The concept of diversity
What does diversity mean?
What are we talking about when we talk about diversity?
Food for thought: Let’s take a look at our surroundings, at nature, at our family members, our group of friends, the people we work with. Let’s focus on one of these groups. Are the people all alike? What do we see in each which makes them different from one another? What makes them be who they are?
The concept of inclusion
The difference between diversity and inclusion.
What is inclusion, really? What does include imply?
Food for thought: Look at the drawing below by the pedagogue Tonucci, which refers specifically to treating everyone as equals. Do we think this is fair? Why? Why not?
Now let’s look at our surroundings again, let’s take another look at the different groups we move in (family, friends, workplace, studies). We should especially focus on our workplace.
What situations similar to Tonucci’s can we see? What can we change to aim for the concept of equity?
Barriers and universal design
Barriers we can identify in our everyday life. How to design for everyone.
Food for thought: Let’s look around our workplace, or our neighborhood. What spatial barriers do we see, what communication barriers?
Have a look at the organization or the company you work in. What practices do you think tend to inclusion? If you analyze the policies, do you identify barriers or are they inclusive policies?
And referring to policies, in our organization for example, do we identify any barriers? Which are these?
Disability Models
Disability and the changes in the concept through history.
Charity model. Medical model. Social model.
Food for thought: When someone mentions disability, what do we feel? Write down the first words that come to mind. How do you regard people with disabilities? From what point of view?
When we say no to a person with disabilities, when we say they can’t come to this school, that we can’t hire them because we aren’t prepared, what model is guiding our decision?
Disability and how we name it
We shall be looking at the correct words to refer to disability. How to refer to it. How not to refer to it.
Food for thought: Look at the signs around you (for example: in public places, in public transport). How is disability named? What might be changed?
At work, listen to conversations, check policies. How do they refer to disability? Is there anything that needs a change?
The richness of diversity
Seeing ourselves reflected in another. What is the meaning of valuing difference?
Food for thought: Watch this video https://youtu.be/SBLiBLb23ZA
Post-watching: What would be the best advice you might give someone who is becoming involved with people with disabilities?
Closing
To round things off, here are a few questions for you to answer in connection with what you’ve learned and thought about.
1 - What subjects for reflection have challenged me and helped me move forward in this process?
2 - Take a look at your organization. At what stage in the process are you? Far from it, starting out, on the way? Why?
3 - How do I feel communication is working in my organization?
4 - What is the leadership of my organization like? Analyze from the point of view of inclusion.