Inclusion is Hard

Inclusion is hard.

It’s not as simple as saying you welcome people of all abilities. Welcoming and including are not the same.

I can’t tell you how many times we have signed our daughter, Phoebe, up for a class or camp and I have called ahead to talk to someone about her having Down syndrome and received an enthusiastic “yes!” about her being welcome in their group. So many times, we have taken her to said class or camp and then received a phone call on day one asking us to come get her or stay and help keep her engaged. By this time, everyone, particularly Phoebe is sad and frustrated that it’s not working.

Often the result is that we end up leaving the class or camp before it’s over. The adults at the organization will say that their program just didn’t work for Phoebe; it was too fast-paced, too structured, too hard.

Because inclusion is hard.

These organizations tell me with different words that they are unwilling to change to meet Phoebe’s needs. That is the difference between welcoming and including: a willingness to CHANGE. Change is also hard.

As I go into recreational spaces, I’m constantly reminded that most of them are not designed with someone like Phoebe in mind, which is not inclusive, even if it is welcoming. Meaningful inclusion is creating an environment that can be changed, reimagined, and flexible so it can accommodate kids of all abilities.

Fully inclusive programs understand that what works for some doesn’t work for all, and they can, therefore, be adjusted to meet different needs. When I get those phone calls from a music, sports, or theater class, and I’m told that the pace or structure of the class just doesn’t work for Phoebe, what I really want to say is “THEN CHANGE IT!”

Our world is designed for the able-bodied and the neurotypical, but more and more we are learning that humans are complex and do not all learn and function the same way. Research on inclusive education (check out our resources) proves that meaningful inclusion benefits everyone, not just kids with disabilities. Peers with and without disabilities learn better when they are together, not separated based on needs.

With this knowledge, R.I.D.E. 4 All seeks to support inclusive programs and organizations that are part of the coalition of the willing. These organizations are willing to try, willing to learn, willing to change, and willing to do hard things.

Because inclusion is hard.