Å spille sammen og bruke seg selv: elever med særlige behov og opplevelse av inkludering i Ungdomsbedrift

Abstract

Note: This article was published in the journal FOU i praksis. The journal changed its name to Nordisk tidsskrift for utdanning og praksis in September 2019.

English title: Playing together and using yourself: Students with special needs and the experience of inclusion in the Company Programme

This article discusses the potential of a mini-company method called the Company Programme (CP) as a learning activity for students with special needs. The study is based on in-depth interviews with two students with special needs, both of whom have participated in CP in a school context. In addition, we use data from an in-depth interview with a teacher, and draw on background data from a group interview with parents. The data is discussed in the light of theories on inclusion. The findings show that CP entails both challenges and opportunities for inclusion for students with special needs. The most obvious finding, however, concerns the potential for inclusion through CP: CP can be a method that contributes to strengt-hen students’ self-worth, and the students earn experience from social interaction and participation, which we regard as essential prerequisites for experiencing being part of a learning community. We conclude that CP is not a «quick fix», but the method has an interesting potential when it comes to inclusion of students with special needs. This has to do with the practical focus and realistic tasks, which emphasize competencies other than those traditionally emphasized in school. The focus can therefore be moved from constraints to possibilities, and students can develop both subject-related and personal skills and knowledge.

Citation: Schofield, D., Valle, R. I. og Somby, H. M. (2018). Tidsskriftet FoU i Praksis, 12(2), 67–84.