Views of inclusion : a comparative study of parents' perceptions in South Africa and the United States

Abstract

Parent participation is considered to be a vital component in the education of students with disabilities. Parents' roles in pivotal changes in special education specifically, inclusion are acknowledged, and their rights are protected in special education law. However, their perspectives are not always understood or considered in the decision-making process. In this study, parents of children with disabilities in South Africa and in a midwestern state of the United States participated in focus group discussions regarding inclusive education. The results indicated that parent perceptions, experiences, and barriers to effective family-school partnerships and parent advocacy were remarkably similar on the two continents. Implications and recommendations for preservice teacher education are discussed.