Biopsychosocial model and the ICF-CY in in-service training: general educators' reflections

摘要

Provision of support to enhance participation of children with disabilities in inclusive classrooms is a challenge for general educators, special educators, and other professionals involved in work with children with disabilities. In this study, the biopsychosocial model in the ICF-CY has been used to construct in-service training for general educators about children with disabilities. The effects on in-service training have been evaluated through analysis of general educators' reflections about their competence to meet special needs of children with disabilities at the end of the course. The results show that general educators consider ICF-CY model to be a useful tool in searching for explanations to problems that can arise in classroom but also expressed need for interprofessional collaboration. At the end of the course, the educators reflected on both pedagogical competence to meet children's needs and knowledge about children with disabilities. The results raise the importance of knowledge about how different disabilities can be formulated and understood in a problem-solving process.