Introduction

Inclusion. It is a familiar and extensively used term, but what does it actually mean? An accurate and explicit definition may not be possible, as definitions are always dependent on the field and context in which they are made. Instead, it is possible to open up various aspects and dimensions of the term in a particular context. The principles of inclusion appeared for the first time in public discussion when the United Nations proclaimed the year 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons (UNESDOC, 1982). Later, inclusion became a central topic in the fields of education, special education and