The Historical Development and Characteristics of Inclusive Education in China

Abstract

This study reviews and summarizes the history of inclusive education in China and divides its historical development into four stages: the embryonic stage of localization of inclusive education (1978-1989); the initial stage of institutionalization of inclusive education (1990-2005); the reflective promotion stage of inclusive education (2006-2013); and the deepening transformation stage of inclusive education (2014 to present). Based on this reflection and summary, the development characteristics of inclusive education in China are obtained: the development of inclusive education is rooted in Chinese traditional culture; the scale of special education subjects faced by inclusive education is huge; inclusive education occurs when the support capacity of special schools and the acceptance conditions of ordinary schools are insufficient; the development of inclusive education is towards a "multi-model;” and Chinese-style inclusive education presents the characteristics of dual tracks of special education schools and ordinary schools. By sorting out the history of inclusive education in China and summarizing its characteristics, the experience of the localization development of inclusive education in China is obtained.