum Press. ISBN: 978-80-246-5053-1

Ferguson, D. L. (2008). International trends in inclusive education: The continuing challenge to teach each one and everyone. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 23(2), 109–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856250801946236

Ferguson, H. B., Bovaird, S., & Mueller, M. P. (2007). The impact of poverty on educational outcomes for children. Paediatrics & Child Health, 12(8), 701–706. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/12.8.701

Florian, L., & Spratt, J. (2013). Enacting inclusion: A framework for interrogating inclusive practice. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 28(2), 119–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2013.778111

Gasteiger-Klicpera, B., Klicpera, C., Gebhardt, M., & Schwab, S. (2013). Attitudes and experiences of parents regarding inclusive and special school education for children with learning and intellectual disabilities. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17(7), 663–681. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2012.706321

Given, L. M. (Ed.). (2008). The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.

Gulova, L., & Sip, R. (2013). Research Methods in Educational Practice (1st ed.). Praha: Grada. https://acortar.link/LfGF53

Gutmann, A., & Thompson, D. F. (2010). Deliberative democracy. In Political and civic leadership: A reference handbook (pp. 325–332). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/civicleadership/n37.xml

Hendl, J. (2016). Qualitative Research: Fundamental Theories, Methods, and Applications (4th ed.). Praha: Portál.

Hibel, J., Farkas, G., & Morgan, P. L. (2010). Who is placed into special education? Sociology of Education, 83(4), 312–332. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038040710383518

Jones, P. E. (2013). Bernstein’s “Codes” and the linguistics of “deficit”. Language and Education, 27(2), 161–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2012.760587

Leavy, P. (Ed.). (2014). The Oxford handbook of qualitative research. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.

Lee, F. L. M., Yeung, A. S., Tracey, D., & Barker, K. (2015). Inclusion of children with special needs in early childhood education: What teacher characteristics matter. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 35(2), 79–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121414566014

Lindsay, G. (2003). Inclusive education: A critical perspective. British Journal of Special Education, 30(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8527.00275

Main, G., & Bradshaw, J. (2012). A child material deprivation index. Child Indicators Research, 5(3), 503–521. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-012-9145-7

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS). (2004). Act No. 561/2004 Collection of Law, on pre-school, basic, secondary, tertiary professional and other education (The Education Act).

Modin, B., & Östberg, V. (2009). School climate and psychosomatic health: A multilevel analysis. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 20(4), 433–455. https://doi.org/10.1080/09243450903251507

Nilholm, C. (2006). Special education, inclusion and democracy. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 21(4), 431–445. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856250600957905

Norwich, B. (2005). Inclusion: Is it a matter of evidence about what works or about values and rights? Education 3–13, 33(1), 51–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004270585200191

Paseka, A., & Schwab, S. (2020). Parents’ attitudes towards inclusive education and their perceptions of inclusive teaching practices and resources. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 35(2), 254–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2019.1665232

Pivik, J., McComas, J., & Laflamme, M. (2002). Barriers and facilitators to inclusive education. Exceptional Children, 69(1), 97–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290206900107

Saliya, C. A. (2022). Grounded theory. In Doing social research and publishing results (pp. 291–298). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3780-4_20

Stárek, L. (2023a). Special education as an instrument of social change in Croatia. Nuances: Estudos sobre Educação, e023005.

Stárek, L. (2023b). Special education teacher profession in the Czech Republic. Pedagogika-Pedagogy, 95(2), 235–248.

UNESCO. (1994, June 7–10). The Salamanca statement and framework for action on special needs education. World Conference on Special Needs Education: Access and Quality. https://www.european-agency.org/sites/default/files/salamanca-statement-and-framework.pdf

United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol. https://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/convention/convoptprot-e.pdf

United Nations. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child

United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

Willing, C. (2017). The Sage handbook of qualitative research in psychology (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Inc.

Published

2025-08-30

How to Cite

Danek, A. (2025). The fundamental role of legislation for inclusive education. Multiverso Journal, 5(9), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.46502/issn.2792-3681/2025.9.6

Issue

Section

Artículos