Global Diversity and Inclusion: Critical Reflections and Future Directions

Abstract

Following the developed countries, an increasing number of countries including the developing ones have shown their agreeableness to adapt to changes in legislations, administration and practice, aiming participation of individuals with disabilities for an inclusive environment. Unfortunately, agreeableness does not necessarily ensure full participation or social acceptance or inclusion. This chapter summarizes the diversities of culture and inclusion as brought forward by various authors across countries, cultures and disciplines with critical reflections bridging the gap of diversities and inclusion building a universal model of inclusion from the learnings derived from each chapter. In this text, we share our understandings of disability and the global nature of the cultural features that impinge on quality of life to help establish what is universally true about disability and what may be unique to specific cultures or countries and individuals. The future directions lies in exploring the positive practices from various countries and cultures as exposed by the authors through their own lived experiences which may provide models for more universal approaches to disability so that a strategic cross-cultural, interdisciplinary and holistic approach may result in a valued positioning of people with disabilities transforming the world into a global inclusive community in the real sense of the term.