Final answer:
Special and inclusive education developed from the need for universal access to education, particularly for people with disabilities. Legal acts like IDEA in the U.S. have supported the expansion and improvement of education for students with disabilities. Ongoing efforts, including organizations like the Nora Project, promote inclusion and empathy within educational systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Special and inclusive education globally and nationally came into existence as a response to the need for universal access to education - people's equal ability to participate in an education system regardless of their disabilities or other factors. The concept took root as a concern for people with disabilities, particularly in the United States, where it received legal support with legislation like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This Act, alongside No Child Left Behind, added requirements and guidance for states and schools, thereby promoting an increase in quality and investment in education for students with disabilities. Nationwide, however, disparities continue to exist based on race, ethnicity, and geography, affecting the educational resources available.
Despite these challenges, solutions such as the Nora Project work to promote disability inclusion by empowering educators and engaging students in empathy and inclusion practices. Inclusion methods, compared to mainstreaming, call for complete immersion of students with disabilities in standard classrooms, while mainstreaming balances time between special-needs and standard classrooms. Ongoing social debate persists on the best implementation methods for including students with disabilities in educational settings
The necessity of creating an educational environment that offers equal opportunity, coupled with the moral and legal obligations to afford constitutional rights to all citizens, has driven the evolution of special and inclusive education. A significant aspect of funding for education comes from federal and state governments, often leading to contentions due to varying budgets and allocations which can affect the quality of education across different regions.