Conceptualised Framework for Inclusion

Ballard KE¹*

1. Scope Victoria, Glennroy, Victoria, Australia

Barriers to the inclusion of people with a disability in their community environment are international. Ensuring equity and life quality for people with a disability demands the engagement of local communities in the process of welcoming diverse community membership, and in addressing both physical and social issues of access.

The Community Inclusion and Development (CID) Unit within Scope Victoria works in many ways to facilitate inclusion for people with disabilities in their chosen communities. The unit was formed in 2001 to create a structure which supports a range of activities undertaken by Scope including community participation in sport and recreation activities, community education and training, and innovation and service delivery options.

The CID unit works to achieve Scope’s mission of providing integrated services, which enable people with a disability to achieve their potential in welcoming and inclusive community environments, through a variety of capacity building approaches and strategies. The unit is positioned to play a leadership and resourcing role throughout the organisation, and across the disability and community sectors.

A current project within the unit seeks to provide a conceptual framework for inclusion. Defining community inclusion, its building blocks, and our approach to community capacity building will consolidate our vision for inclusion, support the creation of shared understanding, and provide means from which to consider the measurement of community inclusion.

Click here to view the full paper