The The construction of inclusion

a historical perspective

Abstract

This text defends the idea that inclusion has been built for centuries and debates some issues related to it. Arguments are put forward that inclusion did not start in the 1990s, particularly after the Salamanca Declaration. It is also argued that, as a continuous process that began centuries ago, inclusion will progressively expand, while new areas of exclusion will be created, as a result of progress that inevitably implies the emergence of new opportunities and demands. Therefore, there will not be an all-inclusive society. Admitting the possibility of total inclusion means admitting the stagnation of society. However, the utopia of total inclusion is necessary to serve as a guide for the permanent struggle of mankind in search of a progressive improvement in the quality of life, overcoming his limits and acting on his environment.