"What We Mean When We Say Inclusion?"

Inclusion means that all people, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or health care needs, have the right to:

• Having the same choices and opportunities in recreation activities that other people have.

• Being accepted and appreciated for who you are.

• Being with friends who share your interests, not your disability.

• Being a valued customer and a welcomed participant in community recreation programs, regardless of ability level.

• Having recreation facilities and areas that are accessible and easy for everyone to use.

• Providing the necessary individual adaptations, accommodation, and supports so every person can benefit equally from a recreation experience in the community with friends.

• Improved quality of life of all participants.

• Provision of appropriate role models.

• Increased social interaction among participants.

• Increased positive attitudes toward people with disabilities and better understanding of specific disabilities.

• Increased independence among participants.

• Clustering people with disabilities into one home, classroom, workplace, or social center

• Giving "special privileges" to people with disabilities

• Feeling sorry for people with disabilities and treating them as if they must be “cared for” or “looked after”

• Creating special programs and giving them names like “Handicapped Gym Program” or Bowling for the Mentally Handicapped”

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 mandates that people with disabilities have freedom, equality, and opportunity to participate fully in public life.

People with disabilities may need support to participate fully in their communities. This support can range from alterations (called "accommodations") to make a space accessible for a person with physical or sensory limitations, to training for teachers so they can teach students of all abilities and talents, to assistance from counselors and friends to succeed in a job or a recreational activity. Support should respect the wants, needs, and choices of the person with a disability.

Support can be provided to...

• Students--to build on strengths & accommodate learning styles

• Families--to encourage involvement & mutual support

• Educators--to provide training & resources

• Employers and co-workers--to promote a welcoming work culture

...To ensure meaningful participation in school, work, and social community.

• Martina, a woman with a visual impairment, sings in her church choir.

• Tyrone became interested in politics through his city's Independent Living Center (ILC), a resource center for people with disabilities. He now advocates for his own rights and teaches other people about disability rights issues.

• Esmeralda, a woman with cerebral palsy, started working in a local office after graduation, where she goes for lunch and after-work outings with her co-workers.

• Adam, who has Down syndrome, is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

• Lee, an eight-year-old girl with special health care needs, attends her local elementary school, with help from her school nurse and a portable ventilator.

The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley  /  521 Market Street , #17 / Parkersburg, WV  26101 / 304-422-3151, ext. 106

www.arcwd.org  /  info@arcwd.org

Funded by the WV Developmental Disabilities Council

Copyright 1992-2007, Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI). ICI is affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Boston and Children's Hospital Boston. Permission to use, copy, and distribute all documents on this site, in whole or in part, for non-commercial use and without fee, is hereby granted provided that appropriate credit to the Institute for Community Inclusion be included in all copies. Alternate formats are  available upon request.