MODULE 1: It’s normal to be different
Activity: What is exclusion and how is it experienced? Social exclusion is widely understood as a state whereby people are prevented from par- ticipating fully in economic, social, political,
disabilities. The Social Model therefore “focus- es on eliminating the barriers, promoting pos- itive attitudes and making sure that laws and policies support the exercise of full participa- tion and non-discrimination” 7 . The Social Model of disability has led to the Human Rights Model of disability, which views people with disabilities as holding the same human rights as everyone else and who are capable of taking decisions about their lives. The UN Convention calls for inclusion to be mainstreamed in all spheres of life. Read more about the fundamental principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and how they affect International Youth Work. è Factsheet 1.2. Watch the following videos on the Social Mod- el to understand the kind of barriers people with disabilities experience in daily life (You- Tube): https://t1p.de/barr1 https://t1p.de/barr2 Many of these barriers exist because of a lack of understanding or fear of disability. We tend to be afraid of what we don’t know. Also, some- times it is difficult to look at the environment around us from the perspective of someone with a disability. What are the most common myths about dis- ability? è Basic Myths about Disability I Can’t Believe We Still Have to Debunk (Huffpost): https://t1p.de/Mythen
and cultural life. What does exclusion mean for people with disabilities? Complete this short activity on exclusion and then apply it to reali- ty and discuss genuine examples and barriers. è Activity 1.3.
2. What does inclusion mean for people with disabilities? Input:
It is important to remember that the inclusion of people with disabilities should be proactive and unconditional – (ideally) provided in advance of a stated need is not merely an add-on or an accommo- dation requires a complete change of system rather than just an adaption (that would be integration, not inclusion) involves more than the removal of barriers and risk factors; it requires investment and action to create the necessary condi- tions for inclusion and support creates equality in terms of status, treat- ment and respect. It does not mean, however, having to think we all need to be equal in terms of performance. Instead, we follow the equitable approach.
Input: There is no single definition of disability; what is more, definitions vary across countries. However, internationally and in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, disability is seen as a result of “the interaction between persons with impair- ments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others” 5 . Here, “impairment” means a loss or dysfunction of a psychological, physiological, or physical structure or function – for example paralysis or blindness. According to the UN Convention, persons with disabilities include “those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory im- pairments…”. However, the extent to which these impairments disable someone will de- pend on the types of barrier they encounter in society . 6 Examples of barriers è Factsheet 1.1. The way society responds to an impairment creates the disability. This interpretation of disability originates in the Social Model of Disability . While the Medical Model of disa- bility views disability as a medical issue to be fixed, the Social Model distinguishes between a disability and an impairment, while viewing disability as the result of society failing to re- move barriers to participation for people with
The Social Model is the basis for inclusion of people with disabilities. It reflects the motto of the disability movement, “Nothing about us without us!”, which means that all decisions affecting the lives of people with disabilities have to be taken with the participation of peo- ple with disabilities - rather than by experts or medical professionals who assume control over their lives. The following diagram helps to give a clearer definition to the terms “integration and “inclu- sion” which, certainly in the German-speaking regions, are often still used synonymously. 8 The inclusion model is not dominated by main- stream structures. It is flexible enough to allow every individual to contribute and participate to the best of their personal ability without having to struggle to adapt. It describes a so- ciety in which diversity is the accepted norm. 9
Exclusion
Segregation
Integration
Inclusion
8 Kreisau-Initiative e.V.(ed.)(2013): All equally different. BHP Verlag, p.9 9 IJAB (ed.)(2017): VISION:INKLUSION An inclusion strategy for international youth work, pp.11 ff
5 cf. Preamble (5) UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) (2008) 6 cf. Article 1 sentence 2 UN CRPD (2008) 7 Council of Europe: “Disability and Disabilism.” < https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/disability-and-disablism>
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