The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Global Disability (UNGD) reports estimate that individuals with disabilities account for 15% of the world population. They identify approximately 150 million children with disabilities in the world (WHO, 2011), with an estimated 93 million children classified in the moderate to severe disability range and over 13 million children classified in the severe disability range. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, The American Disabilities Act, and The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act advocate the right of all children to be included in the general education system and to receive individualized support services and accommodations required for successful participation. The definition of special education varies worldwide as many countries use a social classification system similar to the International Classification System of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) addressing the child's ability to participate across the educational domain, while other counties focus on a medical model for education based on specific categories of impairment or disabilities (WHO, 2001).
展开▼
