Now that you have thought about your experiences, and are now familiar with the Wave model, we will turn to look at the international principles of why inclusion matters. This way of thinking about inclusion sees equal access to education, opportunities to fully participate in society and treatment with respect and dignity as essential rights for all people. Including all children is an important contribution to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of healthy lives, well-being and education.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (2006) set out 8 guiding principles:

1. Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons
2. Non-discrimination
3. Full and effective participation and inclusion in society
4. Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity
5. Equality of opportunity
6. Accessibility
7. Equality between men and women
8. Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

Inclusive education draws on these principles by ensuring that all children feel valued and included and adaptations are made to support their learning. In the next activity, we will be asking you to reflect on how this course demonstrates inclusive principles for your learning experience.