Inclusive society

There has been a lot of talking about social inclusion as priority of governments or as current trend in professional practice that is better adjusted to promoting civil rights in education, job opportunities and even gospel movements. People talk about social inclusion for its spiritual value, as improvement of existing techniques and procedures for social benefits, as sign for humanizing community relations in social interaction...

However, official attempts in Brazil for promotion of social inclusion have been developed in improvised and incomplete initiatives. Then, the term "inclusion" seems to fade at rendering the ideological strength of the concept as people get frustrated and unhappy with results. This process has happened before during official efforts for 'mainstreaming' people with disabilities. Hence, in mesh of flaws, losses, and decline of popularity, this term has become obsolete, and people have invested in a new "politically correct" definition. What will come next to substitute "inclusion" after its doom???

For "inclusive society," we refer to the structural changing process in which mechanisms for social participation become more flexible and allow users to experience equal opportunities by respect of differences in individuals. An inclusive society is directed to provide each person the logistics and infra-structure conditions so that everyone finds resources available as instruments to control the built environment. People may use such instruments to compensate for disabilities or limitations at personal level; then, they may participate actively in interpersonal cooperation efforts and self-help. Therefore, inclusive society provides the scenario for personal development that is based on mutual respect and everyone's investment to create and maintain such infra-struture. 

Instead of social inclusion, it is preferable that we focus on "inclusive practices," and then verify whether such practices are really effective. Then, we may be able to change the means instead of changing the principles that sustain an inclusive society.

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