**1.1 The situation of the children with developmental disabilities in Iran**

To assess suitability for registration in the first grade of primary school, all Iranian 6-year-old children are required to go through a national screening system administered annually. The evaluation procedure is done under the supervision of the Iranian Special Education Organization (ISEO). The program is extensive and consists of a physical check-up and mental screening undertaken by a general physician and other health professionals. The mental evaluation of the children is done by checking their communication level and readiness for education by an educational counsellor using a nationally devised scale. Every child is individually assessed by different evaluators. Those children who do not pass the screening are referred for a professional evaluation. The outcomes are documented in the children's 'Health Identification Booklet'separately for girls and boys, which are given to their parents and are necessary for registration in the first elementary grade. Based on the results of this evaluation, children are referred to public or special schools for children with special needs such as schools for visual impairment, hard of hearing or intellectually disabled. For children with physical and motor disabilities and high-functioning autism or mild level of disabilities, there are inclusive schools in which children are admitted in public school classes with an appointed assistant (called a shadow trainer) to help the child to adjust to the situation through meeting their individual needs. Children with special needs in some areas due to the absence of special schools might refer to the mainstream schools which are educational centres that have special classes inside a public school. The situation for preschoolers with special needs is different. Kindergartens, preschool, and daycare centres are under the supervision of the Iranian State Welfare Organization (ISWO), and the registration of children with special needs depends on the administrator's decision based on the services available in each centre.
