Inclusion, Disability and Culture: An Ethnographic Perspective Traversing Abilities and Challenges (Inclusive Learning and Educational Equity Book 3)

This book provides a global and social examination of how disabilities are played out and experienced around the world. It presents auto-ethnographic perspectives on disability across cultures, societies, and countries by documenting individuals’ personal narratives, thought processes and reflections. Chapter authors share cross-cultural perspectives within and across various countries, such as India, Australia, United States, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Croatia, Brazil, South Africa, and Qatar. Adopting a self-reflective stance following qualitative research methodology, the chapter authors discuss the current challenges in the field. Next, they deconstruct disability identities, explore the complexities of communication with differently abled persons, examine inclusive policies, practices and interventions and present insights from caregivers. The book concludes with critical reflections and a look to the future of global diversity and inclusion. Front Matter....Pages i-xl Disability and Inclusion: Current Challenges....Pages 1-11 Front Matter....Pages 13-13 Disability, Culture, and Identity in India and USA....Pages 15-29 Disability: A Result of Cultural Ostracism....Pages 31-40 Perseverance Pays....Pages 41-58 “Not Everybody Can Take Trips Like This”: A Paralympian’s Perspective on Educating About Disability Around the World....Pages 59-76 When Gucci Make Hearing Aids, I’ll Be Deaf: Sensory Impairment in Later Life and a Need to Define it According to Identity....Pages 77-88 Looking Back Over My Shoulder: Through The Disability’s Mirror....Pages 89-96 From Stigma to Empowerment – A Journey to Reframe Disability....Pages 97-106 There is No “Dis” in our Abilities: Acknowledging the Experience of the Differently-Abled Community....Pages 107-132 Front Matter....Pages 133-133 Communication with Persons with Disabilities vs. Communication with Differently Abled Persons....Pages 135-151 Empathetic Communication: Bridging Differences in a Global Context....Pages 153-167 Severe Communication Disabilities in South Africa: Challenges and Enablers....Pages 169-193 Enriched Audio Description: Working Towards an Inclusive Museum Experience....Pages 195-207 Front Matter....Pages 209-209 Inclusive Practices in Mainstream Schools: An Australian Perspective....Pages 211-227 Gifted and Talented Students: A Review of the Concept from Indian Experience....Pages 229-249 Sociocultural Construction of Disability in Sri Lanka: Charity to Rights-based Approach....Pages 251-265 Accessibility and Modernist Architecture: The Work of Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil....Pages 267-275 Individualized Approach for Inclusion of Children with Diverse Behavioural Needs....Pages 277-294 Employment and Living with Autism: Personal, Social and Economic Impact....Pages 295-311 Legislation, Case Law and Current Issues in Inclusion for the United States, Australia and India....Pages 313-334 Front Matter....Pages 335-335 Better Understanding the Complex Academic, Mental Health and Health Needs of Children in the United States....Pages 337-353 Great Expectations for the Modern-Day Dispossessed: A Personal Journey....Pages 355-366 A Journey in the Spectrum....Pages 367-378 Global Diversity and Inclusion: Critical Reflections and Future Directions....Pages 379-390 Annotation This resource provides a global and social examination of how disabilities are played out and experienced around the world. It presents auto-ethnographic perspectives on disability across cultures, societies, and countries by documenting individuals' personal narratives, thought processes and reflections