Proceedings of Braga 2014 Embracing Inclusive Approaches for Children and Youth with Special Education Needs Conference

Abstract

This e-book, which is published under the title Braga 2014: Embracing Inclusive Approaches for Children and Youth with Special Education Needs contains a set of papers submitted by the authors in an international conference during July 2014 with the same name. Practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and NGOs from around the world joined their international colleagues to engage in lively and informed discussions about the current state of the art in meeting the needs of children and youth with special educational needs. Topic areas included research, practice, policy, advocacy, and the arts in special education. The conference was co–hosted by The Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES) and the University of Minho in cooperation with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). As more and more countries around the world strive towards the goals of the Education for All initiative, education systems are turning to increasingly inclusive approaches in order to meet the needs of children and youth who have traditionally been excluded from mainstream education. Research and practice have shown abundant benefits, both academic and social, to all children and youth involved in inclusive education programs. However, simply placing children with special educational needs in mainstream classrooms without appropriate planning, commitment, and support does not guarantee positive outcomes. In this exciting and prestigious international event, participants will share and learn about evidenced–based practices with an emphasis on access, quality, and equity; creative, comprehensive inclusive education approaches; innovations in creating inclusive schools; and integrating research into practice to create stronger links with stakeholders. A special strand focusing on the Arts in Special Education provides a rich forum for special education professionals to build upon innovative practices that encourage creative thinking, draw upon diverse abilities expressed through the arts and develops the individual in ways that traditional academic instruction fails to do so. Finally, the organizers want to emphasize the commitment and systematic work of Paula Frapiccini Ferreira in preparing this e-book.