Inclusive education for all students? The viewpoint of special education teachers

The Salamanca Declaration and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognise education as a fundamental right for all, including children with disabilities. It calls for a revision of educational systems to promote school inclusion. Special education teachers play a key role in inclusion, although research shows that their attitudes towards inclusion vary. Regular classroom teachers, influenced by their perceptions of disabilities, often express concerns about their ability to meet the needs of students, particularly those with severe disabilities. Interviews were conducted with 47 special education teachers regarding the inclusion of all students, analysed through thematic analysis. The results show that special education teachers support school inclusion but remain cautious about enrolling students with behavioural disorders and severe disabilities in regular classrooms.