Every child has a right to an education. This is no exception for children with disabilities. The principle of education for all has been emphasized in several international agreements (the Salamanca Statement, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). Parents’ perceptions on inclusive education play a significant role in accessing education for students with disabilities. Inclusive education, defined as “the integration and education of most students with disabilities in general education classrooms” (Eleweke & Rodda, 2002, p. 113; Friend et al., 1998), is critical to long-term academic outcomes. However, inclusive education for children with disabilities has yet to be realized effectively in the Caribbean. Literature exists on parent perceptions on inclusive education around the world but much less is highlighted in the research on this topic in the Caribbean region. Parents ultimately decide the setting in which they want their children to learn. By gaining a deeper understanding of how parents view inclusive education, implications for educational policy and practice can be made. This study synthesizes the literature on parent perceptions on inclusive education in the Caribbean to identify trends across various Caribbean countries regarding parents’ insights on inclusive classrooms and whether they feel confident about having their children in these settings. This synthesis will contribute to the regional and global literature in inclusive education by revealing the underlying insights into parents’ perceptions that can be applied to similar countries with developing economies not solely limited to the Caribbean region.

Authors:
Chelseaia Charran, Independent Scholar, Trinidad and Tobago

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Chelseaia Charran is an independent scholar from Trinidad & Tobago. Her research interests are educational equity, inclusive education, and international and comparative education.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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