This thesis is a part of Master Degree within the field of Special Education at Malmö University. The purpose of the research is to elucidate how the supportive material Assessment Tool for Accessible Education of the Swedish National Agency of Special Needs Educations and Schools is being used by educational institutions in Sweden and how it contributes to the change in the learning environment among preschools and schools. The reading provides valuable knowledge for how the agency can develop their support to educational institutions, as well as for the actors of the field to make the learning environment accessible to the students. The study looks at similarities and differences between the inclusive learning environments based on previous research, and the accessible learning environment based on Assessment Tool for Accessible Education. A lot of similarities can be found in the pedagogic and social aspects, while the differences become prominent in aspects of the physical environment which can only be found in accessible learning environments. Further, pros and cons of supporting individual needs in relation to the learning environment are discussed and what consequences it may give rise to for disabled students. Research questions are as follow; Does the Assessment Tool for Accessible Education contribute to a change in the learning environment? What developing processes contribute to the change? How should institutions be supported in order to develop the accessible learning environment?Mixed methods have been used for collection of data; a poll was answered by 425 people and interviews were held with nine focus groups from four different institutions, including one group of students. The theoretical frame of the analysis follows the organization theory; learning organization and rational-analytic, interactional, and political perspective. The empiric has been worked through thematically and is presented in a chronological order from when people first came in touch with Assessment Tool for Accessible Education, how the work has been implemented and processed at the institutions, and a description of what changes has been processed and its effects upon the learning environment. Obstacles and factors of success experienced by the respondents as well as the need of support for development are also presented. The results of the research show that the assessment tools contribute to a change in how the pedagogues approach the knowledge of how the learning and development of the students is affected by the learning environment when organizational development exists within the institution. Development launches when structural and cultural conditions exist and are processed which in turn leads to development of the learning organization. The research looks at the consequences when these conditions are lacking. Further, when good conditions exist the learning environments develop. The research shows changes that have been processed through the physical, pedagogic, and social environment. Also, all students receive a higher level of accessibility than disabled students. The conclusion is that the Assessment Tool for Accessible Education contributes to a higher level of knowledge regarding the significance of the learning environment which implies changes, provided that organizational development exists within the institution. Keywords: Accessible Learning Environment, Disabilities, Inclusive Learning Environments, Learning Organization, Organization theory, Process

The purpose of this study is to contribute with knowledge of how preschool teachers describe the work with inclusion in practice. Based on the purpose, four questions were formulated. The study was based on a phenomenographic method set to highlight variations of conceptions of inclusion and its working methods. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. The interviews are conducted both digitally and physically with five licensed preschool teachers with varied professional experience. All interviews were recorded in order to then be transcribed and analyzed. The material was then analyzed through a seven-step phenomenographic analysis model to highlight variations in preschool teachers' conceptions regarding the working methods of inclusion. In the work with inclusion, preschool teachers perceive that they work for the children to participate based on their needs and conditions. Preschool teachers perceive that they adapt and use strategies, as well as special educational tools as support. Adaptations are perceived to take place based on the children's conditions and needs. Strategies are highlighted as "training backwards" and clarifying pedagogy. Special educational tools are mainly perceived as image support and TAKK. The creation of learning environments is mainly based on the children's interest. An inclusive learning environment is perceived as changeable, visabel and accessible by preschool teachers. There has been a variation in conceptions regarding children's participation and pre-school teachers' control over the learning environment. Perceived obstacles to being able to work optimally inclusively are perceived by pre-school teachers as: lack of staff, lack of time, lack of resources regarding finances and competence development, documentation requirements and that one does not have the same view of inclusion in the work team. / Syftet med denna studie är att bidra med kunskap om hur förskollärare beskriver arbetet med inkludering i praktiken. Utifrån syftet så formulerades fyrafrågeställningar. Studien baserades på en fenomenografisk metodansats för attlyfta fram variationen av uppfattningar om inkludering och dess arbetssätt.Data har samlats in via semi-strukturerade intervjuer med öppna frågeställningar. Intervjuerna genomfördes både digitalt och fysiskt med fem legitimerade förskollärare med varierad yrkeserfarenhet. Samtliga intervjuer speladesin för att sedan kunna transkriberas och analyseras. Materialet analyseradessedan genom en sjustegs fenomenografisk analysmodell för att framhäva variationer i förskollärares uppfattningar rörande inkluderingens arbetssätt. I arbetet med inkludering uppfattar förskollärare att de arbetar för att barnen ska fådelta utifrån sina behov och förutsättningar. Förskollärare uppfattar att de anpassar och använder strategier, samt specialpedagogiska verktyg som stöd. Anpassningar uppfattas ske utifrån barnens förutsättningar och behov. Strategierlyfts som ”baklängesträning” och tydliggörande pedagogik. Specialpedagogiska verktyg uppfattas främst som bildstöd och TAKK. Vid skapandet av läromiljöer utgår man huvudsakligen från barnens intresse. En inkluderandelärmiljö uppfattas som föränderlig, tydlig och tillgänglig av förskollärarna. Dethar framkommit en variation i uppfattningar gällande barns delaktighet ochförskollärares styrande rörande läromiljön. Upplevda hinder för att optimaltkunna arbeta inkluderande uppfattas av förskollärarna såsom: personalbrist,tidsbrist, brist på resurser gällande ekonomi och kompetensutveckling, dokumentationskrav och att man inte har samma syn på inkludering i arbetslaget.

This dissertation examines teacher’s perspectives regarding the classroom strategies, behaviors, and approaches they believed best support the development of African American students. Educator perceptions are valuable to understand because perceptions and attitudes undergird behavior and practices. This study focused on perceptions of teachers toward pedagogical strategies, approaches, and teacher behaviors that perceived to best support African American students because of the persisting achievement gap between African American students and their White, middle class counterparts. Culturally Relevant Pedagogy was used as the theoretical framework for this study as it describes approaches to teaching students from historically marginalized groups in ways that are more relevant to their cultural strengths, assets, and knowledge-bases. Q methodology was selected for this study because it was designed to examine human subjectivity using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Forty-two teachers sorted 36 statements, each representing a practice, strategy, or behavior identified by participants as being culturally relevant to African American students, based on their perceived effectiveness. These 42 Q sorts were then correlated. Principal component analysis and Varimax rotation were used to examine the relationships among the correlations and extract 4 factors, 1 of which was bipolar, or containing two different, but mirrored perspectives. The factor arrays of these 5 perspectives were then examined, described, and named: Responsive to Students Cultural Backgrounds, Responding through Honoring and Exploring Culture, Responding through Structure, Routines, and Direct Advocacy, Conducive and Inclusive Learning Environment, Non-responsive Culture Free Pedagogical Practices. Implications and recommendations for practice, theory, and policy were also discussed.

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