The role of teaching assistants within inclusion of children with disabilities

Djeca s teškoćama u razvoju suočena su s dugogodišnjom poviješću segregacije, diskriminacije i izoliranja koja je krenula od stvaranja specijalnih sustava odgoja i obrazovanja u specijalnim ustanovama koje su bile odvojene od redovitih ustanova za odgoj i obrazovanje. Takav sustav postoji i danas, ali se sve više zamjenjuje inkluzivnim pristupom odgoju i obrazovanju kojem je cilj puno i ravnopravno uključivanje djece s teškoćama u razvoju u redovito obrazovanje. Kao jedan od elemenata inkluzivnog pristupa javljaju se asistenti u nastavi kao osobe koje potiču sudjelovanje djeteta u odgojno-obrazovnim i socijalnim procesima u školi te usmjeravaju dijete, potiču njegovu pažnju na satu, po potrebi dodatno pojašnjavaju gradivo, pružaju individualnu podršku i potiču dijete da se uključuje u socijalne odnose te mu u tome pomažu. Upravo zbog ove opsežne uloge koju imaju tijekom obrazovanja djeteta doprinose njegovom uključivanju i ravnopravnom sudjelovanju u svim školskim aktivnostima zajedno s djecom bez teškoća zbog čega mogu predstavljati most prema inkluziji djece s teškoćama u razvoju. U skladu s time, u radu će biti prezentirana uloga asistenata u nastavi u uključivanju djece s teškoćama u razvoju u obrazovanje, ali i u društvo te smjernice za daljnji rad i razvoj sustava asistenata u nastaviChildren with disabilities are faced with years of segregation, discrimination and isolation that originated from creating specialized education systems in special kinds of facilities that were separated from the ordinary educational facilities. This type of system exists today aswell, but it is commonly replaced with inclusive approach to education, whose goal consists of complete and equal inclusion of children with disabilities in regular education. One of the elements in the inclusive approach are teaching assistants, who encourage child's participation in educational and social processes in school. They guide the child, encourage it's class presence and attention and, if needed, assistants explain more thoroughly the learning material. They give individual support, encourage and help the child to include itself in social relationship in school. And because of that comprehensive role that assistant's have in child's education, they contribute to its involvement and equal participation in all the school activities together with children without disabilities. This kind of behaviour can be a bridge towards inclusion of children with disabilities. Therefore, this study will be presenting the role of teaching assistants in educational inclusion of children with disabilities and it will contain guidelines for future work and development of teaching assistant system in education