Salamanca Agreement 1994

The declaration acknowledges that there are “well-established special school systems for people with specific disabilities” in many countries: these schools can “be a valuable resource for the development of inclusive schools” (UNESCO 1994, p. 12). However, he urged countries to “focus their efforts on the development of inclusive schools” (UNESCO 1994, p. 13), as well as specialized support services to reach the majority of children and young people. All policies, both locally and nationally, should allow children with disabilities to attend their neighbourhood school. In June 1994, representatives of 92 governments and 25 international organizations formed the World Conference on Specialized Education held in Salamanca, Spain. They agreed on a new dynamic declaration on the education of all children with disabilities, calling for inclusion to be the norm. In addition, the conference adopted a new framework of action whose main idea is that real schools should accommodate all children, regardless of their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic or other conditions. All education policies, according to the framework, should require children with disabilities to attend the neighbourhood school “which is attended if the child does not have a disability. The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action,UNESCO, 1994. Ref: ED-94/WS/l 8. Adopted by the World Conference on Special Needs Education: Access and Quality (Salamanca, Spain, 7-10 June 1994).

The declaration strongly includes education reform in a broader social agenda, covering health, social assistance, vocational training and employment. He stressed that mechanisms for planning, monitoring and evaluating inclusive education offerings should be “decentralized and participatory” and encourage “the participation of parents, communities and organizations of people with disabilities in planning and decision-making” (UNESCO 1994, p. ix). Adopted by acclamation in the city of Salamanca, Spain, on 10 June 1994, more than 300 participants – including 92 governments and 25 international organisations – gathered in Salamanca, Spain, to promote the goals of inclusive education. The resulting Salamanc Declaration (UNESCO, 1994) was framed by a legal perspective on education. Although she focused on children described as “special needs,” she reaffirmed from the outset her commitment to: 1 . We, the delegates of the World Conference on Special Education, Meeting in Salamanca (Spain) from 7 to 10 June 1994, recognising the need and urgency of education for children, young people and adults with special educational needs within the framework of the mainstream education system, and supporting the framework for action for special needs education, whereby governments and organisations can be guided by the spirit of their provisions and recommendations. More than 300 participants from 92 governments and 25 international organizations met in June 1994 in Salamanca, Spain, to promote the goal of education for all, reflecting on the fundamental political changes needed to promote inclusive education, so that schools can serve all children, especially those with special educational needs.