The ethics of inclusion, or: why we still need to talk about what inclusion means

Many researchers working on topics around inclusive education either tend to think that 'we have talked enough about inclusion, we should just do it', or they are inclined to perceive inclusion as an idea too far-fetched or even as an illusion. I think both assumptions are wrong or even dangerous. The 'hands-on mentality' is dangerous because it implies a sharp dichotomy between politics, practice, empirical research and the theory of inclusion. The 'pure illusion mentality', on the other hand, is misleading because it ignores that inclusion indeed presents an ideal and thus necessarily points to an educational goal (perhaps never being reached). So, how do we might conceive inclusion theoretically? In this talk, I will present my methodological approach to inclusion, its conceptualization into a theory of inclusion and some of the topics that emerge from that if we think of the more practical issues concerning inclusive education and schooling.

About the Speaker

Franziska Felder is a Professor of inclusive education and disability research at the University of Vienna (Austria) and Honorary Fellow at the University of Birmingham. She is currently writing a book on the normative foundations of inclusive education.

This event will be hosted by Dr Li Li, Director of Research, and Professor Brahm Norwich, Centre lead for the Centre for Special Educational Needs and Disability.

For those with an Exeter IT account the recording of this lecture is now available on ELE.