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January 2002
What is
Social Inclusion, and is
CICH works with many others towards social inclusion. The term is being used by the voluntary sector to draw attention to and refresh public dialogue on the outcomes of poverty as they relates to social policy and social action. Can we measure our progress as a society by healthy social/emotional and environmental measurements instead of by profit?
The public perception that Canadians live in the best society in the world and that poverty is only relative and minor compared to real poverty distracts us from a communal vision of acceptable Canadian standards of living. A culture of blaming those who live in poverty for their life condition leads Canadians to perceive these people as complicit in their own problems ... and along with them their babies, children and youth.
Situations such as low parental income, unemployment/underemployment and racial discrimination can result in social exclusion. The Health of Canada's Children: A CICH Profile, 3rd edition, highlights the pervasiveness of these problems for many Canadian families. It also focused attention on the challenges faced by children with disabilities and their families. CICH was instrumental in advocating for a national survey of children with disabilities and served as expert adviser to Statistics Canada and Human Resources Development Canada during the development of the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey. This survey will tell us more about the relationship between disability and social inclusion.
An inclusive society provides opportunities for the optimal well-being and healthy development of all children, youth and adults. Universal access to meaningful opportunities in education, the arts, culture, and recreation are practical expressions of social inclusion for those who are systemically excluded from mainstream supports and activities. Relevant health services, school curricula adapted to specific needs and strengths, family support services and respite, safe streets and parks, and responsive governance on all levels would also represent concrete expressions of social inclusion. Social exclusion results from barriers to full participation at home, in school and in the community and impedes optimal healthy development and well-being.
Knowing what is needed for social policy reform is only as effective as the existing political will and leadership towards positive and concrete action to realize this new way of measuring our progress as a society.
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