INCLUSION: A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The Canadian perspective of inclusive education is unique to its history and social context. In some ways, Canada has pioneered theories, frameworks and practices that have greatly influenced the ways nations build inclusive educational experiences. While Canadian practices have evolved, a great deal remains to be done. It is the intention of this article to provide a general context from which Canada’s present forms of inclusive education have grown. This is presented as context from which readers may find insights related to their own current practices and future visions of inclusive education. Internationally, Canada reaches out to learn and share practices and principles of learning inclusively with other nations in an effort to improve the practices of all in such partnerships. These partnerships and sharing of information internationally support building better communities of belonging and open intellectual doors of thought not possible if one remains only within one’s own context. Inclusive education is indeed a worldwide effort, the final analysis of which has not yet begun.