How can it be that the education system in one of the world’s most robust welfare states is, at the same time, doing and undoing equity? This thesis presents findings from a two-year study offering critical insights into the provision of educational support, special education, and educational equity. It makes visible and examines the processes involved in and influencing the provision of educational support, inviting practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to test their thinking and reconsider how the pursuit of equity might be approached.

This is a doctoral thesis in Special Education at Stockholm University, Sweden 2026