Inclusive yes, special also: Revolution or resistance? Ciberdebate on the closure of Special Education Centers in Spain

Abstract

“Inclusiva Sí, Especial También” is an organization made up of people and institutions grouped in response to a climate of opinion auspicious to a foreseeable closure of Special Education Centers in Spain, generated in turn by different official bodies (United Nations, Spanish Government, Political Parties, Third Sector). This paper makes an approach to the behavior and interactivity of promoters and followers of the initiative “Inclusiva Sí, Especial También” in the social network Twitter, taking as reference the publications generated around the demonstration gathered on February 23, 2019 in Valladolid (Spain) against the closing of the Special Education Centers. The qualitative analysis of the Tweets shows two main plot categories and a common narrative strategy of the agents and actors in action on Twitter. The structural tensions accumulated in the long and unfinished process of inclusion of people with disabilities in the mainstream education system, has crystallized into a movement of resistance in front of the fear of losing segregated services, as the only source of specialized support.