Ability and disability: School inclusion of special educational needs and disabilities students. A geographical perspective on the school network of Neamt County (Romania)

The European Union has launched its main agenda in 2015 under the slogan: A sustainable Europe by 2030. Thus, one of the most important Sustainable Development Goals is quality education, including special needs students. Romania had a slow start in the process of inclusion of these students in regular schools, but their number is constantly increasing. This study is one of the first attempts to describe the geographical disparities in the spatial distribution of SEND students in the mainstream school network in Neam? county, Romania. Schools from the above-mentioned county were examined in relation to the number of SEND students they have enrolled in the last 30 years, after the fall of the regime before 1989. The present study shows that the highest concentration of SEND students can be observed in the biggest cities of the county, with a noticeable exception of two rural schools. The first school is situated in the south-east part of the county, one of the poorest parts of Romania, whereas the second one has a great number of SEND students because of its type and due to its position in the centre of the country which makes it accessible from all directions.