The study investigated the expressed advice of parents, teachers, and Deaf community leaders regarding careers for deaf students in Sweden. The research was conducted: (a) in a country where consensus has been achieved on recognition and accommodation of the educational needs of deaf students; (b) in a city with a very high concentration of deaf individuals, a continuum of educational facilities, and support for deaf students ranging from preschool through college; and, (c) in a community with a strong and active deaf organization and parent organization. The authors found that, despite many advances in the country, communication in the language of the greater society is a potent factor in limiting occupational possibilities for the Deaf.
Definitions of inclusion, as well as models for how best to implement the agreedupon definitions, may vary from one country to another, reflecting the unique characteristics of the society and culture. On the other hand, elements of inclusion may be universal, reflecting similar goals, functions, and experiences across countries. The purpose of this paper is to open a dialogue on cross-cultural meanings of educational inclusion for deaf students. The opportunity to explore this topic was the result of participation by the authors in 'Project Inclusion', an international course on educational inclusion of deaf students. As course instructors, we met regularly to design the curriculum of the course and have offered the course twice. Using our instructor team discussions of inclusion as a starting place, we discuss how educational inclusion is practised within each of the four partner countries. The paper concludes with reflections about the ways in which inclusion is embedded in the philosophy, values, culture, politics and history of each country.
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