This paper aims to develop a methodology to explore the politics of meaning in special education mathematics research. Mediated meaning, directions of intentionalities and perspectives on special education have been analysed in eight reviewed articles.  Results indicate that the politics of meaning in the Nordic sample are about processes of normalisation and effectiveness through methods and approaches. The teacher is emphasised as the centre for change and development also when it comes to organisational factors. Disabilities are not researched, perhaps cloaked by an overall relational approach or due to research paying attention to milder difficulties. The deve- loped methodology seems to be fruitful and will be applied on a broader international sample.