No one size fits all: mainstreaming in the U.S. VS. mainstreaming in Uruguay.

Authors

  • Jennifer Vinas-Forcade Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22235/pe.v3i1.670

Keywords:

special education, integration inclusion, resources, stigma

Abstract

Abstract. The United States has become the source of new ideas about the public treatment of people with disabilities. Many countries are considering adopting policies modeled on those introduced in the United States. The idea of mainstreaming children with disabilities in schools -i.e., placing them in regular classrooms rather than providing them with special education facilities- has become widespread in the U.S. Given the transnational flow of ideas and the prestige the United States enjoys for its educational system and its treatment of citizens with disabilities, many other countries are considering following the U.S. lead. However, I argue that problems in implementing the policy and the negative consequences of mainstreaming children with disabilities in U.S. public schools would likely be aggravated if this policy was applied in less developed countries such as Uruguay, where the idea has reached the government and voices have been raised advocating the policy. In this case study, I analyze the challenges in and results of implementing the policy of mainstreaming in the United States, and then analyze likely outcomes in Uruguay, a country with fewer resources, a different culture and history, should it chose to follow the U.S. model.

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Author Biography

Jennifer Vinas-Forcade, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Jennifer Vinas-Forcade has a BA in Social Communications from Universidad Católica del Uruguay. She is part of the Institute of Educational Assessment of this university and also holds a Certificate in International Journalism from Hamline University, Saint Paul, MN, USA. Vinas-Forcade is currently in Belgium working towards a Master Advanced in Cultures and Development from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

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Personal Interviews

Cirio, Ivanna. December 13th and 14th, 2006

Cobas, Pilar. December 13th, 2006

Devine, Shirley. November 28th, 2006

Holmes, Jennifer. December 1st, 2006

Lovat, Sara. November 29th, 2006

Pubentz, Jen. November 27th, 2006

Riotorto, Graciela. December 14th, 2006

Rodriguez, Gabriela. December 18th, 2006

Viñas, Alicia. December 10th, 2006

Walsh, Kathleen. December 15th, 2006

Wright, Sara. November 29th, 2006

Ziemke, Barb. December 4th, 2006

Published

2010-11-30

How to Cite

Vinas-Forcade, J. (2010). No one size fits all: mainstreaming in the U.S. VS. mainstreaming in Uruguay. Páginas De Educación, 3(1), 161–184. https://doi.org/10.22235/pe.v3i1.670

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