What the research says is and isn't inclusion?

For the purpose of The Inclusion Awards I have launched, I have tried to lay out what I mean by 'inclusion'; what is 'inclusive'? what are the causal factors that make something inclusive? I actually get asked this all the time as an occupational hazard and I have become quite adept at avoiding the question - because it is complicated. For people serious about inclusion, these are important questions that they think about a lot. But I am just thinking practically about the Awards and celebrating and promoting good inclusive practices without trying to get too deep into the definitions, problems and politics. So, this is a brief overview of the research underpinning my thinking about inclusion and how it ended up informing The Inclusion Awards.

If you want to know about the awards then register your interest in the next week: https://lnkd.in/eZE5xskP

What is inclusion?

The problem is the word ‘inclusion’ can include – everything?! Immediately we are in philosophical questions territory like: what isn’t included under the umbrella of inclusion? Before we know it, we slide very quickly into one of many problems when trying explain what inclusion means. Or as Booth & Ainscow (2011) more elegantly articulate:

"The concept of inclusion is characterized by its multifaceted and evolving nature, encompassing a spectrum of interpretations and implications. The diverse array of perspectives surrounding inclusion highlights its complexity and adaptability." (Booth, T., & Ainscow, M. (2011). Index for Inclusion: Developing Learning and Participation in Schools. Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education)

Therefore, in the awards:

I am open to learning what you think is inclusion and you shouldn’t be too put off by my definitions. This is being open to individual testimony which I think is important especially as this is such a new field and especially so in most countries. The basic standards of soft and hard data is important – to prove something works but, the context of your country, village or institution may be bigger broader than any category I can impose.

An innately human concept

Actually, I think most humans get what it means to include as opposed to exclude. To invite in, to make welcome. We have all felt these, it is part of the human condition. Hasenfeld, Y., & Garrow, E. E. (2012) Say it like this:

"Inclusion resonates with our innate sense of empathy and human connection. Creating inclusive environments aligns with our fundamental human desire to embrace and support one another." (Hasenfeld, Y., & Garrow, E. E. (2012). The Impact of Social Capital on Services for the Homeless. Social Service Review)

Therefore, in the awards:

You can imagine an elaborate invention or initiative that is so impressive to look at but in the end doesn’t really foster a sense of simple welcome, then this would be a no for an award. This deeply human need is, I suppose the bedrock of inclusion.

Belonging and acceptance

But ‘inclusion’ sounds like it needs a formula, an official script and at the very least a checklist. Who am I to argue with the UN and UNESCO versions? We could get into the academics of it but I think very quickly we would miss the simple and obvious point: the welcome or perhaps better put: the sense of belonging and acceptance:

"Inclusion, as a fundamental concept, encapsulates a sense of belonging and acceptance. This core element underscores the importance of fostering environments that prioritize the well-being and involvement of all individuals." (Salend, S. J., & Duhaney, L. M. G. (1999). The Case for Multicultural Education. Phi Delta Kappan)

Therefore, in the awards:

A checklist is good for most awards I imagine, but for inclusion, there is something bigger: the welcome and for the sense of acceptance and belonging that are the earmark of all types of inclusive initiatives. The obvious question for you at this point is: how do you know and how can you prove it? This is why the personal testimony is most valuable.

Congratulations, you are now inclusive?

I am also doubtful it is a mountain that we can fully climb – as if there is a peak at the top and there you will see a sign that says: congratulations, you have achieved inclusion. Instead, I think it is a direction of travel, more like a travelator in an airport to get us from one place which is less inclusive to the next place which is more inclusive. Slee says:

"Attempting to confine inclusion within rigid frameworks risks oversimplification and neglects its intrinsic essence. Inclusion is better understood as an ongoing journey, a dynamic process that leads toward greater equity and participation." (Slee, R. (2011). The Irregular School: Exclusion, Schooling and Inclusive Education. Routledge)

Therefore, in the awards:

I think that not anything can solve everything. I expect that most applications capture an aspect of the inclusive journey, they contribute rather than fully solve. This is an important distinction: inclusion doesn’t require you to have arrived. It requires you to recognise where, why and how you are headed and what indicators you are using to keep yourself on track.

Stretch beyond the social and political

The social and political dimensions of inclusion are important and they mean a lot to those it effects most and to those of us who bear witness to the often turbulent challenges they face in seeking recognition and consciousness about their needs. These scenarios are often located in particular country or region and often are not global or they just mean very different things in different countries. There are more famous examples that hit the global news such as the Black Lives Matter movement in the USA which of course has it’s ramifications in some other countries but it is very much an American phenomenon. It doesn’t impact much of Asia or Africa for example but certainly, versions of the same concept do.

"Inclusion takes on distinct significance within different contexts, regions, and communities. The social and political dimensions of inclusion are intertwined with local realities, shaping its meaning and impact." (Ainscow, M., & Miles, S. (2009). Developing Inclusive Education Systems: The Role of Organisational

Cultures and Leadership. International Journal of Inclusive Education)

"The global and local dimensions of inclusion intersect, giving rise to diverse manifestations and challenges. Movements such as Black Lives Matter exemplify how inclusion resonates differently across various regions while highlighting shared concerns for equity and justice." (Benford, R. D., & Snow, D. A. (2000). Framing Processes and Social Movements: An Overview and Assessment. Annual Review of Sociology)

Therefore, in the awards:

What may appear as ‘big ticket’ items in one country and for any one individual reading this, may not really translate into the same level of interest elsewhere in the world. So, any applicant will have to tell us about the importance of the context – this seems to be a recurring theme. Also, don’t assume that because you have been warriors in your field that this would work anywhere else – not everything does.

Make the world a better place

So, inclusion isn’t one thing or another, it is a direction of travel. Where to? A place where the world feels like all people belong and can be them. As Booth and Ainscow say:

"Inclusion is not a static or singular concept but a dynamic and evolving aspiration. It represents an ongoing commitment to creating a world where all individuals experience a genuine sense of belonging and have equitable opportunities for participation and engagement." (Booth, T., & Ainscow, M. (2011). Index for Inclusion: Developing Learning and Participation in Schools. Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education

Therefore, in the awards:

For all applicants, one question rises above all others: has this made the world a better place in however big or small way. There’s a lot to this point actually that plummets ethics, breezes past politics and challenges social norms and so on.

Final thoughts

I don’t like hierarchy. Most awards are about encouraging 100+ applicants, shortlisting 10 and giving 1 lucky person their gong. I look at my various gongs and think they are ironically exclusive. So, I think if you pass the criteria above then you get an award. No fancy black-tie events for wealthy elites, but I have arranged an invite for you to one of the most important inclusion events of the year: the celebration of 30 years since the Salamanca statement at the UNESCO HQ in Paris for all governments and NGOs.

So, that’s what I think inclusion is. Ok?

And please support The Inclusion Awards by registering your interest here: https://lnkd.in/eZE5xskP