| Abstract [eng] |
This thesis analyzes the interactions between parents that raise children with disabilities and the educational institutions (teachers, the school’s community, etc.) in the context of inclusive education. This process is examined through the perspective of social work. The inclusion of children with disabilities relies upon the values of the mentioned system, and social workers often take part in the interactions with the participants. As there are new opportunities in the educational institutions, challenges arise both for experts of these institutions, and for the parents that raise children with disabilities. The theoretical part of the thesis discusses the theoretical and practical sides of social inclusion and inclusive education. Moreover, it examines the situation of people with disabilities in Lithuania, and the significance of the relation between the participants of inclusive education. The aim is to analyze the challenges and opportunities of the interactions between the parents that raise children with disabilities, and the educational institutions, since there are possible influences to disabled children, involved in the inclusive education, and to their social integration. The method of the analysis is qualitative research, based upon semi-structured interviews. Five parents that raise children with disabilities and five specialists who work in the inclusive education process have been interviewed. The research demonstrates that the collaboration between the participants of inclusive education encourages the child’s with disabilities academic inclusion and the participation in social life. During the analysis it became clear that the parents with children with disabilities, who have received social services, most of the time gained competences and self-esteem while discussing the child’s inclusion. In contrast, the educational institutions often relied on social workers’ and other specialists’ assistance in creating educational plans for children with disabilities, and in continuous works with them outside the schools. The results of this thesis disclose how social workers perform and collaborate with the participants of inclusive education. |
