[Study of the functioning of Departmental Commissions on Special Education]

The study of the functioning of the Regional Commissions for Special Education (C.D.E.S.), which were established by the Loi d'Orientation (orientation law) of 1975, was carried through within a three years' period by a team of researchers from the areas of Public Health and Education. The following main results were found: (1) A statistical analysis of 800 dossiers from the Commissions resulted in findings which are in accordance with corresponding epidemiological data from France: in the population aged 0-20 the frequency of handicap is 11,5%. (2) Three quarters of the children had additional handicaps. (3) Of the children living in unfavourable social-familial conditions caused by severe behavior disturbances and light or moderate intellectual limitations 8,7% were found to be excluded from school. The hypothesis elaborated by the researchers was that the Loi d'Orientation of 1975 has caused a unifying change in the practice of social action. This assumption was confirmed by the observations and evaluations: the Commissions for Special Education are aware of 90% of the needs of the corresponding population, without creating inadequate needs. They are a place of concertation, bringing together all partners: representatives of parents, representatives of institutions, from the areas of Public Health and Education, and Administration. The integration of the handicapped in regular schools makes progress, not so much in a quantitative but in a qualitative way. At the same time the study points at a number of unsolved problems: the contact with parents is not always well established; the work rhythm of the Commissions and working groups is too quick, the availability of their members is insufficient; finally, the reticence of maintaining accurate dossiers and of keeping to the rules of professional secrecy impede concerted action and coherence of decisions, as much in respect to educational orientation as to the allotment of means. In conclusion, the engaged unifying change should be favored by new means of personnel and by establisheing new methodological and deontological tools which are well adapted to a concerted medico-social action.