Module 1: Understanding social inclusion
In this module you will learn about the concepts of social exclusion and inclusion, their significance for people with intellectual disability and the concept of encounter as one aspect of social inclusion.
In this module you will learn about the concepts of social exclusion and inclusion, their significance for people with intellectual disability and the concept of encounter as one aspect of social inclusion.
Introducing the concepts of social exclusion and inclusion
What are social exclusion and inclusion?
Social exclusion means being shut out from the social, economic and political systems which make up our society. Experiencing social exclusion can mean one or more of the following:
Social inclusion means the exact opposite, being actively engaged in our society's social, economic and political systems, and consequently feeling a sense of belonging and having more choices and opportunities in life. The various aspects of social inclusion are illustrated in the figure below:
What are social exclusion and inclusion?
Social exclusion means being shut out from the social, economic and political systems which make up our society. Experiencing social exclusion can mean one or more of the following:
- Struggling financially to make ends meet and having limited options for improving your financial situation;
- Feeling socially isolated or lonely, having few friends and limited opportunities to meet new people or make new relationships;
- Having limited access to community resources such as health, educational and recreational services;
- Having no 'voice' and influence over decisions that affect your life.
Social inclusion means the exact opposite, being actively engaged in our society's social, economic and political systems, and consequently feeling a sense of belonging and having more choices and opportunities in life. The various aspects of social inclusion are illustrated in the figure below:
While inclusion and exclusion have social, economic and political dimensions, in this training program we focus on the 'social' dimension which concerns connections to other people.
One aspect of social inclusion is long lasting and meaningful relationship with family and close friends. These relationships play a very powerful role in our lives for many different reasons:
One aspect of social inclusion is long lasting and meaningful relationship with family and close friends. These relationships play a very powerful role in our lives for many different reasons:
- Our relationships with family and friends define and shape who we are;
- Family and friends provide all sorts of help and support, from small to big things;
- Having positive relationships with family and friends makes us happier and healthier;
- Much of what we know about the world, we learn from our family and friends;
- Family and friends provide us with 'social capital' – material and non-material resources that we can use to achieve things we cannot achieve on our own;
- Through existing friends, we can get to meet new friends;
Encounters with strangers
Social inclusion is not just about lasting relationships with family and close friends, but also about our more fleeting interactions and connections with acquaintances and strangers. The video below talks about the importance of such encounters with strangers.
Social inclusion is not just about lasting relationships with family and close friends, but also about our more fleeting interactions and connections with acquaintances and strangers. The video below talks about the importance of such encounters with strangers.
Inclusion and exclusion of people with intellectual disability
People with intellectual disability as a group experience deep and systematic social exclusion. The video below discusses the reasons for the social exclusion of people with intellectual disability, and recent changes in the way we think about what social inclusion and exclusion mean for people in this group.
People with intellectual disability as a group experience deep and systematic social exclusion. The video below discusses the reasons for the social exclusion of people with intellectual disability, and recent changes in the way we think about what social inclusion and exclusion mean for people in this group.
Activity 1
Write your answers in the Workbook or the shorter Activities Questions Workbook, both can be downloaded from the resources section. We encourage you to share and discuss your responses with colleagues and supervisors.
Think back on some of your own encounters with strangers, and describe 2-3 of those encounters that were particularly meaningful for you, for example:
Write your answers in the Workbook or the shorter Activities Questions Workbook, both can be downloaded from the resources section. We encourage you to share and discuss your responses with colleagues and supervisors.
Think back on some of your own encounters with strangers, and describe 2-3 of those encounters that were particularly meaningful for you, for example:
- a
gesture or a word said to you by a stranger that has made you feel welcome or
unwelcome in a place
- a brief encounter with a stranger that has challenged some of your initial pre-conceptions about a certain 'social group'
- a situation where seeing yourself through the eyes of a stranger has taught you something new about yourself
Conclusion
In our daily lives we experience numerous brief encounters with strangers. Some encounters make us feel welcome and included in our community. Sometimes, an encounter with a stranger can even be the first step in a lasting and meaningful friendship. Other encounters, however, make us feel excluded.
The next modules in this training program are all about 'encounters' and how you can support people with intellectual disability to plan, initiate and manage encounters that enhance their social inclusion.
In our daily lives we experience numerous brief encounters with strangers. Some encounters make us feel welcome and included in our community. Sometimes, an encounter with a stranger can even be the first step in a lasting and meaningful friendship. Other encounters, however, make us feel excluded.
The next modules in this training program are all about 'encounters' and how you can support people with intellectual disability to plan, initiate and manage encounters that enhance their social inclusion.