Tillgängliga lärmiljöer för elever med NPF

: Från Flexenhet till Flexteam

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to elucidate why one of Sweden’s municipalities chose to implement a new way of including students with neuropsychological deficits, especially ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The municipality decided to offer adapted resource rooms and flexible well-trained teachers to this group of students as a way of ensuring them accessible learning environments. The questions raised in this research are the following: what is the aim of the implementation of this flexible organisation to this group of students? In which ways does this organisation contribute in providing an inclusive learning environment to these students? What are the challenges and areas of improvement within such an organisation? The research method is based on semi-structured interviews with, on the one hand, flexible teachers in two of the municipality’s schools, and on the other hand, the developer of this flexible organisation for this group of students. As theoretical frame, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory as well as Nilholm’s special education perspectives were used in this study. The results of the research show that this organisation really offers accessible learning environments to this group of students by using the compensatory and critical perspectives. The challenges are that the other teachers need to learn from them in order to be able to really include these students in mainstream regular classes. The long-term goal of this municipality is to see all the students with special needs included in regular classes with the help of flexible teachers, trained in these students’ special needs. The flexible teachers’ mission is to help the other teachers and show them that inclusion of these students in mainstream regular classes is a possible mission.