The aim of Inclusion or Illusion is to provide readers with an understanding of educational provision in our primary schools for children with Mild General Learning Disabilities (MGLD) (over half the school-going special needs population). It is a book is for teachers, student teachers, policy makers and educational and support professionals.

Based on teachers’ own experiences in national and special schools, the book assesses the progress that has been made in this area so far, what the barriers are to progress, and what can be done to overcome these.

Dr Paul Stevens has been involved in special education for over twenty years working in special school and mainstream settings in urban and rural schools. He is currently employed as principal of Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa, Castletownbere, Co Cork and is at present undertaking an MBA in education.

Dr Mona O'Moore is associate professor of education at Trinity College Dublin and introduced special education as part of teacher education in the 1980s. She is the founder and academic director of the Anti Bullying Centre at TCD and has undertaken national and international research in this area.