I could Help w/ IDEA only.

I could help with UK system

Hi Michelle

Sorry to be culturally relativist but you need to be aware that SENDA does not cover Scotland s Education policy is devolved to the Scottish Parliament and therefore there is no such thing as 'UK education policy'.  Scotland has the Additional Support for Learning Act (2004) that was quite different at time of inception, in that, it widens the understanding of additional requirement to include any barrier to learning including housing, bullying, poverty etc.  In some cases this has resulted in a shift to more proactive and preventative assessment and support (e.g. see new approaches to Dyslexia explained in J.M. Davis & P. Deponio (2014) Analysing conflicting approaches to dyslexia on a European project: moving to a more strategic, participatory, strength-based and integrated approach, International Journal of Inclusive Education, 18:5, 515-534, DOI: 10.1080/13603116.2013.802023 here: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13603116.2013.802023#.VL435ihNDN4

See also for more detail on ASL Act p16 Davis, J.M., & Smith, M (2012) Working in Multiprofessional Contexts: A Practical Guide for Professionals In Children’s Services. Sage: London,

The DDA and subsequent equity legislation does covers Scotland as discrimination laws act on a UK basis but there are different set ups for Education in each country of the UK.  

Similarly, see also chapter 6 of this book for example from Wales of common assessment.  Should be noted Wales and the North of Ireland also have their own parliaments.  Welsh policies relating to children and young people have made a strong shift to social justice approaches that show awareness of the anti-discrimination aspects of the DDA and other equality legislation. Specifically the promoting Disability Equality in Schools policy is very robust.  

For Northern Ireland see http://www.equalityni.org/ECNI/media/ECNI/Publications/Delivering%20Equality/RES1314-05_UNCRPD_SummaryReport_Final_v1a_070714.pdf

IDEA here

Thanks John for your detailed answer. It sounds similar to Australia in that each state has it's own legislation even though the umbrella legislation exists from the federal government there seems to be much disparity amongst the states and how this legislation is implemented/filtered down to those on the ground. e\.g teachers and special education professionals.

I am wanting to write a paper looking at the different education policies for students with disability, including looking at each countries/states/regions definition of disability and who qualifies/does not qualify for funding. 

Please contact me via email if this project sounds of interest to you. [email protected]

Thank you.

Regards,

Michelle

Hi Michelle, I can answer questions on the system in England. It is messy and you can get an idea of this from the chapter I wrote in a recent book (it was the free downloadable sample chapter) see Squires, G. (2012). Historical and socio-political agendas around defining and including children with special educational needs. In D. Armstrong & G. Squires (Eds.), Contemporary Issues in Special Educational Needs: Considering the whole child (pp. 9-24). London: Open University/Mc Graw-Hill Education.

http://www.mheducation.co.uk/9780335243631-emea-contemporary-issues-in-special-educational-needs-considering-the-whole-child

I assume you have already looked at these but just in case I ahve attached the links.

In the UK the SEND is in the process of transferring to an EHCP (Education and Health Care Plan) . 

As a Speech and Langauge Therapist I attend review meetings and I am involved in contributing to the EHCP and previously the SEND.  At present it is evolving and as G. Squires says it is rather 'messy' and variable in it's application.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-educational-needs-sen-code-of-practice

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/275104/RR326B_EHC_planning_pathway_-_FINAL.pdf

Thanks Gary, I'll have a look for your online chapter. Sounds like the Australian system.

Thanks Catherine I'll have a look at those papers you suggested. My expertise is the Australian system. I'm looking for others who would like to possibly co-author a paper from the two other countries/locations.