Different Approaches to Differences: History of Special Education in the United States and Germany

Abstract

Over the twentieth century, both countries successfully eliminated the outright exclusion of disabled children and youth from public schooling but have education systems that differ immensely. Inclusion efforts are more pronounced and widely more established in the United States than in Germany. However, inclusion is not perceived as the only beneficial system (in the eyes of legislators). The United States was mostly successful after the fight for individual civil rights erected during the Civil Rights movement. Before this, asylum and institutional care proved to be the only options for families and some offered limited educational opportunities. While the basis of the Civil Rights movement called for wide-spread educational change, Germany opted to use the successful system of the Weimar Republic and set special needs education along the preexisting system rather than changing the system to fit the individuals, like in the United States. Legislative mandates and numerous court cases in both countries have assured disabled students' participatory rights in public schooling and reformed special education.