Special Education in Greece: Review

Special education has been a major topic of discussion in all countries of the European Union. Initially, the lack of efforts to establish a system for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities in education received international attention already in the 1980s. The continuation of the efforts was made at the level of the European Union, helping to present the first signs of an institutional national foundation of the rights of the people with special needs. In Greece, society and the legislator proved to be unprepared. Social inclusion and school acceptance of pupils with disabilities was inadequate. In contrast, in the Scandinavian countries the phenomenon of solidarity and welfare is more pronounced. In conclusion, the signs of improving the Greek legislative framework, developing a major political conscience and social "de-stereotyping" are encouraging.