title: [School escorts in inclusive education- the current situation in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg].
abstract: In the context of inclusive education, so-called «Schulbegleiter» (school escorts) have been installed to assist children with special needs. However, adequate conceptions of their role are lacking, and no provisions exist describing the exact tasks and duties of these school escorts. This article presents data on a statewide empirical study and provides information on the professional background, qualifications, and assignments of such escorts as well as the nature of the assisted children in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The data were collected in nearly 50 % of all schools providing general education in Baden-Württemberg, and a total of 526 school escorts completed a questionnaire on their work. Children with special needs who received such assistance were aged 6 to 19 years (M = 10.4) and had a mental disorder in nearly three-fourths of all cases, with autism spectrum disorders being most common (59.4 %). The most frequent assignments of the escorts were providing practical assistance during classes and mobilizing the child as well as providing direct support in emotionally challenging situations. Such escorts can make a significant contribution to the inclusive education of disabled children. They do, however, need an adequate qualification and practical competences to meet the diverse challenges of children with special needs. Child and adolescent psychiatrists are supposed to stay involved in the process, not only by planning interventions, but also during the course of inclusive education itself. Thus, the emotional situation and adjustment of included children with mental disorders over time must be monitored adequately.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henn
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm.
authors.forename: Leonore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thurn
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Besier
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm.
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Künster
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm.
authors.forename: Jörg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fegert
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ziegenhain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017028:Caregivers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002671:Child, Exceptional / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D004519:Education, Special / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Inklusion; Integrationshelfer; Schulassistenz; Schulbegleiter; Schule; children with special needs; disabilities; inclusive education; school escorts