Special Education in Lutheran Schools

Abstract

Religious organizations are developing supports that empower individuals with disabilities to be included as contributing partners in their faith communities. However, there is little information about the extent to which students with disabilities are included in the K–12 schools affiliated with those organizations. In this article, the authors provide introductory information about special education in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Contextual information about the denominations and schools is provided as well as information gleaned from denominational websites, the websites of Lutheran organizations that support inclusive special education, and from interviews with Lutheran educators.