December 2008

Dear Readers,

In this last bulletin of the year we would like to give you insight into the work the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education will be focusing on in the year 2009.

We hope you find this information useful and are - as always - available for any questions you might have. You are welcome to contact us via secretariat@european-agency.org or to contact your country representatives, whose details you will find when you select your country from the list on http://www.european-agency.org/site/national_pages/index.html

The Agency wishes happy holidays and a wonderful start to 2009.

Sincerely,
The Agency

1. New Agency member countries in 2009
2. Agency projects in 2009
3. Agency publications and project outcomes in 2009
4. "Young Voices: Meeting Diversity in Education" is available online
5. Contacts and Disclaimer

1. New Agency member countries in 2009

As of January 2009 the Agency will be joined by both Bulgaria and Northern Ireland. We are happy to welcome our new members and will be offering information such as National Contacts and information on development in special needs education and inclusion within Bulgaria and Northern Ireland at www.european-agency.org

Information on all our current 27 Agency member countries can be found at http://www.european-agency.org/site/national_pages/index.html

2. Agency projects in 2009

The year 2009 marks the launch of four new Agency projects:

Teacher Education for Inclusion:

This project will cover four key themes: the kind of teachers needed for an inclusive society in a 21st century school; a focus on the whole training continuum; teacher competences for inclusive education; and a wider brief to training (involving other educational professionals). Using these ideas as a basis, the focus for the project will be on examining how all teachers - mainstream and specialist/special education teachers - are prepared to be 'inclusive'.

Vocational Education - Policy and Practice in the field of SNE:

This project will consider a range of topics: transition from school to work, investigating school drop out issues and prevention measures, lifelong learning issues and vocational education for adults.

Higher Education Accessibility Guide (HEAG):

The aim of this project is to develop a revised database of information for students with disabilities who are considering the possibilities of studying abroad. The database will provide formal information to guide students (and the professionals who support them) in their decision-making. This will include relevant information on the European, national and institutional levels relating to studying abroad.

Early Childhood Intervention:

This project aims at updating the Early Childhood Intervention Project completed in 2005 with the focus on availability, proximity, affordability, interdisciplinary working and diversity.

3. Agency publications and project outcomes in 2009

In addition to starting new projects in 2009 we are also concluding a series of long and short term projects. The outcomes of these will be available in electronic and print form. When these are available on our website they will be announced through our bulletin.

The main project outcomes planned for 2009 are:

Assessment in Inclusive Settings Materials - a collection of materials from Phase 2 of the project:

The Assessment in Inclusive Settings project covered a span of four years with 25 Agency member countries participating. While the first phase of the project considered what can be defined as "Inclusive Assessment", the second phase examined how inclusive assessment can be put into practice by exploring three inter-connected themes: supporting teachers; organising schools; methods and tools for involving different ‘actors’ in assessment processes. All information from the project can be found at http://www.european-agency.org/site/themes/assessment/index.shtml

Development of a set of indicators for the conditions of inclusive education in Europe - a project report:

The aim of this one year project was to develop a methodology that would lead to a set of indicators at national level, which are also applicable at European level. 23 Agency member countries participated in this project. The indicators developed provide a clear focus on the policy conditions that may support or hinder the development of inclusive education within schools. The report presents the framework and rationale, the aims and objectives of the project as well as the methodology used.

Pupils with Special Educational Needs and an Immigrant Background:

The main focus of this project has been to investigate how to respond to the special educational needs of pupils coming from different cultures and often using a different language than the one used in the host country. With respect to the differences between the participating countries, this project has collected data on educational measures, assessment procedures and tools regarding the double aspect of pupils with special needs education and an immigrant background.

Key Principles for Meeting Diversity in Education:

This report summarises a review of recent Agency project results, highlighting key principles for policies that aim to promote inclusion and meeting diversity in education. The aim of this document is to share key messages with decision makers in the field of special needs education.

EuroNews on Special Needs Education Issue No. 19:

EuroNews 19 will be dedicated to news about recent Agency projects as well as news from Agency member countries.

4. "Young Voices: Meeting Diversity in Education" is available online

This report is a summary of the presentations and results of the European Hearing of Young People with Special Educational Needs “Young Voices: Meeting Diversity in Special Needs Education”, organised by the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education in co-operation with the Portuguese Ministry of Education. This report has been prepared by the Agency on the basis of the contributions from the young delegates who participated in the event.

http://www.european-agency.org/site/info/publications/agency/index.html

5. Contacts and Disclaimer

For more information about the Agency please contact:

European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education
Østre Stationsvej 33
DK-5000 Odense C
Denmark
Phone: +45 64 41 00 20
Fax: +45 64 41 23 03
E-mail: secretariat@european-agency.org
URL: www.european-agency.org

If you would like to send feedback regarding this bulletin please send an email to: bulletin@european-agency.org

Copyright Notice

The text contained in this bulletin is protected by the laws of the European Union and each member country, including copyright law.

The European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education is an independent and self-governing organisation, supported by Agency member countries and the European Institutions (Commission and Parliament). The production of this document has been made possible through support from the Agency member countries as well as the DG Education, Training and Culture of the European Commission.