ABSTRACT
Belgium is a small country in the North West of Europe with a population of approximately 10 million. In the Kingdom of Belgium there are parallel systems of education, ordinary schools and special schools. Special education is organized according to the physical, sensory, psychological or intellectual handicaps of the pupils, and its main aim is to integrate handicapped children as much as possible, first into a school environment, then into society. The schools receive an annual subsidy based on the integration per pupil within the integrated education plan, which enables them to fund special provision and support. Integrated education was intended for pupils who, on account of their disability, were entitled to special education but would and could make use of their right to education in an ordinary school. The implementation of the Integration Plan was the responsibility of the two schools that undertook to cooperate, directly involving the guidance centres and the parents.
