Inclusion from theory to practice: General and local issues

The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of how interpretations of the construct of inclusion have changed in general but especially in the light of local circumstances. The survey covers inclusion developments in the USA, Europe and Israel. In assessing some implications of those interpretations, we focus on how Israel, an inherently multicultural country, has responded to the tensions that accompany the entry of inclusion on to the educational stage. We assume that the Israeli experience can help other countries faced with increasing heterogeneity. In conclusion, we offer one approach – peer learning with the PMLD programme – that promises to facilitate the integration of children with special needs into the regular classroom.