Abstract

Towards a Common Approach to Thinking about and Measuring Social Inclusion

Cameron Crawford, The Roeher Institute

This paper presents a way of thinking about social inclusion that is grounded in perspectives and values that have evolved within the disability community in recent years. The approach may be useful to other social sectors as well.

The discussion provides an overview of The Roeher Institute's interest in issues of social inclusion and situates that concern in the context of the Canadian disability community's ongoing efforts to further the full inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in the social and economic life of society. The discussion also briefly touches on governmental policy statements in Canada that touch on issues of inclusion concerning persons with disabilities.

The discussion provides a working definition of social inclusion and explores two key dimensions ? basic access to socially valued situations and the supports necessary to enable people with disabilities to participate as valued equals in those situations. It describes supports for participation that are organized at the societal or systems (macro) level, and those that are organized at the individual (or micro) level. The discussion then presents a way of measuring social inclusion that takes into account the access and support dimensions, pointing to the applicability of the particular example given (concerning employment) to other situations.

Back to Papers

For more information about the conference, contact:
 
Sarah Zgraggen
The Willow Group
Tel: (613) 722-8796;
Fax: (613) 729-6206;
e-mail: szgraggen@thewillowgroup.com