The notion "adapted physical education" (tilpasset fysisk opplœring) was introduced in our compulsory schools in 1979. Before that time other terms had been used in the attempts to secure for every single child an adapted education that, based on the child's needs, would be comparable to the education other children get. The term "adapted education" developed naturally out of prevailing trends in school policy in our country based on the basic school law from 1969 and its amendments from 1976 that represent a merger of the former separate special and general education (Kirke- and undervisningsdepartementet 1977).