Towards inclusive cities and social sustainability: A scoping review of initiatives to support the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in civic and social activities

Abstract

The inclusion of people with intellectual disability in cultural and civic activities is an important point for discussion, particularly in the context of supporting the social sustainability of our local communities and cities. In line with a human rights approach to disability and inclusion, local governments and community organisations are poised to play a pivotal role in the inclusion of people with intellectual disability. Using PRISMA-P guidelines, we undertook a scoping review of local inclusion building initiatives in Australia and comparative international countries that helped connect people with intellectual disability with their local council and community. We also examined what role people with intellectual disability played in the assessment and evaluation of these resources in the literature. We analysed the initiative outcomes discussed in the included papers across the five themes outlined in framework for Building Inclusive Cities (Broadband & Keiran 2019) and through the lens of Simplican et al.’s (2015) framework for community participation. Participation-building initiatives that were investigated included more general community groups, specific community groups (Men's Shed, Unified Sports teams), dog walking, peer advocacy, community conversation and community mentorship. One out of the 11 studies reported an inclusive research methodology (Power, Bartlett, & Hall, 2016). Analysis of the results offers opportunities to consider the ways in which the personal preferences of people with intellectual disability can be interwoven with structure and levels of participation to improve social inclusion in their local communities. • Aiming to be inclusive for all does not automatically lead to participation for all people. • People with intellectual disability continue to be excluded from the full experience of cities – despite an awareness of social sustainability. • This paper identifies how people with intellectual disability are impacted by policy and practices around citizen involvement. • The experiences of people with intellectual disability inform how the Inclusive Cities Framework is understood and applied to define meaningful participation for all people.