PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN: PARENTS OF TYPICALLY DEVELOPING CHILDREN

Abstract

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was a starting point toward developing the idea of inclusion in all aspects of society worldwide (United Nations, 2006). Education for students with special needs is currently an important topic of discussion in terms of Kazakhstani educational delivery; awareness of inclusive practices is evolving (Ministry of Education, 2019). Considering that inclusive education is a relatively new concept in Kazakhstan, there is limited research on the topic of parental perceptions. Understanding parents' perspectives on inclusive practices, as they are one of the main stakeholders, is crucial because parents greatly influence how inclusive education initiatives are implemented and succeed. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the attitudes and beliefs of parents of typically developing children toward inclusive education....