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Inclusion Is Not Just A Humane Act

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According to the European Agency (2013), living and learning in society are the fundaments of human co-existence. Inclusion is not just a humane act, but also an integral component of an open and equal society and a human right for all children, including those with disabilities and learning difficulties (UNECSO, 2010; D’Alessio, 2011). The United Nations affirms this right: first in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), then in the UN Convention on the Rights of the child, and most recently, in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008), which names inclusive education as the best model for educating children with disabilities. Education, particularly inclusive education, is able to reduce discrimination through enabling children with and without disabilities to grow up together, giving children with disabilities skills to allow them to become positive role models and join the employment market, thereby helping to prevent poverty (Mattingly et al., 2010; Kyriazopoulou & Weber, 2009). There is currently, an on-going international debate, however, about whether educational inclusion is achievable and how it could be achieved (NSCE, 2010). This controversial field surrounding inclusive education is mainly due to the many different definitions of the practice, according to D’Alessio (2011) there are almost as many definitions as there are people who study it and who rely on differing theoretical frameworks. Thus, this research paper will

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