Abstract:
The article presents important aspects regarding new policies and educational practices for special needs education and inclusive education, which are major concerns in Romania for mainstream inclusion in schools. It also discusses the perception of parents regarding the current and future state of inclusion for children with disabilities/special educational needs (CES). The content of the article includes significant changes made to legislation in 2023 regarding social and educational inclusion of children/youth with disabilities/CES. It also presents the results of a public opinion survey conducted at the beginning of the new pre-university school year, aiming to assess the general perception of parents/guardians regarding inclusive schooling and to raise awareness about segregation and the necessity of inclusion. The surveyed individuals were informed about recent changes in pre-university education legislation, focusing on the benefits of inclusion and the future prospects of integrated education. The survey successfully achieved. Our hypothesis, which assumed a high number of respondents, was confirmed, and the surveyed individuals showed complete openness towards the topic.
