Why Inclusion Matters (to the world and to society)
We are all born free
If the UN can say it, and as a nation, we can sign on to such a statement, then surely we are impelled (not just compelled) to action those words. And yet, despite the idealism and hope of such words and statements - true of the whole of the declaration - we are all aware that, globally, we fail at many of them, and locally, we fail at more than we should.
Being differently-abled has always been part of community - as something from birth or as something that results from an accident - and despite the celebration held for awareness days, Paralympics, or fundraising events, disability still remains too tokenistic for too many. While visuals are more inclusive, the media is more inclusive, it is still abnormal or other for the majority of the population to interact, let alone include, disability in the normality of the everyday. And too few know how to safely, comfortably, and normally include disability in their midst, because its been so isolated and segregated from what is perceived as normal. What are the consequences for striving for genuine inclusions (not just integration), and reshaping the "normal" into a space where everyone knowing how to interact, assist, include and feel comfortable is the "new normal".
When I was in Grade Two, a new student arrived at our small rural school who lived with Down's Syndrome. He was just accepted as part of our class, and I never thought much about it. At that time, in that setting, I was an excellent student, who often finished my work will ahead of others, and as a consequence I was often asked to assist our classmate with his work. I don't have memories of anything other than enjoying feeling helpful. At the end of Grade Three, my parents decided to send me into town to a private school - I thought this was to assist me academically and remove me from the bullying I was experiencing. It was only in adulthood that a conversation with my Mum revealed that her primary motivation was to stop me being forced/asked to 'babysit' my peer. While her response and decision was a consequence of her own childhood trauma (as shared in the previous post) there was never a consideration of what I was learning in the non-academic classroom. I've no doubt my other classmates took over that experience of growing to include and support their peer, but upon reflection I lament the choice that was made for me. Obviously the core elements had been imbedded within me, but I also know that the clearer lack of diversity (in physical and mental ability and in ethnicity) that surrounded rest of my childhood was only overcome by my own choices later on. Sadly, many from that un-diverse community grew with little sense of privilege, compassion or awareness beyond the expected platitudes of adulthood.
I remember hearing Sally Phillips, the English comedian, speak about her own son, who lives with Down's, and the enormous blessing he was to her whole family and the world. Her advocacy even took her to the UN, and led the making of her documentary (found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x16wGajCHIw). She explored what the world would look like if Down's was eliminated from the world because of genetic screening before and during pregnancy. The reality in many first world countries, particularly Scandinavia, is that this is close to being accurate - it has nearly been fully screened out. If one were to use more harsh, but accurate, language, one might say its been eradicated.
Despite what the global entities say, what is truly happening is filtering out forms of diversity that enhance and improve our community as a whole, losing opportunities to learn and grow into desperately important life skills such as compassion, empathy, acceptance, assisting others, communication skills, understanding and so much more.
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