Developing applications of the ICF in education systems: addressing issues of knowledge creation, management and transfer

Abstract

Purpose: Since its endorsement, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has been applied in many policy contexts, including education. While so far the focus has been on showing ways in which it can be used to describe functioning and disability, this article seeks to focus on its value to represent knowledge. Methods: Two applications of the ICF and ICF-CY in the context of the Swiss education system highlight ways in which the classification can be used to assist multidisciplinary teams in acquiring and mapping existing knowledge, in creating new knowledge and in applying it for specific purposes. Results: The conceptual analysis illustrates that “disability in education” is a hybrid conceptual world that needs to bridge disability-related information with information relevant for learning and education. The ICF can be used to adequately map such knowledge in complex social settings. Conclusion: More attention needs to be paid to the ICF as an information system to help negotiate between different views on reality and different areas of expertise. The selection of content and ways of representing it need to be considered in the light of the specific purposes during collaborative knowledge creation processes.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• A sound understanding of the linkage between knowledge, information and data helps to clarify problems with the application of the ICF in everyday practice.

• Tool development needs to be responsive to the different information requirements across the knowledge creation cycle.

• Planning and decision-making can be improved if relevant information is represented in ways that facilitate adequate information processing.

Keywords::

• ICF
• education
• knowledge management

Declaration of Interest: The procedures described in this article were developed through funding received from the Swiss Conference of the Cantonal Ministers of Education and the Ministry of Education of the Canton of Zurich, respectively. The underlying conceptual work was supported by MHADIE project funded by the European Commission, Sixth Framework Programme; contract Number: SP-24-CT-2004–513708, thematic priority “Scientific Support to Policies” and the MURINET project funded by the European Commission, Sixth Framework Programme; contract number MRTN-CT-2006–035794, Marie Curie Research Training Networks.