Disability interpretations of "Inclusion"


​The word "inclusion" has multiple meanings, and was banned as part of federal anti-DEIA executive orders in 2025.  However, the term "inclusion" has had its own unique meaning for people with disabilities since the 1960's, so it's important for instructors to understand them.

In higher education, inclusion of people with disabilities may mean: 
  • Special education inclusion in grades K-12, where the term describes inclusion of students with disabilities in general education courses instead of separate classes or schools only for students with disabilities.  First-year college students may therefore think of "inclusion" as being educated with nondisabled students.
  • A welcoming accessible campus environment for people with disabilities. 
  • Students with intellectual disabilities (like Down syndrome) participating in campus-based Inclusive Higher Programs.  
  • Access on campus, with disabled college students having disability accommodations as required under the law.
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"Inclusion" has a long history for people with disabilities, who used to be segregated from society before civil rights laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act.  More information about disability history and Inclusive Higher Education is available in the "Resources" section of this website.
Haven't heard of inclusive higher education transition programs?  Learn more by watching Rethinking College, a film by the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) about college students with intellectual disability. This film was made by Think College, a national project based at the ICI.  You can download related resources at https://thinkcollege.net/resources/rethinking-college​
Image of reality, equality, equity and liberation is from https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-difference-between-the-terms-equality-equity-and-liberation-illustrated-C_fig1_340777978 
Both inclusion graphics are from Wendy Harbour ([email protected]), with graphics from Academic Women at Simon Fraser University (https://www.sfu.ca/academicwomen.html)