Why do schools continue using ‘medical reports’ for students with intellectual disabilities?

Abstract

This article discusses the assessment and referral of students with intellectual disabilities based on the directives of inclusive education contained in the National Policy of Special Education in the Perspective of Inclusive Education. The research was carried out with administrators from the area of Special Education from seven teaching networks in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro state. As a theoretical reference we used the Stephen Ball’s policy cycle approach to discuss the various dimensions which still involve the assessment conceptions and practices adopted in teaching networks in order to guarantee (or not) the support of Specialized Educational Provision (AEE) for these students. Amongst other aspects, the results showed the predominance of the medical model, based on the use of medical reports, to the detriment of the social and rights model, in the assessment practices adopted by teaching networks. The investigation also pointed to the maintenance and even expansion, of public-private partnerships in the assessment processes of these individuals.