Special Needs Education in Germany

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Special Needs Education in Germany

German basic law (Grundgesetz) forbids discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability. The Social Welfare Code IX (SGBIX), which came in to force in April 2001, is based on the idea of equal opportunities and participation rather than merely welfare.

Since 2000 the federal states have applied a joint definition of Special Needs Education. It makes a distinction between permanent disability and temporary learning difficulties (for example slow learners, or those with reading and writing difficulties). There is a federal harmonisation agreement on special needs education; the principles of support for problem situations during the learning process and of integration within mainstream education wherever possible are the same nationally. However, each state applies the recommendations in slightly different ways to reflect their own educational structure so that the names of special schools and duration of schooling may differ.

Education embraces the principle of integration and, while there are special schools available for different special needs, an effort is made to ensure that children with special needs attend mainstream educational institutions wherever possible. There is also an increase in joint activities between schools for disabled and non-disabled pupils.

The Youth Department (Jugendabteilung) of the District Office (Bezirksamt) in the place of residence of the disabled person offers advice and therapeutic and educational support for disabled minors (in special circumstances this can be extended up to the age of 27).

Diagnosing a Child with Special Educational Needs

The initiation of diagnosis may come from the parents or the school and is subsequently authorised by the local education authority. A special needs teacher delivers an expert opinion on the type and level of disability, by observing the child's performance, as well as taking account of any medical certificates issued by school or specialist medical services.

If the situation is known to the parents before the child starts school, all relevant documents should be submitted to the education authority who will then allocate the type of schooling to be received or will begin the diagnostic procedure as outlined above.

Special Needs Education

In line with all children, young disabled children are entitled to day care. Where possible, they will attend a centre with non-disabled children. There are also special groups for children with a higher level of disability. More information on these can be obtained from the coordination office of the Child and Youth Socio-Paediatric Centres (Kinder- und Jugendambulanzen/Sozialpädiatrischen Zentren, SPZ).

• To find a local SPZ centre: Click here (in German)

Pre-school

Wherever possible, very young children will be integrated within the mainstream kindergartens, or may attend special kindergarten (Sonderkindergarten) or support kindergarten (Förderkindergarten).

Special needs schooling

Special needs education means specific support for pupils with longer term disorders or learning disabilities. It is classified into the following categories (depending on pupils' educational requirements):

• Blind
• Visually impaired
• Deaf
• Hearing impaired
• Mentally disabled
• Physically disabled
• Pupils with learning difficulties
• Pupils with behavioural problems
• Pupils with impaired speech
• Sick pupils

Some schools work as day schools (Ganztagschulen), others are boarding schools.

Individual measures taken to support and develop children with special educational needs vary between federal states. Typically, special needs education is delivered in the following ways:

• Joint teaching in the mainstream school
• Schools with a special educational development focus (Schulen mit sonderpädagogischem Förderschwerpunkt)
• Temporary educational groups
• In special pedagogical institutions and in collaboration with the private providers of youth services (especially for emotional and social development)

Deaf and blind children may participate in pre-school development classes in the relevant special schools from the age of three.

Special educational focus on mental development 

 Schools with the focus on Special educational focus on mental development (Sonderpädagogischer Förderschwerpunkt Geistige Entwicklung) have a different structure: unlike mainstream schools they are all day-schools with a 35-hour teaching week. Due to the differing stages in development of their pupils, the schooling is organised on five levels.

1. Entry level: school begin to age 7
2. Lower level: Age 7 – 10
3. Middle level: Age 10 – 13
4. Upper level: Age 13 - 15
5. Final level: Age 15 –1 8

Dyslexia

All primary schools employ one specially trained teacher to recognise and support dyslexia (Legasthenie) sufferers. The teacher works in close collaboration with school psychologists and, in severe cases, a special learning programme may be worked out.

The following measures of support are offered at both primary and secondary level:

• The child is given additional time at exams
• Special working tools are provided or permitted
• A part of the written examination is replaced by oral testing
• A teacher reads the text of written exercises to the pupil

The school authorities have flexibility about when to apply these measures and to what degree. The child must be tested to ascertain their level of dyslexia or the parents have to produce a doctor's certificate, if the pupil's special needs are already known.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) 

Parents of children with ADD (Aufmerksamkeitsstörungdefizit - ADS) should contact their local school authority (Schulamt) about which school might be most suitable for their child.

Benefits & Allowances

Parents can claim a continued child benefit allowance (Kindergeld) for disabled children over the age of 27 if they are unable to care for themselves and the disability occurred before the age of 27. Should the disabled person receive income that exceeds €7,680 (in 2007), they will no longer be entitled to this allowance.

• For more information on the benefits and support for a family with disabled children: Click here (in German)

Parents may also be entitled to care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) payments, if they can prove that caring for their disabled child is considerably more time-consuming than for a non-disabled child of the same age. Further formation can be obtained from the parents' health insurance organisation (Krankenkasse).

Nationwide Organisations

The following are some of the nationwide organisations for the main types of disorder.

• Federal Association for ADS/Hyperactivity (Bundesverband Aufmerksamkeitsstörung/Hyperaktivität)
• Federal Association for Dyslexia (Bundesverband Legasthenie und Dyskalkulie)
• Federal Association for Autism (Bundesverband Autismus)
• Federal Association for physically disabled people (Bundesverband für Körper- und Mehrfachbehinderte)

Sociopaediatric centres (Sozialpädiatrische Zentren, SPZ) for children and young people offer specialised treatment for illnesses that may lead to psychological disorders or physical disabilities.

• Nationwide addresses can be found on the website of the German Society for Social Paediatrics and Youth Medicine (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sozialpädiatrie und Jugendmedizin) (in German)

Further Information

• European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education (Word doc)
• Ploteus - an official EU website with specific reference to education and learning opportunities including those for the disabled
• Berlin government information on special needs education (in German)
• Behinderte Kinder - information for disabled children (in German)