— integration: the effort to treat handicapped and non-handicapped people in the same way and to remove the special position of the handicapped; — decentralisation/regionalisation: the effort to bring public services and power of decision as near as possible to the people; in practice to the municipality or the county.

doi:10.4324/9780203976289-17

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— integration: the effort to treat handicapped and non-handicapped people in the same way and to remove the special position of the handicapped; — decentralisation/regionalisation: the effort to bring public services and power of decision as near as possible to the people; in practice to the municipality or the county.

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ABSTRACT

Since the sixties, Danish society has been organised in such a way that these three principles have been met. Laws have been enacted and measures have been taken that promote the normalisation and integration of handicapped people, such as the foundation of the Folkeskole. The principle of decentralisation has resulted in a larger power of decision for municipalities and counties with regard to education, within Government guidelines (Bürli, 1985; Döbrich et al., 1984; Hansen, 1992).