Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Mobility and Disability: The Influence of Family Background and Geographical Context on Educational Attainment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Integrating Students with Disabilities in Schools

Abstract

The chapter examine educational attainments for children diagnosed with a physical disability born between 1965 and 1985 (N = 1750), compared with a random sample in a pooled analysis. The chances of completing a secondary education was almost ten times less likely for children with a disability. Previous research has identified parental, family and geographical risk factors that lowers a child’s chance of success in the education system. For children already at risk, we hypothesized that these factors would contribute even more to outcomes. This hypothesis was not confirmed, the effect of parental and family factors on the chances of completing a secondary education being stronger in the random sample. Living in areas with high overall educational levels increased the educational success in both samples. However, the effect of geographical context was significantly higher for children with physical disabilities, indication that local socioeconomic context may be of particular importance for the educational career of this group.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Andersen, G.L., L.M. Irgens, I. Hagaas, J.S. Skranes, A.E. Meberg, and T. Vik. 2008. Cerebral palsy in Norway: Prevalence, subtypes and severity. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology 12 (1): 4–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpn.2007.05.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, Patrick Lie, and Marianne Nordli Hansen. 2012. Class and cultural capital – The case of class inequality in educational performance. European Sociological Review 28 (5): 607–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, Kellie S., and David A. Hay. 2007. The role of family in the development of social skills in children with physical disabilities. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education 54 (4): 381–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bottcher, L., E. Muelengrant Flacks, and P. Uldall. 2010. Attentional and executive impairments in children with spastic cerebral palsy attentional and executive impairments in children with CP. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 52 (2): e42–e47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03533.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bottcher, Louise. 2010. Children with spastic cerebral palsy, their cognitive functioning, and social participation: A review. Child Neuropsychology 16 (3): 209–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boudon, R. 1974. Education, opportunity, and social inequality: Changing prospects in Western society. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, Pierre, and Jean Claude Passeron. 1990. Reproduction in education, society and culture. Vol. 4. Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, Michael H. 2007. Neighborhood and family influences on educational attainment: Results from the Ontario child health study follow-up 2001. Child Development 78 (1): 168–189. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.00991.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bult, M.K. 2011. What influences participation in leisure activities of children and youth with physical disabilities? A systematic review. Research in Developmental Disabilities 32 (5): 1521–1529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2011.01.045.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burchardt, Tania. 2004. Aiming high: The educational and occupational aspirations and of young disabled people. Support for Learning 19 (4): 181–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chetty, Raj, Nathaniel Hendren, Patrick Kline, and Emmanuel Saez. 2014. Where is the Land of Opportunity? The Quarterly Journal of Economics 129 (4): 1553–1623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corman, Hope, and Robert Kaestner. 1992. The effects of child health on marital status and family structure. Demography 29 (3): 389–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, Fiona M., and Alan D. Marshall. 2020. Educational engagement, expectation and attainment of children with disabilities: Evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study. Crettaz British Educational Research Journal 46 (1): 222–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crettaz, Eric, and Cédric Jacot. 2014. Do family policies matter for educational outcomes? Patterns of educational mobility and family services in Europe. European Societies 16 (5): 645–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolk, H., S. Pattenden, and A. Johnson. 2001. Cerebral palsy, low birthweight and socio-economic deprivation: Inequalities in a major cause of childhood disability. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 15 (4): 359–363. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3016.2001.00351.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esping-Andersen, Gosta. 2004. Unequal opportunities and social inheritance. Generational Income Mobility in North America and Europe: 289–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2005. Social inheritance and equal opportunity policies. In Maintaining momentum. Promoting social mobility and life chances from early years to adulthood, 14–30. Londres, Institute for Public Policy Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esping-Andersen, Gosta, and Sander Wagner. 2012. Asymmetries in the opportunity structure. Intergenerational mobility trends in Europe. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility 30 (4): 473–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, William N., Wallace E. Oates, and Robert M. Schwab. 1992. Measuring peer group effects: A study of teenage behavior. Journal of Political Economy: 966–991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnvold, Jon Erik. 2013. Langt igjen? Levekår og sosial inkludering hos menneske med fysiske funksjonsnedsetjingar (A long way to go? Level of living and social inclusion for people with physical disabilites). Nova Rapport 12/13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goux, Dominique, and Eric Maurin. 2007. Close neighbours matter: Neighbourhood effects on early performance at school. The Economic Journal 117 (523): 1193–1215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hertz, Tom, Tamara Jayasundera, Patrizio Piraino, Sibel Selcuk, Nicole Smith, and Alina Verashchagina. 2007. The inheritance of educational inequality: International comparisons and fifty-year trends. The BE Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy 7 (2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hibel, Jacob, George Farkas, and Paul L. Morgan. 2010. Who is placed into special education? Sociology of Education 83 (4): 312–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horvat, Erin McNamara, Elliot B. Weininger, and Annette Lareau. 2003. From social ties to social capital: Class differences in the relations between schools and parent networks. American Educational Research Journal 40 (2): 319–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, Neil, Michael Wigelsworth, Alexandra Barlow, and Garry Squires. 2013. The role of school and individual differences in the academic attainment of learners with special educational needs and disabilities: A multi-level analysis. International Journal of Inclusive Education 17 (9): 909–931.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imms, C. 2008. Children with cerebral palsy participate: A review of the literature. Disability and Rehabilitation 30 (24): 1867–1884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imms, Christine, Sheena Reilly, John Carlin, and Karen J. Dodd. 2009. Characteristics influencing participation of Australian children with cerebral palsy. Disability & Rehabilitation 31 (26): 2204–2215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ireys, Henry T., David S. Salkever, Kenneth B. Kolodner, and Polly E. Bijur. 1996. Schooling, employment, and idleness in young adults with serious physical health conditions: Effects of age, disability status, and parental education. Journal of Adolescent Health 19 (1): 25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsson, Jan O. 1997. Family dissolution, family reconstitution, and Children’s educational careers: Recent evidence for Sweden. Demography 34 (2): 277. https://doi.org/10.2307/2061705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kupersmidt, Janis B., Pamela C. Griesler, Melissa E. DeRosier, Charlotte J. Patterson, and Paul W. Davis. 1995. Childhood aggression and peer relations in the context of family and neighborhood factors. Child Development 66 (2): 360–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kvalsund, Rune, and Irene Velsvik Bele. 2010. Students with special educational needs – Social inclusion or marginalisation? Factors of risk and resilience in the transition between school and early adult life. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 54 (1): 15–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Lange, Marloes, Jaap Dronkers, and Maarten HJ Wolbers. 2014. Single-parent family forms and children’s educational performance in a comparative perspective: Effects of school’s share of single-parent families. School Effectiveness and School Improvement 25 (3):329–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lareau, Annette. 1987. Social class differences in family-school relationships: The importance of cultural capital. Sociology of Education: 73–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundeby, H., and J. Tøssebro. 2007. Family structure in Norwegian families of children with disabilities. Journal of Applied Research on Intellectual Disabilities 3: 246–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLanahan, Sara, and Christine Percheski. 2008. Family structure and the reproduction of inequalities. Annual Review of Sociology 34: 257–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, Brian, Gøsta Esping-Andersen, and Christopher T Whelan. 2010. The role of social institutions in inter-generational mobility. Working Papers 201018, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, Shelly C., and Otfried Spreen. 1988. The relationship between parents’ socioeconomic status and education level, and adult occupational and educational achievement of children with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities 21 (3): 148–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens, Ann. 2010. Neighborhoods and schools as competing and reinforcing contexts for educational attainment. Sociology of Education 83 (4): 287–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patacchini, Eleonora, and Yves Zenou. 2011. Neighborhood effects and parental involvement in the intergenerational transmission of education. Journal of Regional Science 51 (5): 987–1013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennington, Robert, Channon Horn, and Amy Berrong. 2009. An evaluation of the differences between big city and small town special education services for students with low incidence disabilities in Kentucky. Rural Special Education Quarterly 28 (4): 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeffer, Fabian T. 2008. Persistent inequality in educational attainment and its institutional context. European Sociological Review 24 (5): 543–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, Brenda, Karin W. Baker, and Deborah J. Gaebler-Spira. 2008. Participation of the child with cerebral palsy in the home, school, and community: A review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine 1 (2): 101–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raaum, Oddbjørn, Kjell G. Salvanes, and Erik Ø. Sørensen. 2006. The neighbourhood is not what it used to be*. The Economic Journal 116 (508): 200–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasbash, Jon, George Leckie, Rebecca Pillinger, and Jennifer Jenkins. 2010. Children’s educational progress: Partitioning family, school and area effects. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A (Statistics in Society) 173 (3): 657–682.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reisel, L. 2011. Two paths to inequality in educational outcomes: Family background and educational selection in the United States and Norway. Sociology of Education 84 (4): 261–280. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038040711417012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shandra, Carrie L. 2008. Parenting a child with a disability: An examination of resident and non-resident fathers. Journal of Population Research (Canberra, A.C.T.) 25 (3): 357–377. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03033895.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shandra, Carrie L., and D.P. Hogan. 2009. The educational attainment process among adolescents with disabilities and children of parents with disabilities. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education 56 (4): 363–379. https://doi.org/10.1080/10349120903306616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shikako-Thomas, Keiko, Annette Majnemer, Mary Law, and Lucyna Lach. 2008. Determinants of participation in leisure activities in children and youth with cerebral palsy: Systematic review. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 28 (2): 155–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skog, O.J. 2004. Å forklare sosiale feneomener. En regresjonsbasert tilnærming (Explaining social phennomenon. A regression-based approach). 2nd ed. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somersalo, Heidi, and Tytti Solantaus. 2001. Economic recession and inequality in education: Children needing special services in focus. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 45 (3): 233–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StatisticsNorway. 1994. Standard classification of municipalities 1993, NOS C192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundrum, R., S. Logan, A. Wallace, and N. Spencer. 2005. Cerebral palsy and socioeconomic status: A retrospective cohort study. Archives of Disease in Childhood 90 (1): 15–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swaminathan, Shailender, Greg R. Alexander, and Sheree Boulet. 2006. Delivering a very low birth weight infant and the subsequent risk of divorce or separation. Maternal and Child Health Journal 10 (6): 473–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, Lena Magnusson, and Terje Wessel. 2013. Upwards, outwards and westwards: Relocation of ethnic minority groups in the Oslo region. Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography 95 (1): 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tverborgvik, Torill, Lene Björk Clausen, Brian Larsen Thorsted, Sigurd Mikkelsen, and Elsebeth Lynge. 2013. Intergenerational educational mobility in Denmark. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 57 (5): 544–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandenbroucke, Frank, and Koen Vleminckx. 2011. Disappointing poverty trends: Is the social investment state to blame? Journal of European Social Policy 21 (5): 450–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendelborg, C., and J. Tøssebro. 2008. School placement and classroom participation among children with disabilities in primary school in Norway: A longitudinal study. European Journal of Special Needs Education 23 (4): 305–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856250802387257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendelborg, Christian, and Jan Tøssebro. 2010. Marginalisation processes in inclusive education in Norway: A longitudinal study of classroom participation. Disability & Society 25 (6): 701–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wessel, Terje. 2005. Industrial shift, skill mismatch and income inequality: A decomposition analysis of changing distributions in the Oslo region. Urban Studies 42 (9): 1549–1568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiborg, Øyvind Nicolay, and Marianne Nordli Hansen. 2009. Change over time in the intergenerational transmission of social disadvantage. European Sociological Review 25 (3): 379–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woessmann, Ludger. 2004. How equal are educational opportunities? Family background and student achievement in Europe and the US. CESIFO working paper no. 1162: https://ssrn.com/abstract=528209.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Welfare and Labour Research, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway

    Jon Erik Finnvold

Authors
  1. Jon Erik Finnvold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon Erik Finnvold .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Finnvold, J.E. (2021). Social Mobility and Disability: The Influence of Family Background and Geographical Context on Educational Attainment. In: Integrating Students with Disabilities in Schools. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78194-1_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78194-1_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-78193-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-78194-1

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation