The Salamanca statement and framework for action on special needs education

Abstract

More than 300 participants representing 92 governments and 25 international organizations met in Salamanca, Spain , from 7 to 10 June 1994 to further the objective of Education for All by considering the fundamental policy shifts required to promote the approach of inclusive education , namely enabling schools to serve all children, particularly those with special educational needs. Orgnized by the Government of Spain in co-operation with UNESCO, the Conference brought together senior education officials , a dministrat rs , policy - makers and specialists, as well as rep re s e n t at ives of the United Nations and the Specialize d A ge n c i e s , other intern ational gove rnmental orga n i z at i o n s , n o n - gove rnmental orga n i z ations and donor agencies. The Confe re n c e adopted the Salamanca Statement on Pri n c i p l e s , Po l i cy and P ractice in Special Needs Education and a Fra m ewo rk for A c t i o n . These documents are info rmed by the principle of incl u s i o n , by re c ognition of the need to wo rk towa rds s chools for all - insti - tutions wh i ch include eve ry b o dy, c e l eb rate diffe re n c e s , s u p p o rt l e a rn i n g, and respond to individual needs. As such , t h ey constitu - te an important contri but ion to the agenda for ach i ev i n g E d u c ation for All and for making schools educat i o n a l ly more e ffect ive.