Inclusion International
Inclusion International is a global federation of family-based organizations advocating the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. On this page you will find information about Inclusion International's principal activities, its history, and organization.
Inclusion International was founded in 1960 as a grassroots human rights organization of families, self-advocates, and committed citizens dedicated to the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities and their participation in mainstream society.
For the past 40 years, Inclusion International has provided a platform for the voices of people with disabilities and their families. It has become one of the largest international NGOs working on disability issues and one of five disability-related organizations to be officially recognized by the United Nations.
Currently, Inclusion International consists of over 200 member federations in 115 countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe.
Inclusion International is an International Non-Governmental Organization and is regionally coordinated through Inclusion Europe, Inclusion Inter-Americana, Inclusion Asia-Pacific, Inclusion Africa and Middle East & North Africa. Inclusion International's membership includes local, national and regional NGOs concerned with the welfare of people with intellectual disabilities.
Inclusion International works with several international agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Bank, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and regional bodies to promote inclusive approaches to policy, practice and investment strategies.
Inclusion International's main office is in London, United Kingdom.
Inclusion International's Activities
Inclusion International acts as an agent for change on the basis of four main principles:
- Inclusion in all aspects of everyday society
- Full citizenship which respects individual human rights and responsibilities
- Self-determination and control over the decisions affecting one's life
- Support to families that include a member with disabilities
Within these principles, Inclusion International helps to realize the rights of people with disabilities and their families through their priority areas:
For Inclusion International, ensuring the protection of the human rights of people with disabilities requires using a human rights approach. This means taking inclusive approaches to public policy and programming, ultimately ensuring the equal enjoyment of all human rights, without discrimination, by all people with disabilities.
Inclusion International launched a coalition to advance inclusive education on a global basis. The organization strives to develop strategies and interventions that promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in efforts to make basic education available to all.
Inclusion International raises awareness about the links between poverty and disability in order to outline effective strategies for poverty reduction for people with disabilities and their families.
Inclusion International seeks to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities are included throughout the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Inclusion International also raises awareness about effectively supporting families caring for a member with disabilities.
Inclusion International encourages people with disabilities to speak for themselves, to advocate for their needs, and to assert their right to make decisions about their lives. Inclusion International solicits input from people with disabilities to help guide its work and supports opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in international lobbying and advocacy.
In recent years, additional priorities for Inclusion International have been to participate in the development of the recently adopted UN Disability Convention and to provide input into the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
For more information on Inclusion International activities and to access relevant documents, please visit:
- Inclusion International's Strategic Plan
- Priority Areas
- International Disability Alliance (IDA)
- Inclusive Education
- Supporting Children with Disabilities - Information Kit