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inclusion
Achieving citizenship and inclusion

We often talk about ‘inclusion’ and ‘citizenship’ but what do they mean in practice, how are
they related to each other and how can they be achieved? Tim Stainton reflects on his
experiences as a father and in his professional life in Canada to find some answers

y son, who lives with a learning relatively equal footing with others, then Leydet (2017) sees citizenship as
disability, likes to play a game the system, even one as developed as composed of three main dimensions: legal
Mwhen we are driving. The game ours, seems to fall short of fully status, defined by civil, political and social
involves reading the letters off licence recognizing his citizenship. rights; citizens actively participating in a
plates and finding words that match society’s political institutions; and
the letter. Distinct and connected citizenship in a political community that
With great enthusiasm, he will shout So what do these two stories of our life furnishes a distinct source of identity.
out his name for one letter, the dog’s tell us? I use them to illustrate the While all are relevant, we are mainly
name for another but, when we come to necessity and distinctiveness of the two concerned with the first dimension
F, he often becomes quieter and more concepts with regards to: our aspirations here – legal status.
introspective. He will quietly say “friends”. for a world where everyone’s citizenship is It is this legal status as citizens that has
He is an extremely likeable, engaging valued and recognised; and the idea of been denied to people with learning
young man, loved by all who get to know inclusion, a world where everyone feels a disabilities based on the view that they
him, greeted at school by students as he part of something, connected to a lacked the capacity for full citizenship.
races from the car to the classroom, and community and loved and cared for Recently, however, arguments have been
very involved in school and outside by others. made against this view on a number of
activities, mostly designed specifically for grounds (Leydet, 2017).
people with disabilities. The notion that citizenship stems solely
But on weekends or holidays, when not “ from an individual’s capacity and autonomy
The idea of a citizenship
involved in organised pursuits or out with has been challenged. It is argued that a
the family or support workers, he sits based on people having person’s autonomy is in fact “relational”
alone playing Wii or watching YouTube. a type or degree of reason (about their connections with other
Nobody drops by to hang out. Nobody is no longer universally people) and that, similarly, capacity is a
calls to see if he wants to do whatever function not of a person’s independence
teens do when not formally occupied. accepted but of their interdependence. Others have
In short, while certainly part of his ” argued that we do not need the concept of
community, well liked and well supported, moral capacity at all, as it is neither helpful
he does not have the kinds of informal, Citizenship and inclusion are often used nor necessary when deciding who should
casual and caring relationships that provide in tandem in discussions around learning enjoy rights and protections (Silvers, 2012).
the bedrock of community inclusion. disabilities and are frequently conflated The idea of an exclusive citizenship
My son is also preparing for the into a single concept. It is, however, useful based on people being required to
transition from high school. We are to consider each independently and the possess a perceived type or degree of
fortunate to live in a jurisdiction that has relationship between them to fully grasp reason is no longer universally accepted.
reasonably well-developed support, their implications for people with learning This idea is directly rejected in documents
individualised options and relatively (and other) disabilities. such as the UN Convention on the Rights
strong protections for his rights. He also I will review the two concepts of Persons with Disabilities as well as in
has two parents who are very familiar independently then consider how they many national and other legal systems as
with how the system works and how to relate to one another and what each a basis for policy and practice.
advocate on his behalf. brings to our understanding of how to Finally, there is the question of the
Despite this, it is clear that getting the make a more inclusive world. nature of the rights that come with
support he needs to fully pursue his goals citizenship. In general, rights in western
and dreams will not be easy. It is unlikely he Citizenship: legal evolution legal systems are those things necessary
will get the level of support he requires to Citizenship generally concerns being a to allow an equal pursuit of one’s own
easily and effectively pursue post-secondary member of a political community and purposes and goals, but which are also
education or find meaningful work. enjoying the rights and assuming the consistent with a similar right for all. In
He is fortunate that, as a reasonably duties that come with membership. more common terms, rights are those
economically secure family, we can fill in
the gaps – but should we have to? What Support to
of those without the options we have as Citizenship Rights and equality actualise
a family?
If the fundamental goal of a true
citizenship-based system of support is Inclusion Valued participation Belonging and
relationships
in everyday life
to provide people with the means to
pursue their goals and dreams on a Figure 1. Inclusion is about being and belonging in a community that goes beyond formal equality
22 Vol 32 No 4 | Summer 2019 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk