ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of keyconcepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. People used to think of blind pupils as blind first and pupils second. But now they are pupils first and foremost, for the disappearance of categories following the 1981 Education Act in England and Wales. And the Education, 1981, has focused attention on educational need rather than medical condition. These educational needs fall into three main groups, those which characterize children with physical and sensory handicaps, those which characterize children with learning difficulties, and those which characterize children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Starting from the theme that Special education is the responsibility of every teacher in every school, he outlines the policies and practices that help to ensure the success of integrated education. Categorizing pupils by medical condition has been one of the reasons for the separation of special education from the rest of the educational world.
