1. Current Practice
Special Education
as Operationalized • Most of the practices of Special
Education are pegged on Western
by Asia’s
Standards.
Grassroots • As the discipline itself is referenced to
have Western origins since the time of
Marie Grace A. Gomez, Ph.D.,
its founding father, Dr. Jean Itard, the
RGC
University of the Philippines materials read are mostly of Western
Special Education Department
thought.
• The term, Special Education was
coined by Alexander Grahambell.
Definition of SPED Scope of SPED
Special Education is the type of • The scope of the field covers disabilities
education specifically designed for such as mental retardation, learning
learners with special needs who can disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders
not profit maximally from regular and communication disorders, hearing
education such that they require impairment, visual impairment, physical
trained personnel, modifications in the disabilities on one end and giftedness,
curricula, teaching methods, creativity and talent on the other end.
instructional materials and adaptations (Hallahan and Kauffman, 2005).
in facilities and equipment (RA 7277)
This study provides an • This paper is on the grassroots
epistemological explanation on operationalization of Special Education in
China, India, Thailand, South Korea, and
how Special Education is Russia.
operationalized in the Asian • It involves research participants who are
context. natives of these countries but are residing in
Metro Manila because they were receiving
graduate training.
• All of the participants are teachers but have
no Special Education backgrounds as the
grassroots perspective is being investigated
on.

2. Country Translation Literal Meaning SPED in China
China Té shū xue Special Education
India Sirapu Kalvi Special Education • Té shū xue (Mandarin)
Thailand Karn-suksa piset Karn suksa-
education
• usually associated with a disability such
Piset - special as being deaf (lóng) or dumb (yă)
South Korea Jang Ae In Kyo Yuk Jang Ae-Handicap • can also be associated with having a
In-Person
Kyo Yuk -
disease such as the case of Mental
Russia None Education Retardation wherein the word disease
(bìng) is added
• Jing shén bìng or a mental processing
disease (Mental Retardation)
• It is noted that developmental disabilities
are considered as diseases in the native
language
SPED in India SPED in Thailand
• Sirapu Kalvi Karn-suksa piset
• influenced by the British
Students usually have physical
and sensorial disabilities
Korea Teacher Qualification
Country Regular Teacher SPED Teacher
• Jang Ae In Kyo Yuk China Licensed teacher. No license needed in the
• All Special Education schools cater Government gives teacher
licensure examination.
communities, the nuns and other
religious groups administer
to the handicap India License needed services
Licensed needed
Thailand License needed
• Though there are schools for the
South Korea License needed
gifted in Korea, giftedness is not Russia No license needed. The No license needed. The
considered under special education examinations in the
universities are sufficient
examinations in the universities
are sufficient
among the grassroots Mongolia Registry of teachers No position for Special Education
needed teachers

3. Education Law of the
People's Republic of China
• Article 10. The state shall help all minority
nationality regions develop educational
undertakings in light of the characteristics
Programs and and requirements of different minority
nationalities. The state shall support the
Services development of educational undertakings
in remote border areas and poverty-
stricken areas. The state shall support
the development of educational
undertakings for disabled people.
SPED Programs in China SPED Programs in India
• Volunteers go to the far communities India's commitment to the spread of
(to the Shan Xi or Mountain Nest) for
those with cognitive delays. knowledge and freedom of thought
• Cerebral Palsy cases go to the National among its citizens is reflected in its
School for the Handicapped. Cases of Constitution (India’s 1968 Policy on
autism are hospitalized. Education).
• The teachers are usually regular
teachers who have received special
training.
• Those who are educating the deaf
know Chinese Sign Language and
those who are educating the blind know
Braille.
SPED Programs in India… SPED Programs in India…
(con’t) (con’t)
• Disability awareness programs • 5% of the population of a university
conducted in villages must consist people with
• Work programs for people with disabilities based on merit; all of
disabilities as there are degree the PWDs in universities receive
programs in community based free tuition as this is the law
rehabilitation • PWDs can press charges for
• Rehabilitation Council of India discrimination, even in simple
created benchmarks in the training cases such as calling them by the
of professionals disability they have

4. SPED Programs in
SPED Programs in Thailand
Thailand…(con’t)
• Section 43 of the 1997 Constitution • Education for the deaf and the blind
stipulates that all Thai citizens shall enjoy are made available.
their right to education which will be provided
by the government to all citizens at least • Education of those with other
twelve years of basic education with quality disabilities are by religious
and free of charge. organizations and missionaries
• The 1999 National Education Act reflect the • Correspondence courses are taken by
models of education administration and PWDs who cannot leave their
management supporting the provision of communities.
education for all in compliance with the
goals, and this includes education of the
• Itinerant teachers go to the
handicapped communities during Saturdays
SPED Programs in South Russia’s Program for Gifted
Korea Students
• All of the students with disabilities are sent • Russia boasts of their programs for
to school as the train system in Korea is the gifted
very good. Even people living in the
mountain areas can go to the city where • The literacy rate in Russia is
there are schools because of accessibility. currently 99.4%
• PWDs are given free tuition and busses • There is great emphasis on
bring the special children to school every science and technology in
day.
education, Russian medical,
• However, culturally speaking, the strong
ones with no disabilities are valued by
mathematical, scientific, and space
society. PWDs find it difficult to find jobs. and aviation research is generally
They usually have jobs involving crafts. of a high order
(http://www.russianenic.ru/english/index.html,n.d.).
Programs for the Gifted in
Conclusions
Russia
• Special Education among the Asian countries in the
• free tuition fee sample is primarily focused on disabilities.
• stipend that is equivalent to a minimum • Teachers are supposed to be licensed and recognized
by the government in most Asian countries.
wage worker
• The deaf and the blind are the common recipients of
• students are enrolled in boarding schools Special Education.
and they are given free board and lodging • For countries having an inclusion program such as
• Special schools for ballet, potential athletes India, they have sign language interpreters and Braille
go to the school for the Olympians readers available. In South Korea, all programs are
• Specialized colleges such as school for oil done in schools as buses take the people with
disabilities to their respective schools.
• Rewards such as summer youth camps for
students who perform well • Programs and services are dependent on the financial
capacity of the countries.

5. Recommendations
• A need to have more studies on how Special Education
operates in Asian countries
• Epistemological researches can be further done to probe on
its definition By knowing the definition of Special Education in
a specific country, the parameters of the discipline; the
clientele it will serve and the type of services offered.
• Standards in Asian countries regarding teacher qualification
must be drafted clearly. There should also be a governing
body that serves as an overseer to the practice of the
discipline. An example of which is the Rehabilitation Council
of India that oversees all Special Education programs.
• A need for disability awareness programs in most Asian
countries
• A need to continuously develop programs and services