The inclusion of people with disabilities in public schools

In view of the legislation regarding the compulsory inclusion of people with disabilities in the regular school system the authors analysed how this process takes place in a primary school in the municipality of Franca/SP checking from the perspective of education professionals whether this proposal creates effective conditions for learning and developing the potential of students with different types of disabilities. It also reflects on the importance of Social Work in this context. In order to make this diagnosis it first describes what disability is followed by an interpretation of some of the laws on the subject and also presents existing data on the attendance of people with disabilities at mainstream schools in Brazil and in the state of São Paulo. Secondly it looks at the role of the school in the inclusion process assessing teacher training and whether it creates the conditions for professionals to receive students with special educational needs. Finally it analyses this reality and the possible interventions of social workers in this context.