Including the excluded: the case of a student with multiple disabilities*

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the coherence between mainstreaming laws and practices in Turkey through a case study involving an elementary school student with multiple disabilities, her parents and her general educator. Multiple sources of data were gathered within a 5-year period and were analyzed inductively. Results showed that the laws and actual practice showed discrepancies with practices lacking the necessary special education support services. On the other hand, the limited services provided by the researchers revealed important gains on behalf of the participants, letting the researchers to conclude that mainstreaming and in fact inclusion is possible within the Turkish educational system even with limited resources and supports.