engleski

Neoliberal Values and Disability: Critical Approach to Inclusive Education

Neoliberalism is a global phenomenon which has various forms. It is an ideology, as well as a package of political actions. Although it is an economic concept, nowadays it is present in all areas of social life, including education. Explicitly, neoliberalism facilitates cooperation between diverse social factors. However, its implicit purposes are capital accumulation and economic growth, and thus in collision with civil rights such as free access to social resources. From the aspect of education, neoliberalism is a pillar of social practices based on one’s own activity, i.e. participation. This means that an individual is responsible for own well-being, regardless of conditions he/she lives in. Since children with disabilities are socially marginalized, neoliberal principles of participation within mainstream settings and taking over responsibility for own action in current social conditions are questionable. Therefore, in this paper, the presence of neoliberal orientation in inclusive education will be scrutinized. In this way, a critical approach to contemporary interpretations of inclusive education is addressed.

inclusive education; children with disabilities; special education; neoliberalism; participation

nije evidentirano