Models of Disability Enacted in Middle East and North Africa Special Education Laws

• In Event: Situating Disability Studies in Education Within a Global Context

Abstract

Disability is universal, but educational access for individuals with disabilities is not. This research takes an international perspective, focusing on disability laws in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It examines the current laws that address educational access and inclusion for individuals with disabilities in countries Alkhateeb, et al. (2016) indicate had early inclusion programs: Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. This paper will describe the laws, identify the disability model that underpins each, and analyze the laws using a critical disability lens. Findings indicate that the more recent laws may be a catalyst for meaningful inclusion of individuals with disabilities in schooling and something “new and affirmative (Goodley et al., p. 973)” for all people in MENA.

Authors

• Mary Jean Tecce DeCarlo, Drexel University

• Alia Adel Ammar, Mastery Charter Schools - Pickett Campus