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All children have the right to become equal citizens of the society. Children with intellectual disabilities have difficulties in learning and may need support to reach that equality, and some extra resources may be needed. Compared to children with typical development, children with intellectual disabilities have problems in three cognitive areas that are essential for learning activities: Abstract thinking. Understanding/using abstract symbols (text, numbers, money, and time) and imagining non-experienced things and situations. Several-steps thinking. Understanding multiple-level instructions and connections between cause and effect. Simultaneous handling of information. Nuanced considerations/comparisons, risk considerations and problem solving that manifest in complex social situations.

Endorsing an interactive bio-psycho-social understanding of intellectual disabilities implies that learning limitations are the discrepancy between abilities and the level and/or quality of support, and according to this an inclusive approach to learning should be based on knowledge about abilities rather than dis-abilities. Two inclusive classroom strategies for learning are presented and discussed in this chapter. These strategies seek ways of providing universal, inclusive learning situations where children with intellectual disability can interact with any children and the most important role for a teacher is to find ways to support the children in that interaction.

Abstract title

Parents’ perspectives on pedagogical transitions and educational situations of students with MID

Introduction: The goal of the Swedish educational system is to offer all students a meaningful and equal education in an inclusive classroom environment. At the same time there are parallel school systems in Sweden, comprised by the Compulsory School for Students with Intellectual Disability (CSSID) and Compulsory School (CS).

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore parents’ perspectives about their children’s pedagogical transitions and educational situation over time.Method: The data constitutes of six interviews with parents of students with mild intellectual disability (MID). All interviews were inductively analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Three master themes were summarised: 1) Uncertainty and worries, 2) Process and interactions, and 3) The novel situation.

Implications: The transition from CS to CSSID requires a readjustment for parents and they express the need for support from professionals in these transitions. The change for the children could be to meet new knowledge requirements and for parents to find new forms of interaction between home and school. For children and parents the ability to face change was made visible, for example, trust in teachers was affected. In order to create a functioning everyday life, actors at different levels need to collaborate.

Background

Participation is a central aspect of quality of life, and it is indicative of high‐quality outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. However, participation is difficult to achieve for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

Aim

To describe staff members’ perceptions of what participation means for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

Method

Using a phenomenographic approach, 27 interviews were analysed resulting in variations in the conditions for participation.

Results

The interviews revealed conditions for participation at individual, staff and organisational levels.

Conclusion

Participation appears to be an un‐reflected phenomenon, and several conditions must be met to achieve it. The conditions are experienced being fundamental for adults within the target group to achieve any kind of participation. The staff members and managers’ perceptions of participation as conditional can make it more difficult for adults within the target group to achieve the Swedish disability policy goal of participation.

Research about transitions in early childhood education has had an upsurge especially in the last 15 years. Much attention has been directed to what constitutes and builds up positive transitions. Although, as learning is one of the main tasks in educational settings, there is a need for more explicit research discussions in the transition research field about children's learning in transition. The aims of this article are to discuss and unravel the theoretical concept learning journey' and to propose a conceptual framework for analyzing children's learning in early educational transitions. The article gives a review of the concept learning journey and related terms: learning, continuity/discontinuity, change, collaboration and time. A conceptual framework of learning journey is proposed and a model presented. The model is discussed in relation to the PPCT-model of Urie Bronfenbrenner and a final discussion set the proposed conceptual framework of learning journey in the context of application to early childhood education.

Purpose: This study investigated what areas of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health were documented in implementation plans for adults with profound intellectual disability or profound intellectual and multiple disabilities with focus on participation.

Methods: A document analysis of 17 implementation plans was performed and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was used as an analytic tool.

Results: One hundred and sixty-three different codes were identified, especially in the components Activities and participation and Environmental factors. Participation was most frequently coded in the chapters Community, social and civic life and Self-care. Overall, the results showed that focus in the implementation plans concerned Self-care and Community, social and civic life. The other life areas in Activities and participation were seldom, or not at all, documented.

Conclusions: A deeper focus on participation in the implementation plans and all life areas in the component Activities and participation is needed. It is important that the documentation clearly shows what the adult wants, wishes, and likes in everyday life. It is also important to ensure that the job description for staff contains both life areas and individual preferences so that staff have the possibility to work to fulfill social and individual participation for the target group.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• There is a need for functioning working models to increase participation significantly for adults with profound intellectual disability or profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

• For these adults, participation is achieved through the assistance of others and support and services carried out must be documented in an implementation plan.

• The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health can be used to support staff and ensure that information about the most important factors in an individual’s functioning in their environment is not omitted in documentation.