Verso un quadro comune europeo per la formazione inclusiva dei docenti

Many studies referring to pedagogy and teaching for school inclusion note the importance of developing specialized skills as a quality element for inclusive education. Teachers with adequate preparation for special educational needs are the most competent because they are able to adapt to the needs of all students; they are also able to develop greater analytical skills and possess a wide repertoire of useful strategies aimed at students with a multitude of disabilities. In the education of students with special educational needs, teachers need to be aware of the complexity of disabilities, which can range from mild to moderate to severe; they need to be aware of specific conditions, such as cerebral palsy or autism, which are in turn associated with a broad spectrum that contemplates mild entities or severe disorders. For sensory disabilities such as visual and hearing impairments, the teacher should know at least the basics of adaptive strategies that can help students access the material being taught. In addition, teachers should know how to approach other educational professionals and with parents and families of pupils with disabilities, and they should be able to dialogue with psychological staff in order to participate in assessment processes. In their education, teachers should be able to communicate with other teachers to discuss assessment results and processes, possible interventions to be implemented, and services that the school can offer. Teachers need to know how to find useful information to explore specific diagnoses, disabilities, and to offer support to families by showing them successes and challenges. Special education traditionally, has focused on recovering skills and deficits following a medical model. New teachers need to be trained to meet the challenge of inclusion through specific tools for working with pupils with disabilities and relating to other colleagues. These tools should be included in teacher training programs in order to improve the quality of teaching for all students.