Equality,_Diversity_and_Inclusion

COURSE CODE: SH33 SUBJECT: PROMOTE EQUALITY AND INCLUSION 1.1: EXPLAIN WHAT IS MEANT BY DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, and INCLUSION. DIVERSITY: It simply means difference. It is about recognising individual as well as group differences, treating people as individual and placing positive value on diversity in the community or workplace. It emphasizes the difference in culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and age of a certain group of people. It is about creating a fairer society where everybody will be able to participate and has an opportunity to fulfil their potential. Individual and group diversity needs to be considered in order to ensure that everybody’s needs and requirements are understood and responded to e.g. development of flexibility in working practices and services. Another example of diversity in a setting where you invariably have children of different culture, race, religion etc, is whereby you teach and encourage the children to respect and embrace differences from other people in a positive way regardless of how they look or talk. And you as a practitioner need to respect the children and their family as well regardless of the difference in their background. D Education - I – Race Physical qualities – V – Occupation Gender - E - Marital status Class, Job - R - Ethnic/Culture Background – S - Style Income - I – Religion Language-T – Beliefs Y EQUALITY: This can be defined as the equal treatment of people irrespective of social or cultural differences. It is giving everyone of different gender, age, race, sexuality the same chances; as well as being fair and ensuring people have the same treatment regardless of who they are or where they come from. Equality is the enjoyment of equal rights by everyone, each individual being regarded as of the same importance and receiving equal treatment. There can be no equality of opportunity if difference is not valued. It is important for children to be given equal opportunities. An example of equality in a setting is when schools promotes involvement of parent and community that are less represented in the setting either because of their race or gender etc. INCLUSION:” Is a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging”(Sue Griffin 2008, p.17). It is about making sure all children and young children have access to equal learning opportunities whatever their disadvantages. It involves everybody being included and not excluded due to their characteristics such as being disabled. Its focuses upon ensuring that everyone has opportunity to be engaged and involved in mainstream community life such as education, employment or community involvement .And it is putting values concerned with participation, compassion, respect for diversity and also involves valuing all equally and enabling participation. Inclusion involves assuring that support systems are available to those who need such as; better accessibility, sign materials in braille, more wheelchair ramps, community living etc. An example is when children are having a particular creativity which requires them to mix flour in a mixing bowl, instead of excluding a disabled child by thinking he would not be able to reach the mixing bowl you include such child by providing a lower table with which he can reach and that will give him the opportunity of having a part in the learning. 1.2: DESCRIBE THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF DISCRIMINATION DISCRIMINATION: Is making a decision based solely on an individual’s race, religion, ethnicity, culture, sex or age thereby creating an unfair environment for such people. It involves the actual behaviour towards a person such as restricting someone from opportunities that are available to others. It is usually based on prejudiced attitude that may or may not be deliberate. People might experience discrimination as a result of the structure of their family and or any impairment they might have, the colour of their skin or their social background. As a result of this, the opportunities opened to them are limited. There are two types of discrimination namely direct and indirect discrimination. DIRECT DISCRIMINATION: This happens when children and young people are not allowed to access part of the curriculum or school activities because of their particular situation such as race, gender or disability e.g. when a group of pupils do not let another pupil join in with them because of their race. INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION: This is often more difficult to spot. It occurs when practice and procedures are applied without consideration to individual circumstances e.g the insistence that girls in a school wears skirts can be unlawful. EFFECTS OF DISCRIMINATION 1. PHYSICAL EFFECTS: Poor appetite, sleeplessness, headaches, lack of personal hygiene. 2. EMOTIONAL EFFECTS: Lack of confidence, feeling unwanted, depression/stress, anxiety, lack of co-operation, low self-esteem. 3. SOCIAL EFFECTS: Isolation, lack of friends, inability to build a relationship, becoming withdrawn. 4. INTELLECTUAL EFFECTS: Restricted opportunity/ access to education, poor performance in exams, loss of motivation, absence etc. 1:3 EXPLAIN HOW INCLUSIVE PRACTICE PROMOTES EQUALITY AND SUPPORTS DIVERSITY Inclusive practise is about the attitude and approaches taken to ensure that people are not excluded or isolated. It is accepting and welcoming people’s differences. Inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity by encouraging a multi-racial workforce within the community including those with disabilities. By giving equal opportunities to staff as well as children and families, equality is being promoted. Inclusive practice supports diversity in the sense that it helps children learn how to respect the views of others and to value difference. ’’By looking positively at other cultures and other different ways of life helps children to understand the wider world, to grow up to be tolerant and to accept without fear and equals people who are different’’ BTEC EARLY YEARS:EDITED BY YVONNE NOLAN. It promotes the positive aspect of diversity by teaching the children how to embrace the culture of others and not discriminating others due to their colour, background, language, religion etc. and by encouraging children to recognise their own unique qualities and the characteristics they share with other children. Another way inclusive practice promotes equality is by providing resources, equipment and activities that are fully accessible to all children including those with disabilities or those with language barriers so as to give everyone an equal opportunity. When u oppose and challenge discrimination in every area of work such as bullying, discriminating language etc. you are actively promoting equality and also having respect for all people regardless of their background or beliefs. Another example of how inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity is when admission into schools are open and fair ensuring access to everyone within the community and materials used are translated into all the various language spoken within the community.