ANY GIVEN CONTEXT (SCHOOL, WORK, SOCIETY) WILL BE CONSIDERED INCLUSIVE ONLY IF…

Today, we tend to replace the word integration with inclusion, although in our opinion and as we will try to argue later, these two terms refer to two significantly different constructs. Unfortunately, the term inclusion is frequently used without a clear understanding of the underlying meaning because it is generally considered a more politically correct term. However, when speaking about inclusion, it is not possible to refer only to people who have less clearly recognized difficulties – as was often the case in the past when the integration construct was used. Inclusion requires careful consideration of the ‘contexts’ in which all persons are living. In fact, in most cases, even if contexts have not been chosen by people, contexts affect the quality of their lives and co-construction their strengths and weaknesses (Di Maggio, Soresi, & Nota, 2015; Shogren, Wehmeyer, Schalock, & ompson, 2016). In fact, the concept of inclusion is related to context, because the characteristics of the context significantly influence quality of life and of inclusion itself. ‘Pre-occupying’ of inclusion today means, therefore, ensuring that contexts are capable of guaranteeing to each person, with his uniqueness, participation in social and civil life (Soresi, 2016). Using the words of Asante (2002), former leader of ‘New African Voices’, ‘Inclusion is recognizing that we are one even though we are not the same’; it involves recognizing the uniqueness that characterizes individuals and the necessary interdependence between them. Inclusion means accepting, embracing, and celebrating the differences of each of us in order to transform communities into comfortable places for all people. According to Asante, among others, fighting for inclusion requires ensuring that all citizens and all institutions are ‘active’ in order to facilitate the participation (defined as the level of involvement of a person in life situations in relation to his/her health, physical conditions and functions, the activities he/she is able to perform and contextual factors that are his/her own-World Health Organization, 2001) of all people in social and civil life.