Students with disabilities in the United States and Poland have the right to attend public schools, and to be provided with supports and services that help them to develop academically and socially. These rights are determined by laws and regulations, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) in the US, and the Convention of the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989) and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) in Poland. These guiding documents share many provisions, such the expectation that students with disabilities should be educated in their local schools and, if possible, learn in inclusive classrooms settings alongside their peers. This study compares special needs educational laws in two countries. We describe the ways in which the special education systems are aligned,and the ways they diverge, resulting in differences in classroom placements and educational outcomes.

Authors: Sarah Hurwitz, Magda ?elazowska-Sobczyk

• Date of Conference: 4-6 November 2024
• DOI: 10.20533/WCSNE.2024.0011
• ISBN: 978-1-913572-75-4
• Conference Location: St Anne’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK