An international systematic review of the ICF in education. Cross-language comparisons from Chinese, German, Italian, and Portuguese publications

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), established by the World Health Organization (WHO), provides a biopsychosocial framework for understanding and addressing human functioning and disability. This systematic review examines the application of the ICF in educational contexts across four non-English languages: Chinese, German, Italian, and Portuguese. The findings reveal significant cross-cultural and linguistic variations in interpretation and implementation, shaped by each country’s socio-political, historical, and educational landscape. By analyzing 54 peer-reviewed publications, this review identifies key practical applications of the ICF in fostering inclusive educational practices. The study highlights how the ICF has influenced a shift from medicalized models of disability toward holistic, participation-centered approaches. Specifically, the ICF is used in Chinese literature to guide activity-based assessments in special education, in German studies as a broad theoretical framework, and in Italian and Portuguese research as a practical tool for inclusive education in mainstream settings. Despite its potential, challenges remain in cross-cultural integration, including inconsistencies in adoption and the need for deeper application beyond theoretical references. To enhance the ICF’s impact in education, this review underscores the necessity for training, cross-cultural collaboration, and policy refinement. Strengthening educators’ and policymakers’ understanding of ICF principles can facilitate its integration into mainstream education, ensuring a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for students with disabilities and those requiring additional support.

Keywords

ICF, International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, Internationaler Vergleich, Bildung

Subject (DDC)

370 - Erziehung, Schul- und Bildungswesen

Project

Event

Exhibition start date

Exhibition end date

Conference start date

Conference end date

Date of the last check

ISBN

ISSN

2504-284X

Language

English

Created during FHNW affiliation

Yes

Strategic action fields FHNW

Future Health

Publication status

Published

Review

Peer review of the complete publication

Open access category

Gold

License

Citation

Kang, L.-J., Naude, A., Rocha, A., Bornman, J., Alves, I., Maxwell, G. R., Moretti, M., Proyer, M., Shi, L., & Zahnd, R. (2025). An international systematic review of the ICF in education. Cross-language comparisons from Chinese, German, Italian, and Portuguese publications. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1526194. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1526194

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