Sonderschulen#

Sonderschulen, name for special schools (classes) introduced in 1956; such schools were first established in Austria in 1885, at first only for mentally handicapped children; from 1959 the name was also used for schools for physically handicapped children ( Schools for the Disabled), and the system was re-organised comprehensively in 1962. Nowadays, in addition to Sonderschulen for children with learning difficulties there are also Sonderschulen for physically handicapped children, children having speech impediments, auditively challenged children, visually handicapped, blind and severely disabled children; there are special courses for hospitalised children (hospital schools), and special schools for children with challenging behaviour. As far as possible, children attending Sonderschulen are taught the same curricula as children in Volksschule primary schools, Hauptschule secondary schools or Polytechnische Lehrgaenge. In the 1993/94 school year, 18,943 handicapped children (11,695 boys and 7,248 girls) were taught in 2,524 classes.