Overview of Inclusion and Exclusion

I think inclusion is, no matter what your background, race, culture, that you are all treated the same way and with the same respect.

Inclusion assures each citizen the opportunity to fully participate in realizing aspirations. Inclusion relies on active civic participation to identify the barriers to access and to ensure that people have a collective sense of belonging to their society.

Conversely, exclusion is about the attitudes, processes and barriers which push people away from fully participating in opportunities. It’s about power relationships, the role of institutions and services and the effect of policies and practices on individuals and groups. Exclusion is a process by which certain groups find themselves with lower economic and social status, combined with a lack of power to change these outcomes. It is experienced at both the individual and community level.

Inclusion by Design: A Framework for Meaningful Change

The Social Planning Council works on a three pronged approach to reduce exclusion and increase inclusion.

1. Improve supports for individuals, families and communities experiencing exclusion The starting point is to ensure an adequate standard of living for individuals and families facing exclusion to increase their access to resources and opportunities.
2. Build inclusive environments (create systemic change)Building inclusive environments requires changing the way institutions and community activities or supports are organized so that they are inclusive of all residents.
3. Support the capacity of community organizations which are active in advancing inclusion