Chinese Parents’ Beliefs about the Importance and Feasibility of Quality Early Childhood Inclusion

Abstract

This study aims to explore Chinese parents’ understanding about the importance and feasibility of quality pre-school inclusion and how these beliefs are affected by their levels of education and the types of disabilities in the Chinese socio-cultural and policy contexts. Findings support parents are highly supportive of the philosophy of inclusion. Both groups of parents of children with and without disabilities have different expectations for what quality inclusion looks like in the six dimensions of inclusion except for professional development and resources. The higher the levels of education, the more likely regular parents agree on all six dimensions of inclusion. Finally, disability categories did not affect parents’ beliefs. Parents of children with multiple disabilities expressed the greatest need for inclusion. Overall, parents’ agreement with the important features of inclusion reflects a greater expectation for quality inclusion and policy-making to make this happen to all young children.

Keywords:

• Disability development
• disability education
• inclusion
• parental beliefs
• pre-school
• policy-making
• quality inclusion
• special education

Acknowledgement

The authors of this paper deeply appreciate the support.