‘Reasonable adjustments’ in relation to disability and social justice: Discourses of inclusive ethos in an inter-professional context

Paliokosta, Paty (2014) ‘Reasonable adjustments’ in relation to disability and social justice: Discourses of inclusive ethos in an inter-professional context. In: Discourse Power Resistance 14: Research & Practice - Exchange & Change; 08-10 Apr 2014, London, U.K.. (Unpublished)

Abstract

In line with a recurring theme in literature about teachers’ positive attitudes being seen as key factor to implementing inclusive education (Hegarty, 1994; Avramides and Norwich, 2002; Batsiou et al, 2008; de Boer et al, 2011), this paper is exploring another parameter in school settings that could be related to stakeholders’ attitudes in various ways, namely the notion of ‘reasonable adjustments’. This is a term primarily associated with Disability Equality and Human Rights agenda that carries potential legal, educational (systemic) as well as pedagogical discourses. Drawing on findings from a small-scale project (Paliokosta and Kindness, 2011) that investigated the discourses and practices relating to ‘reasonable adjustments’ as used and understood by different stakeholders in an inner-city mainstream primary setting, the aim is to critically discuss whether and in what ways shared values, beliefs and preparedness for inclusion in a setting are relating to the notion of reasonable adjustments. Dilemmas stemmed from an emerging interplay of legal, educational and pedagogical discourses and their prioritization in the context of inclusive practices. Discussion will take place on the relationship between given discourses and their implications on the sustainability of inclusive ethos within a multi-professional context.

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