Integration versus segregation: the experiences of a group of disabled students moving from mainstream school into special needs further education

Although the latest education policy for disabled students is one of inclusion, some students are moving out of mainstream schools into specialist colleges for their further education. This research uses a combination of group and individual interviews to explore why this move away from mainstream e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Disability & society 2004-06, Vol.19 (4), p.387-401
Main Authors: Pitt, Victoria, Curtin, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access
Biological and medical sciences
College Students
Colleges
Disability
Education
Educational Opportunities
Educational Policy
Health
Mainstreaming
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Physically Handicapped
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Social Closure
Social integration
Social policy
Special Education
Students
United Kingdom
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Although the latest education policy for disabled students is one of inclusion, some students are moving out of mainstream schools into specialist colleges for their further education. This research uses a combination of group and individual interviews to explore why this move away from mainstream education is made. Results show that these students' moved into specialist education because of the inadequate physical accessibility of their mainstream colleges, the quality of disability services available to them and their previous experiences whilst in mainstream school. These students were able to identify both strengths and weaknesses within mainstream and special education for disabled students, and believed that educational placement should therefore be a matter of choice depending on the physical, academic and emotional needs of the individual. It would appear, however, that for the students participating in this research, their local mainstream colleges were unable to cater for their needs, indicating that their decision to move into a special needs college was not based on a real choice. Mainstream colleges are challenged to create a truly inclusive environment so that disabled students are offered a real choice.
ISSN:0968-7599
1360-0508
DOI:10.1080/09687590410001689485