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Defining Social Inclusion for Children with Disabilities: A Critical Literature Review

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  • Toronto Metropolitan University Toronto

Abstract

Social inclusion is a complex and often misunderstood concept. For children with disabilities, research has documented the degree of loneliness, bullying and exclusion they often experience in their social lives. This paper presents the findings of a critical literature review on the social inclusion of children with disabilities. Study methods comprised rigorous criteria for study selection followed by established protocols for evaluating studies. Reputable rating scales were used to examine peer-reviewed research published within the last 10 years. Fifty-four studies were analyzed for essential themes. Findings reflect a broad range of stakeholder perspectives and factors that promote or inhibit social inclusion, including child-specific variables as well as environmental influences. Additional research should focus on the perspectives and experiences of children in inclusive settings, particularly those with disabilities, as a means of safeguarding their future social and emotional well-being.
Defining Social Inclusion for Children with
Disabilities: A Critical Literature Review
Donna Koller* , Morgane Le Pouesard* and Joanna Anneke Rummens
*Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Social inclusion is a complex and often misunderstood concept. For children with disabilities, research has
documented the degree of loneliness, bullying and exclusion they often experience in their social lives. This
paper presents the findings of a critical literature review on the social inclusion of children with disabili-
ties. Study methods comprised rigorous criteria for study selection followed by established protocols for
evaluating studies. Reputable rating scales were used to examine peer-reviewed research published within
the last 10 years. Fifty-four studies were analyzed for essential themes. Findings reflect a broad range of
stakeholder perspectives and factors that promote or inhibit social inclusion, including child-specific
variables as well as environmental influences. Additional research should focus on the perspectives and
experiences of children in inclusive settings, particularly those with disabilities, as a means of safeguarding
their future social and emotional well-being. ©2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and National Children’s
Bureau
Keywords: children, disabilities, peers, social inclusion, social relationships, stigma.
Background
Estimates of worldwide child disability rates are speculative and dated; however, UNICEF
estimates that approximately 93 million (1 in 20) of people aged 14 or younger live with a
moderate or severe disability (UNICEF, 2013). In the USA, 5.2 per cent (2.8 million) of the
53.9 million school-aged children (aged 517) were reported to have a disability in 2010
(Disability Characteristics, American Community Survey, 2010). For comparison, Human
Resources and Skills Development Canada (2011) indicates that 202 350 children (3.7%, aged
014 years) and 96 060 teens (4.6%, aged 1519 years) in Canada have a disability. The
most commonly diagnosed disabilities among children include learning, communication and
developmental disabilities, while children are also commonly diagnosed with physical dis-
abilities (US Census Bureau, 2010).
‘Social inclusion’ is a multifaceted and largely subjective construct (Le Boutillier and
Croucher, 2010). It is often described in opposition to ‘social exclusion’, which refers to the
stigmatisation or marginalisation of certain groups based on particular characteristics, such
as socioeconomic status, race, gender or disability. For children with disabilities, social inclu-
sion requires overcoming significant social, economic and political barriers to achieve mean-
ingful involvement in society (Hill and others, 2004). This can involve the ability to make
friends, participate in community activities, engage in leisure and play, and have access to
quality inclusive practices in the classroom. Social inclusion, therefore, establishes a basis
for overall well-being and is a critical component of becoming a valued and contributing
member of the community (M^
asse and others, 2012; Murray and Greenberg, 2006).
Although children with disabilities value peer relationships and participation in commu-
nity activities, they continue to experience low levels of social integration (Frazee, 2003).
Extensive evidence indicates that children with disabilities are at increased risk of being iso-
lated or bullied compared with their typically developing peers (Cummins and Lau, 2003;
CHILDREN & SOCIETY VOLUME 32, (2018) pp. 1–13
DOI:10.1111/chso.12223
©2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and National Children’s Bureau
Guralnick and others, 2007; Koster and others, 2010). While bullying and social exclusion
are separate constructs, both result in negative effects for the child experiencing them. North
American studies support these findings: children with disabilities experience more social
exclusion than their peers (Hanvey, 2001; Snowdon, 2012).
Because many variables are associated with the quality of social inclusion for children
with disabilities, an in-depth and critical analysis of the literature is needed to promote
greater understanding. In North America, various public resources and specialised services
are available for children with disabilities. A major concern within this sector is the persis-
tent disconnect between research and practice (Abdul-Adil and others, 2010; Cocker and
Scott, 2006; Guerra and others, 2011). In some cases, research findings are presented in ways
that are not accessible to service providers and/or not transferable to care settings (Axford
and others, 2013). In part, this disconnect may be the result of how social inclusion or exclu-
sion are defined, limited understanding of its implications and complexities, and/or a lack of
awareness about how it affects the daily lives of children with disabilities and their families.
Therefore, it is imperative to explore how social inclusion is perceived by key stakeholders
before changes can be made to policies and practices (Kufeldt and McKenzie, 2011).
Purpose
The purpose of this critical literature review was to synthesise previous research about the
various facets of social inclusion for children
1
with disabilities, from the perspectives of key
stakeholders. This included analysing how social inclusion is defined, operationalised, and
perceived by children, their families and professionals working with them. This review will
form the basis for a larger systematic review, which will identify interventions for improving
the social inclusion of children with disabilities.
Theoretical framework
We adopted the biopsychosocial model for this study (Le Boutillier and Croucher, 2010).
According to this model, researchers must focus on both objective and subjective indicators
of social inclusion. Measuring social inclusion involves not only assessing rates of participa-
tion and acceptance of a marginalised group within various social contexts but also explor-
ing how individuals control and experience their own involvement (Cummins and Lau, 2003;
Martin and Cobigo, 2011).
Rights-based and social-cultural models of disability link barriers to social inclusion with
disabling effects of the environment, as opposed to the body (Fulcher, 1989; Purdue, 2009).
This type of model stresses the rights of children (Bray and Gates, 2000) and was developed
in response to the medical model of disability, which places the burden of impairment solely
on the individual (Nind and others, 2010). Recent scholarship has integrated the two models
to yield the biopsychosocial (or interactional) model, according to which disability is as
much a social construction as a medical diagnosis, involving obstacles within and outside
the individual (Shakespeare, 2006; Thomas, 2004). The World Health Organization now
defines disability as ‘the outcome or result of a complex relationship between an individual’s
health condition and personal factors, and of the external factors that represent the circum-
stances in which the individual lives’ (Peterson, 2005). ‘Disability’ can therefore refer to
impairments (affecting a person’s body), activity limitations (affecting a person’s behaviour)
and participation restrictions (affecting a person’s experiences) (Peterson, 2005).
Methods
A librarian trained in literature searches assisted the research team in the articulation of
search parameters and procedures. The search was conducted on a biweekly basis from
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December 2014 to March 2015, using six databases: Education Resource Information Center,
ProQuest, Academic One File, JSTOR, PsycINFO and Springer. Keywords included: defin*,
social inclusion, social integration, social acceptance, social participation, belonging, social
exclusion, friend*, child*, ado*, special needs and disab*.
Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed original studies published between January 2004
and March 2015. The searches yielded a total of 1378 articles. Of these, 390 remained after
reviewing for duplicates and relevance. Another 29 studies were found by scanning through
the reference lists of articles, yielding a total of 419 studies. Studies were then checked for
original data, eliminating review articles, theoretical articles and opinion pieces. This resulted
in 115 studies eligible for rating, by using standardised tools to evaluate quality. After rat-
ing, 54 of the 115 studies were accepted for the synthesis.
Studies were evaluated using rating criteria designed by Gibbs (1989, 2003). For quantita-
tive studies, rating criteria include psychometric properties of measurements, sufficiency of
data for synthesis, use of a control group, etc. For qualitative studies, rating criteria include
sample description, author bias and trustworthiness/authenticity. Studies scoring 60 per cent
or above were included in the study, and studies scoring between 55 and 59 per cent were
re-rated by a second rater to confirm exclusion or inclusion in the study (Table 1).
The 54 accepted studies pertained to a range of stakeholders, including children aged
319 years old. The predominant number of studies originated from North America and the
United Kingdom, but some were also retrieved from other countries including Australia, Aus-
tria, Germany, Israel, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. Please refer to
Table A1 (Appendix A) for a breakdown of studies by methods and participants.
Results
An analysis of research findings revealed two emerging themes: stakeholder perceptions and
experiences with social inclusion in the context of childhood disability; and contributory
factors that promote or inhibit social inclusion. Combining findings from these two areas
yields a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of current issues associated with social
inclusion for children with disabilities.
Stakeholder experiences with and perspectives on social inclusion
In this context, stakeholders include children with disabilities, their typically developing
peers, educators and parents/primary caregivers. This section examines the range of issues
associated with stakeholder perceptions and explores issues that pertain specifically to how
these stakeholders perceive and define social inclusion for children with disabilities.
Children with disabilities
Much of the literature identifies children with disabilities as being lonely, having fewer
friends than their peers and being more likely to be victims of bullying (Koster and others,
2010; Lindsay and McPherson, 2012). These negative social experiences can affect the self-
concept of children with disabilities, and their view of the world around them (Pijl and
Table 1: Elimination process for search results
Articles yielded through online search 1378
With additional studies found through scanning reference lists 1407
Post-duplicate/relevancy sorting and additional scanning of reference lists 419
Post-removing non-primary sources 115
Final inclusion 54
Social Inclusion for Children with Disabilities 3
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Frostad, 2010). Despite these persistent concerns, limited research has focused on how these
children perceive social inclusion.
Research involving adults with disabilities has revealed that interactions between personal
and environmental factors shape how individuals define social inclusion (Martin and Cobigo,
2011). For example, Hammel and others (2008) found that adults with disabilities did not
appear to have a specific definition of social inclusion, but referred to the freedom to choose
and participate on their own terms rather than following societal norms. Therefore, ensuring
that individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to formulate definitions of social
inclusion is extremely relevant. Martin and Cobigo (2011) interviewed adults with disabilities
and found that common themes included: being accepted as an individual beyond the dis-
ability; having reciprocal relationships; being involved in activities; securing appropriate liv-
ing accommodations; being employed; and receiving formal and informal supports. To our
knowledge, no similar research has assessed how children with disabilities define social
inclusion. This prevents us from comparing children and adults with disabilities’ views.
For children with disabilities, social exclusion and bullying is a disturbing reality (Taylor
and Houghton, 2008). Lindsay and McPherson (2012) reported that children with cerebral palsy
experienced significant social exclusion in the form of bullying, and wanted greater awareness
about disability among their peers. Because children with disabilities can suffer from negative
self-concept as a result of bullying and teasing (Pijl and Frostad, 2010), Lindsay and McPherson
(2012) concluded that a peer support network could help build their self-confidence. Children
also believed that schools played an important role in their experience, including the attitudes
of teachers and the extent to which accommodations were implemented within school commu-
nities (Lindsay and McPherson, 2012). Overall, the social landscape for children with disabilities
is filled with barriers to meaningful inclusion such as lack of awareness, negative attitudes and
bullying, resulting in loneliness (Hamilton, 2005; Krull and others, 2014; Rotheram-Fuller and
others, 2010; Symes and Humphrey, 2010) and low self-esteem (Pijl and Frostad, 2010).
Children without disabilities
Children perceive their peers with disabilities in various ways. One contributing factor is
developmental level, with older children being more likely to use moral reasoning to justify
the inclusion of children with disabilities in social settings (Gasser and others, 2014). Context
is another contributing factor: one study found that children were less likely to expect the
inclusion of peers with disabilities in academic and athletic contexts, compared to social
activities such as eating lunch (Gasser and others, 2014). This finding could be explained by
Diamond and Tu’s (2009) conclusion that children base their inclusion decisions on the
extent to which a child’s disability might interfere with a chosen activity. However, to date
no studies have explored how typically developing children specifically define and under-
stand social inclusion of children with disabilities.
Educators
As noted, children with disabilities perceive educators as playing a critical role in influencing
the quality of social inclusion in the classroom (Lindsay and McPherson, 2012). To date, no
research has specifically addressed how educators define social inclusion for children with dis-
abilities. Instead, most research has focused on the attitudes of educators about the general
principles of inclusive education. A study involving student teachers revealed that participa-
tion in an academic course about children with disabilities did not affect attitudes, but did
increase self-efficacy (Hutzler and others, 2005). Attitudes of educators about inclusion are pri-
marily shaped by their level of experience (Horrocks and others, 2008; Maunganidze and
others, 2007; Rheams and Bain, 2005; van der Veen and others, 2010), and experience can also
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increase their sense of efficacy (Hutzler and others, 2005). Among school principals, attitudes
about including children with autism were positively correlated with the belief that these chil-
dren could successfully be included in a regular classroom (Horrocks and others, 2008).
Although theoretical and philosophical orientation may play a role in shaping educator
practices, Rheams and Bain (2005) found that teachers working in segregated and inclusive
classrooms did not differ significantly in their attitudes towards inclusion, and that logistic
and environmental barriers were more likely to affect teachers’ use of interventions in their
classrooms. The importance of environmental factors such as resources has been reaffirmed
by studies involving teachers in South Africa (Donohue and Bornman, 2015) and early child-
hood educators in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (Hamaidi and others, 2012). This
implies that teachers from both segregated and inclusive contexts may tend to hold the belief
that all children should be included in the classroom, but that the amount and quality of
resources available can be more influential in shaping practice than attitudes.
Despite the above empirical evidence demonstrating the importance of teacher attitudes in
ensuring inclusive classrooms, few studies have specifically focused on teacher opinions about
how social inclusion can be fostered. Most studies have assessed teacher support for inclusive
education from a policy perspective; much less is known about how teachers delineate social
inclusion for children with disabilities. For example, more research is needed to clarify whether
teachers believe they have an integral role in building friendships across diverse children with
the overarching goal of creating social connections in their respective school communities.
Caregivers
Parents of children with disabilities tend to express concerns about their children’s beha-
vioural differences and how these might affect inclusion (Recchia and Lee, 2004). They also
report, however, that environmental barriers, such as difficulties accessing services and nega-
tive attitudes of others in the community, play a confounding role (Ault and others, 2013;
Leyser and Kirk, 2004; Schleien and others, 2014). Together, these findings suggest that par-
ent perceptions of social inclusion may be consistent with the biopsychosocial model,
according to which disability involves obstacles both within and outside the individual
(Shakespeare, 2006; Thomas, 2004).
Although parents believe that they can advocate for their children, they ultimately view
service providers as responsible for meeting inclusion needs (Schleien and others, 2014). In
other words, while parents can promote social inclusion, they acknowledge that additional
environmental factors can significantly affect the child’s ability to participate (Rosenberg
and others, 2012). To date, no studies have specifically focused on how parents understand
social inclusion for their children with disabilities, besides recognising the essential value of
peer relationships for their children’s development and well-being.
Variables influencing social inclusion
Researchers have identified several variables that can promote or inhibit social inclusion for
children with disabilities. These variables reflect a range of constructs associated with defin-
ing social inclusion, as well as components of the biopsychosocial model. This critical review
identified child-specific, family, school and cross-cultural variables.
Child-specific variables
Type of disability plays a role in how children experience the quality of their social inclusion
(Seni
car and Kobal Grum, 2012). Children with emotional/behavioural disabilities and with
multiple disabilities generally experience more hardship than those with specific physical,
visual, hearing, or speech difficulties (McCoy and Banks, 2012). For example, children with
Social Inclusion for Children with Disabilities 5
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learning disabilities appear to keep fewer friends over time than typically developing peers
(Estell and others, 2009). The quality of inclusion, therefore, is associated with mental age,
with lower mental age resulting in lower levels of inclusion (Carvalho and others, 2014).
In addition to cognition, social inclusion is also influenced by the child’s prosocial beha-
viour, social competence (Jones and Frederickson, 2010; Schwab and others, 2013) and emo-
tional regulation (Bauminger and Kimhi-Kind, 2008; Odom and others, 2006). Teachers find
that social competence is a strong predictor of social inclusion for all children (Schwab and
others, 2013). Prosocial skills identified by teachers include classroom skills like turn-taking,
independence and self-help (Kemp and Carter, 2005). Conversely, social exclusion is pre-
dicted by aggression (Kemp and Carter, 2005; Odom and others, 2006), shyness (Jones and
Frederickson, 2010) and social withdrawal (Odom and others, 2006).
Family variables
Early experiences with caregivers are important predictors of later social inclusion (Bauminger
and Kimhi-Kind, 2008). One study reported that high maternal self-efficacy, or a mother’s sense
of being able to handle difficulties, was a strong predictor of increased participation for chil-
dren with mild motor disabilities (Soref and others, 2012). Guralnick and others (2008a) found
that early babymother communication predicted child behaviours in unfamiliar playgroups
two years later. Specifically, more infant attempts at influencing the mother’s behaviour was
linked with more peer involvement two years later, suggesting that strategies designed to
encourage children’s early participation in routines may facilitate future social inclusion.
Beyond early experiences, levels of family stress over time appear to be negatively associ-
ated with children with developmental challenges and the quality of social interactions (Gural-
nick and others, 2006). Socioeconomic status is positively correlated with child participation
(Soref and others, 2012). Poverty increases the stigma and negative effects of disability through
a variety of pathways such as limiting access to services and programmes, education and social
influence (McCoy and Banks, 2012; Trani and others, 2013). In turn, higher levels of education
often support parents’ attempts to promote social acceptance of their children (Leyser and Kirk,
2004). Finally, parental anxiety is a possible barrier to inclusion, as it may interfere with the
level of collaboration with teaching staff and other service providers (Soref and others, 2012).
School variables
Early participation in inclusive school programmes is predictive of later continuity in inclu-
sive settings (Guralnick and others, 2008b). When moving a child from a segregated to an
inclusive setting, a skilled team of service providers can ensure ongoing support and atten-
tion to child-specific variables (Gibb and others, 2007). Children with disabilities rate the role
of teachers as very important, predominantly because teachers can permeate inclusive set-
tings with negative attitudes towards disabilities or a desire to overprotect the child (Rheams
and Bain, 2005). The actions of teachers can also affect peer inclusion decisions; for exam-
ple, a teacher’s decision to have a child with a disability to write a test in a separate room
might serve to emphasise the child’s differences to his or her peers (Lindsay and McPherson,
2012). Structured activities, such as inclusive games built into class time, predict higher
degrees of social inclusion (Carvalho and others, 2014), as does open communication
between service providers and families (Recchia and Lee, 2004).
Gibb and others (2007) identified concerns regarding effective inclusive teaching strate-
gies, such as a lack of focus on child-specific factors, an absence of cultural responsivity
and neglecting to foster co-operation between children with disabilities and their peers. One
study found that segregated settings provide significantly more adultchild interactions than
inclusive settings, but fewer peerchild interactions, highlighting the need for more balance
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across settings (Kishida and Kemp, 2009). At the same time, participation in inclusive schools
may elicit stigma, in the form of name-calling and exclusion by non-disabled peers (Cooney
and others, 2006). Poor school policies, restrictive physical environments and lack of accom-
modations are also barriers to the social inclusion of children with disabilities (Alston and
Kilham, 2004; Lindsay and others, 2012; Seymour and others, 2009).
Cross-cultural variables
Few studies have focused on cross-cultural differences in describing social inclusion for chil-
dren with disabilities. One study explored the meaning of inclusion for children with cognitive
disabilities in Ladakh, India, stressing the need to conceptualise inclusion locally (Richard,
2014). For example, as most children with disabilities in Ladakh move back in with their fami-
lies after completing their education, families should receive as much attention as schools in
terms of seeking solutions to maximise social inclusion. This study, though a lone example of
applying a localised lens, highlights the value of considering cross-cultural variables.
Another study compared educational contexts with regard to inclusion in a sample of
early education settings in six European countries: England, Finland, Greece, Italy, Spain
and Sweden (Kutnick and others, 2007). England was at one end of the spectrum, with one
practitioner and one teaching assistant working with an average of 24 children, while Swe-
den employed multiple practitioners working with 1015 children. Frequent concerns across
all countries included bullying and poor relationships between some children. The research-
ers found that only educators in Finland had received adequate in-service training about
social inclusion, where educators were encouraged to lead games to encourage social co-
operation in the classroom. Together, these findings illustrate the need for teacher education
that specifically addresses socially inclusive interventions in the classroom.
Conclusions
Although children with disabilities recognise the value of peer relationships and participation
in their communities, they continue to experience low levels of social integration (Frazee,
2003). Persistent social exclusion for these children is a complex phenomenon, and is often
the result of a confluence of variables that gain momentum when they converge over time.
The use of effective teaching strategies can ameliorate the effects of child-specific and family
variables that hinder a child’s ability to participate. For example, teaching strategies that
directly promote co-operation between students can enhance social experiences within the
classroom (Gibb and others, 2007). Teachers require adequate training that can promote posi-
tive attitudes (Rheams and Bain, 2005) and foster a sense of efficacy (Hutzler and others,
2005). Along with positive attitudes, supportive logistical and environmental resources, such
as physical design adaptations and pedagogical aids, are necessary to foster inclusive experi-
ences in the classroom (Rheams and Bain, 2005).
The definition of social inclusion is problematic because it remains broad and elusive. To
our knowledge, no research has specifically examined how children with disabilities perceive
social inclusion, and few studies have focused on how typically developing children perceive
social inclusion and disability. Additionally, little research has explored how educators and
parents perceive specific issues related to social inclusion, or their respective roles in min-
imising the effects of a child’s disability on his or her social life. These gaps prevent the
development of evidence-informed practices for those working with children who have dis-
abilities and their families. For instance, inclusive educational practices have a range of
applications, but little information is available for specific contexts. Interventions may have
little to do with how children with disabilities actually experience the social world of the
Social Inclusion for Children with Disabilities 7
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classroom how welcome they feel in their school, how many friends they have or the
quality of their participation in decisions that affect their lives.
Because we know little of how children with disabilities perceive social inclusion in their
lives, we are compelled to extract elements from research involving adults. Adults with dis-
abilities tend to define social inclusion as active and meaningful engagement, choice and con-
trol, societal responsibilities and a social connection to the community (Hammel and others,
2008). Other aspects can include being accepted as an individual beyond the disability, having
reciprocal personal relationships, appropriate living accommodations and employment while
receiving formal and informal supports (Martin and Cobigo, 2011). Despite these commonali-
ties, adults with disabilities tend not to identify a single criterion for social inclusion. Instead,
they refer to a need for choice and control in deciding what is meaningful engagement within
their personal context (Hammel and others, 2008).
We might expect children’s views to resonate with adult concepts of social inclusion. We
can also infer that children’s definitions of social inclusion may include the absence of bully-
ing, making peers aware of their disability, and the compelling value of peer acceptance and
support (Lindsay and McPherson, 2012). Next steps must include opportunities for children
with disabilities to exercise agency in defining social inclusion from within their own lives.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the participation of several individuals and community
organisations including Nancy Hendy, Cathy Kerr, Susan Rowe and Margarita Isakov from
Community Living Toronto, Dr. Kevin Stoddart from The Redpath Centre, Carrie Youdell
from Ontario Early Years Centres and Frances Mendez-Barcelo from YWCA’s Beatrice House.
We also thank our co-investigators Dr. Jason Nolan and Dr. Sharon Hope Irwin for their sup-
port of the project, as well as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
for their research grant. This research was funded by a grant from the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), grant no. 890-2013-0118.
Note
1 For the purposes of best representing the literature reviewed in this paper, the term ‘children’
will be used to include young people between the ages of 3 and 19, unless otherwise stated.
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Social Inclusion for Children with Disabilities 9
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Appendix A
Table A1: Summary table of studies’ methods and participants
Participants
Methods
Qualitative (n=10) Quantitative (n=36) Mixed (n=8)
Children
(n=27)
Dyson (2005), Hammel
and others (2008),
Lindsay and
McPherson (2011),
Lindsay and
McPherson (2012) and
Seymour and others
(2009)
Cooney and others (2006), Estell
and others (2009), Frostad and
Pijl (2007), Gasser and others
(2014), Hamilton (2005),
Huckstadt and Shutts (2014),
Kishida and Kemp (2009), Koster
and others (2010), Krull and
others (2014), Lasgaard and
others (2010), McCoy and Banks
(2012), McDougall and others
(2004), Murray and Greenberg
(2006), Pijl and Frostad (2010),
Rotheram-Fuller and others
(2010), Seni
car and Kobal Grum
Bauminger and Kimhi-Kind
(2008), Diamond and Tu
(2008) and Odom and others
(2006)
(continued)
12 Donna Koller et al.
©2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and National Children’s Bureau CHILDREN & SOCIETY Vol. 32, 1–13 (2018)
Correspondence to: Donna Koller, PhD, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St. (KHS 363K), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5B 2K3, Tel.: (+1) 416 979-5000, ext. 2513; Fax: 416-979-5239. E-mail: dkoller@ryerson.ca
Accepted for publication 14 March 2017
Table A1 (continued)
Participants
Methods
Qualitative (n=10) Quantitative (n=36) Mixed (n=8)
(2012), Siperstein and others
(2007), Symes and Humphrey
(2010) and Trani and others
(2013)
Caregivers
(n=5)
Schleien and others
(2014)
Ault and others (2013), Martin and
Cobigo (2011) and Rosenberg and
others (2012)
Leyser and Kirk (2004)
Educators
(n=11)
Gibb and others (2007) Donohue and Bornman (2015),
Hamaidi and others (2012),
Horrocks and others (2008),
Hutzler and others (2005), Kemp
and Carter (2005), Maunganidze
and others (2007), Rheams and
Bain (2005) and van der Veen
and others (2010)
Alston and Kilham (2004) and
Kutnick and others (2007)
Children and
Caregivers
(n=5)
Richard (2014) Guralnick and others (2008a,b) and
Soref and others (2011)
Carvalho and others (2014) and
Guralnick and others (2006)
Children and
Educators
(n=2)
Pijl, Frostad and Flem (2008) and
Schwab and others (2013)
Children,
Caregivers
and
Educators
(n=4)
Recchia and Lee (2004)
and Taylor and
Houghton (2008)
Guralnick and others (2008a,b) and
Jones and Frederickson (2010)
Social Inclusion for Children with Disabilities 13
©2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and National Children’s Bureau CHILDREN & SOCIETY Vol. 32, 1–13 (2018)
... Life goals, attitudes from peers, self-confidence, personal interest, ambition in life, and self-esteem are the frequent factors influencing PEWB in students with disabilities, but the most recurrent factors are a form of adaptation to disability (AD) and positive feelings (PF) [9]. On the other side, these students can suffer from negative feelings due to aggressive behaviors and harassment from community members, unhealthy peer relationships, exclusion from group activities for children and adolescents, lack of attention from school personnel, and focusing on the student's failures rather than capacities [10]. ...
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This article focuses on factors that promote the use of appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities in early childhood inclusive settings. It investigates the kinds of accommodations that were used with two children who were educated in two settings—a mainstream classroom, and a small unit in which the majority of children were on the autism spectrum. The study found that teaching assistants did not always foster social inclusion; that accommodations were not used consistently across the mainstream and specialised settings; and that planning time and training may be important ways to foster inclusionary practices. In addition, the high frequency of staff changes was noted, which may not be compatible with the demand for structure, routine and consistency that is commonly associated with children on the autism spectrum.
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The study examined the attitudes of a sample of Zimbabwean teachers towards the inclusion of children with mild hearing impairments. Two hundred and forty-six primary school teachers participated in the study. The teachers completed the modified Attitude Toward Mainstreaming Questionnaire (ATMQ) (Larrivee & Cook, 1979). In addition, they also completed four measures on implementation concerns of inclusive education of children with mild hearing impairments (i.e., academic, management, social, and knowledge concerns). Analysis related the scores from these four measures to teachers' attitudes, school type, class sizes, professional qualifications and position in the school. Compared with teachers with lower professional qualifications, teachers with higher professional qualifications had more favourable attitudes towards children with hearing impairment. Teachers who taught at ordinary schools with special needs resource units had more favourable attitudes towards students with hearing impairment than those at schools without such units. Resource unit teachers welcomed social inclusion of children with mild hearing impairments. School administrators were concerned about the practice of including children with hearing impairments in regular school setting before inducting teachers.
Article
The main research goal was to investigate the self-concept, self-esteem and social support among adolescents with special needs, concentrating on the differences between adolescents who are attending regular schools and those who receive their education in special institutions. Participants filled in three questionnaires: Self-description Questionnaire (Marsh, 1992), Self-Liking/Competence Scale (Tafarodi and Swann, 2001) and Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (Malecki, Demaray and Elliott, 2000). The results show that the educational institution and type of disability affect students' self-concept, self-esteem and social support, while parents' disability only has a minor influence on these characteristics. Positive correlations between types of self-concept and social support can also be observed. The results therefore show inclusion's positive effect on students' personal and social functioning: students attending inclusive education have better self-concepts and receive more social support than students attending special schools.
Article
Over the last thirty years, the field of disability studies has emerged from the political activism of disabled people. In this challenging review of the field, leading disability academic and activist Tom Shakespeare argues that the social model theory has reached a dead end. Drawing on a critical realist perspective, Shakespeare promotes a pluralist, engaged and nuanced approach to disability. Key topics discussed include: dichotomies - the dangerous polarizations of medical model versus social model, impairment versus disability and disabled people versus non-disabled people, identity - the drawbacks of the disability movement's emphasis on identity politics, bioethics in disability - choices at the beginning and end of life and in the field of genetic and stem cell therapies, care and social relationships - questions of intimacy and friendship. This stimulating and accessible book challenges orthodoxies in British disability studies, promoting a new conceptualization of disability and fresh research agenda. It is an invaluable resource for researchers and students in disability studies and sociology, as well as professionals, policy makers and activists.
Article
Close friendships are important for children's academic achievement and socialemotional adaptation. Extant literature indicates students with learning disabilities are at increased risk for isolation, although little research has been done to examine the development of reciprocated friendships across late elementary school. This 2-year study examined the friendships of 55 students with learning disabilities in general education classrooms and 1,254 typically achieving peers. Results indicate that students with learning disabilities were as likely to have a reciprocated best friend and had as many best friends as their typically achieving peers. However, they retained fewer friendships over time, and were more likely to have friends who also had learning disabilities.
Article
The authors surveyed a national random sample of 5,837 middle school students on their attitudes toward the inclusion of peers with intellectual disabilities (ID). The national sample provided results that were accurate, with a margin of error of ±1.4%. Findings indicated that youth (a) have limited contact with students with ID in their classrooms and school; (b) perceive students with ID as moderately impaired rather than mildly impaired; (c) believe that students with ID can participate in nonacademic classes, but not in academic classes; (d) view inclusion as having both positive and negative effects; and (e) do not want to interact socially with a peer with ID, particularly outside school. Structural equation modeling showed that youths' perceptions of the competence of students with ID significantly influence their willingness to interact with these students and their support of inclusion.