'Inclusion is not a strategy to help people fit into the systems and structures which exist in our societies; it is about transforming those systems and structures to make it better for everyone. Inclusion is about creating a better world for everyone.' -Diane Richler, President, Inclusion International

A world of inclusive possibilities!

Images of the 2008 All Abilities Team

Photo 1: All Abilities Team: Chicago Breast Cancer 3-Day 2008

Photo 2: Kranckcycle at Club One/Frog's Fitness annual fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation

Photo 3: Walk/Wheel to School Day: Solomon School 2008

To better understand the principle of inclusion, please read the excerpt below adapted from the NCHPAD factsheet: Best Practice of Inclusive Services: the Value of Inclusion (http://www.ncpad.org/341/1999/Best~Practice~of~Inclusive~Services~~The~Value~of~Inclusion ).

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What is Inclusion?

Since Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 (Public Law 101-336), recreation and fitness providers have made structural modifications to accommodate people with disabilities in various programs. However, it has long been evident that more than structural modifications would be needed in order for individuals with disabilities to be fully included into programs and have the same opportunities for success as individuals without disabilities.

Inclusion is more than allowing people with and without disabilities to participate in the same activity. In order for inclusive services to be successful, inclusion must be a value that is shared by all parties involved, including agencies, staff, families, participants, and the greater community. With appropriate training and education on inclusion and disabilities, fitness and recreation facilities can ensure that their employees are able to provide services that embrace the value of inclusion.

According to Stuart Schleien, Frederick Green, and Charlsena Stone (1999), the concept of inclusion is a continuum of three levels of acceptance. The first level is known as physical integration. Physical integration is when a 'person's right to access is recognized and assured'. This level of inclusion was mandated by the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, which required 'all buildings receiving federal funds to be made accessible to people with disabilities' and expanded by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which mandated accessibility of public facilities regardless government of funding. Physical integration serves as a prerequisite to the other two levels of inclusion.

The second level of inclusion is known as functional inclusion. Functional inclusion 'refers to an individual's ability to function within a given environment'. The ADA mandates that recreation programs must provide accommodations for people with disabilities to give them the same enjoyment and success as those without disabilities. In order for functional inclusion to occur, staff must have adequate knowledge and resources to adapt activities appropriately.

Only once the first two levels of inclusion have been met, the final and highest level, known as social inclusion, can be achieved. Unlike the other two levels, social inclusion cannot be mandated. Instead, social inclusion, which is 'one's ability to gain social acceptance and/or participate in positive interactions with peers during recreation activities', must be internally motivated. It is only by embracing inclusion as a value that this level can be achieved.

Inclusion as a Value

To value inclusion, one must start by valuing the individual and appreciating that each person is different. Shafik Abu-Tahir said, 'Inclusion is recognizing that we are one even though we are not the same.' He further elaborated on this point: 'Inclusion allows people to value differences in each other by recognizing that each person has an important contribution to make to our society.' Recreation inclusion 'refers to empowering persons who have disabling conditions to become valued and active members of their communities through sociocultural involvement in community based leisure settings'. The term 'sociocultural' is significant here as it emphasizes that diversity is embraced and not lost in inclusion. Recreation and fitness experiences that embrace this value of inclusion allow for facilitation of meaningful relationships between people with and without disabilities. It is only through the development of these relationships that stereotypes and stigmas can be eliminated.

Overcoming Barriers

Even the facilities with the best inclusive service practices and a welcoming atmosphere can be intimidating to a person with a disability. Through a better understanding of the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and the challenges that these barriers present, employers can provide staff with training that will optimize their ability to work with members with disabilities. Inclusion requires teamwork, involving all parties both in and outside the organization to not only collaborate on ideas to help participants overcome challenges they may face, but also to collaborate on program and facilitation strategies in order to bring about optimal services. While recognizing the need to include individuals with disabilities in programs and the challenges associated with this need is a step in moving toward full inclusive services, true inclusion can not be attained without system change.

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