Parents' views on the success of integration of students with special education needs

Abstract

This study investigated how parents' views on important aspects of integration correlate with parents' actual experiences concerning the integration into mainstream education of their child with special education needs. It was assumed that the degree of discrepancy between perceived importance and corresponding actual experience contributes to the overall perceived success of integration. The data for the study were collected in 2006 from parents (N = 219) whose special needs children were integrated into mainstream education in Helsinki, Finland. Quantitatively analysed findings were reflected against background variables. Results showed that the importance of the given statements were affected by the child's gender and school level. The parents' actual experiences were affected by two factors. The first showed that teachers at the primary level were evaluated as being more skilful than teachers at the secondary level, and at the secondary level, teaching was more individualised than at the primary level. Second, a child's self-worth was shown to be higher when integrated into the neighbourhood school. Parents' views on the success of integration were related to their actual experiences, especially in those statements rated as important. Possible explanations for these findings and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• parents' views
• special education
• integration
• inclusion
• importance
• experience

Notes on contributors

Risto Hotulainen, PhD, is working as lecturer at the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, Department of Teacher Education – Special Education, University of Helsinki, Finland. Currently (2011–2014) he is working in the project ‘Think Science and Math’ funded by the Finnish the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Marjatta Takala works now as a professor of special education at the University of Oulu. She has done research related to, for example, educational policy in the Nordic countries. Her homepage is http://blogs.helsinki.fi/umtakala/.