Page 26 - Community Living Issue 31-3

inclusion
Whose world is it anyway?

Where a system of ‘care’ often turns into one of ‘control’, does
inclusion mean people should fit in with the world or that the world
should fit around them? asks Simon Duffy

tudying political philosophy need we all have to find our own
at university, i learned path and our own role in a
sabout the powerful ideals society that welcomes us for
that have driven people over the who are.
centuries to change the world. In my own work, I’ve tried
Socialists want to live in a world to build a bridge between the
without exploitation, fascists ideal of inclusion and the
want power and glory, and traditional world of political
liberals want freedom while philosophy.
conservatives want things to stay Jeremy Waldron, who was one
the same. While each backs up of my teachers, wrote: “Above
their ideals with arguments, they all, I think the idea of citizenship
believe that their particular vision should remain at the centre of
is obviously attractive. See it and modern political debates about
you’ll believe it. social and economic
When I began working with Punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät have no interest in fitting in – arrangements. The concept of a
people with learning difficulties, they are raising awareness that people are “not for sale”, as happens citizen is that of a person who
I discovered a world divided by through competitive tendering for services can hold their head high and
conflicting ideals – but rather participate fully and with dignity
different ideals. Some people believed in world change to fit me? Who wants to fit in the life of their society.”
a world of “care”, where some people in anyway? This seems to me a very helpful
took care of other people, often by Certainly, my friends in punk band Pertti beginning. Instead of trying to fit people
placing them in strange, institutional Kurikan Nimipäivät – also known as PKN into society, we should make a society
worlds. Others, like Wolf Wolfensberger, – whose four members have learning where everyone fits, where everyone can
argued that people with disabilities disabilities, don’t want to fit into flourish and live with dignity.
They have been at the forefront of a “
should not be shut off inside institutions; mainstream Finnish society, as lovely
but instead should join the real world, the as that is. They want to stir things up,
mainstream world (Wolfensberger, 1975). live life their own way and help start Ideals sometimes
a revolution. seem to justify extreme
danger in being ‘too special’
Wolfensberger showed that the world of movement in Finland telling people that bossiness: don’t gather in
“care” – which can sound nice in theory people with disabilities are “Not for Sale”, groups, don’t wear the
– was very dangerous in practice. People for example. This is challenging a social wrong clothes, behave in
who are treated as special, and are care system that uses competitive
then placed in special places, quickly tendering, which they argue means the right way
become far too special. Situations people with disabilities who need help ”
deteriorate, people are forgotten, treated and support do not have choice and
as a burden, neglected, abused or worse. control over their own lives. They are This is an inspiring vision not just for
Institutions are dangerous places. They sick of people bossing them around people with disabilities and their allies but
don’t need more regulation – they need and selling them off like slaves to the also for refugees, people in poverty, those
closing down. lowest bidder. facing discrimination – in fact all of us.
For these reasons, many people worked Although Wolfensberger has much This is why many of us have come
hard to help people leave institutions to teach us still, I found true inspiration together to form Citizen Network. This
following Wolfensberger’s guidance. from the thoughts of John O’Brien, is a global community for all who believe
However, these ideals sometimes academic and fellow of the Centre in equal citizenship and inclusion for
appeared to take people to some very for Welfare reform. His vision of society all – all those who want to look beyond
strange places. They even sometimes – a world of human rights, of freedom appearances and ensure everyone
seemed to justify extreme bossiness: and of inclusion – makes my heart sing is valued. n
don’t gather in groups, don’t wear the in a way that is missing from both the ● www.citizen-network.org
wrong clothes, behave in the right way. frightful world of “care” and from the Dogukan Guvener, EuroVisionary
The motives for all this bossiness technology of “normalisation” created Simon Duffy is director of the Centre
were often very idealistic, but often it by Wolfensberger. for Welfare Reform and secretary to
didn’t feel right to me. Should I change Inclusion is a more rewarding vision of the international cooperative the
myself to fit the world or should the society, partly because it respects the Citizen Network

26 Vol 31 No 3 | Spring 2018 community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk