Abstract

GUTIERREZ, Mario Fernando  and  MARTINEZ FERNANDEZ, Liliana. Teachers’ Social Representations Concerning the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities. REDIE [online]. 2020, vol.22, e13.  Epub Dec 28, 2020. ISSN 1607-4041.  https://doi.org/10.24320/redie.2020.22.e13.2260.

This article seeks to identify the social representations held by public school teachers in Bogotá and Cali (Colombia) regarding the inclusion of disabled children in the classroom. The research followed an inductive approach based on grounded theory; to this effect, the content and internal structure of social representations were identified (a descriptive and relational analysis). The study involved 25 teachers from two public schools in Bogotá and Cali. The results show that, as far as inclusion is concerned, teachers believe they play a coordinating role between public policy and pedagogical implementation in the classroom, despite not always having appropriate training. For teachers, the emotional dimension of inclusion is demanding, and - for the most part - this is viewed negatively.

Keywords : Special education; pupil integration; educational needs; right to education.