Toward an interdisciplinary framework for educational inclusivity

This purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical foundation for inclusion in Canadian schools for this Special Issue on Inclusive Education. In response to the need for an interdisciplinary framework, this paper uses an interpretive literature review methodology to construct a framework for educational inclusivity based on four disciplinary perspectives: (a) special education and disability studies, (b) multiculturalism and anti-racist education, (c) gender and women's education, and (d) queer studies. The constructed framework elucidates four conceptions of inclusivity--normative, integrative, dialogical, and transgressive--positioned on a continuum with each conception representing a different approach to inclusion. Unlike previous models, this framework is not anchored to any one marginalized group; rather, it is intended to represent multiple forms of inclusivity to edify historical, existing, and idealistic educational practices and structures for all forms of difference. Keywords: Inclusivity, inclusive education, diversity, difference. Le but de ce document est de fournir une base theorique pour l'inclusion dans les ecoles canadiennes pour ce numero special sur l'education inclusive. En reponse a la necessite d'un cadre interdisciplinaire, ce document utilise une methodologie d'interpretation litterature examen de construire un cadre pour l'inclusion educative basee sur quatre points de vue disciplinaires: (a) l'education speciale et l'etude des handicapees, (b) le multiculturalisme et l'education antiraciste, (c) le genre et l'education des femmes, et (d) les etudes << queer >>. Le cadre construit elucide quatre conceptions de l'inclusion-normatives, d'integration, dialogiques et transgressives-positionne sur un continuum avec chaque conception qui represente une approche differente a l'inclusion. Contrairement aux modeles precedents, ce cadre n'est pas ancre a aucun groupe marginalise, mais plutot, il est destine a representer les multiples formes de l'inclusion d'edifier historiques, actuels et idealiste des pratiques et des structures educatives pour toutes les formes de difference. Mots-cles: Inclusivite, l'education inclusive, la diversite, la difference.
Introduction Over the past 30 years, inclusivity has gained steady prominence as a national and international movement significantly impacting educational policy and practice (Egbo, 2009; Howard & Aleman, 2008). In [...]