ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on children who are physically disabled and the way in which school or college education, far from seeking to develop equality of opportunity, reinforces and perpetuates disability and dependence. Little educational research has been focused on the benefit to society of reducing disabling characteristics of the school. At the local level, the majority of schools and colleges have different policies, different departments/working groups and different people concerned with implementing very different procedures. Many of the excellent initiatives currently taking place in schools and colleges attempt to address issues of equality through ensuring equal treatment where it is appropriate. Viewed in this way it becomes apparent that equality of opportunity is the ultimate goal for some, but not for the 'all' who might expect to achieve it. Students who are labelled as having special needs are seen to require special policies and to be the responsibility of special staff.
