一个10岁的少年可能生来就在某些方面有残疾,也有许多孩子尽管出生时十分健康,却在孩童时期因为各种原因而患上某种残疾。因而,世界各地至少有10%的孩子在青少年阶段成为特殊人群的一员。他们或许会失明、失聪,他们或许会产牛诵读困难,患上孤独症,电许会因踩到地雷或是跌下秋千而失去一条腿,一只胳膊。然而,无论他们有什么特殊的需要,世界上的大多数教育体制都没有相应的措施予以满足。无法融入社会,无从接受教育,会使这些孩子越来越与世隔绝,而他们的未来也随之变得更加黯淡。观念改变联合国教科文组织特别教育小组鼓励各国政府、学校和社区尽力帮助有特殊需要的年轻人成为正常人世界中的一员。正如小组负责人莱娜·萨利赫所说的那样,“我们的工作就是通过努力将这群特殊的人们纳入主流之中。我们将竭力使各国的教育能为全体国民提供受教育的机会。我们期望各国的社会和教育体制都能 A 10-year-old boy may be born with disabilities in some areas, and many children have some kind of disability during their childhood due to various reasons, even though they are very healthy at birth. As a result, at least 10% of children around the world have become part of a special population during adolescence. They may be blind and deaf. They may suffer from dyslexia and autism. They may lose one leg and one arm as a result of stepping on a mine or falling a swing. However, no matter what special needs they have, most of the world’s education systems do not have the appropriate measures to meet them. The inability to integrate into society and the inability to receive education will make these children increasingly isolated and the future of their children dimmer. Changing perceptions UNESCO Special Education Group encourages governments, schools and communities to make every effort to help young people with special needs become members of a normal world. As Lena Saleh, Leader of the Group, puts it, ”Our job is to work hard to bring this particular group of people into the mainstream, and we will do our best to make education for all nations accessible to all citizens We expect that all social and educational systems in each country will work