FOUNDATION OF

INCLUSIVE AND
SPECIAL EDUCATION
LESSON 1
EDUC112
PRELIM
 CHAPTER 1

UNDERSTANDI
NG DIVERSITY
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the chapter you will be able to:
Discuss the meaning and significance of diversity.
Demonstrate the use of Loden’s Wheel of diversity; and
Support diversity as a positive component of
relationships, education and organization.
I. DEFINITION
WHAT IS DIVERSITY?
- From the Latin word divertere, which means to turn away, separate, oppose.
- Collins Dictionary:
a) the state or quality of being different or varied.
b) a variety or assortment.
c) a point of difference.
d) the inclusion of people of different races, genders, religions, etc. in a group.
e) the relation that holds between two entities when and only when they
are not identical.
f) the property of being numerically distinct.
- UNESCO (2017)
“people’s differences which may relate to their race, ethinicity, gender, sexual
orientation, language, culture, religion, mental and physical ability, class, and
immigration status.”
II. LODEN’S DIVERSITY
WHEEL
II. LODEN’S DIVERSITY WHEEL

In 1990, Marilyn Loden,

Judy Rosener
an American Writer, and
Judy Rosener, a professor
at the graduate school in
the University of
California, Irvine
developed a framework to
respond to the flourishing
divergence in America’s
Marilyn Loden labor force.
 Their goal was to
capacitate people to
Judy Rosener
make their voices
heard by pointing to
their diversity and its
impact on their
person, their rights,
Marilyn Loden and their freedom.
 The Diversity Wheel pointed
to the significance of our
social characters and the
ways in which people
develop their identity when
they are able to establish a
connection with a specific
group of people.

Loden and Rosener’s Diversity Wheel

The wheel consists of primary or core dimensions and secondary dimensions of
diversity. The categories put forward the effect of these differences on a person’s beliefs,
expectations, and life experiences.
1 The primary or core dimensions are in
the inner circle.
These are the characteristics we were born
with or established by significant
experiences we had or people we
interacted with.
These are considered to be distinctly
persuasive in establishing who are --- our
principles, our sense of self, our image, our
perceptions, and how we think about
others.
These core dimensions are least likely to
change.
2 The secondary dimensions are in the
outer circle.
These characteristics are also part of our
social identity, but they can change or be
discarded as our life experiences impact
us.
They are influenced by people we
encounter, places we go to or live in, and
experiences we go through.
HOW DOES DIVERSITY WHEEL USEFUL?
- According to Loden, “The Diversity Wheel is useful in explaining how
group-based differences contribute to individual identities.”
- Encourage people to talk and discuss with each other and generate new
points of view among each one in the group.
- Each individual is made aware of his/her differences.
LODEN’S FOUR PRINCIPLES (RICR)
- presents principles for managing our own behavior in a global context and
interact successfully with people globally.

1) Respect – treating others the way they wish to be treated.

2) Inclusion – making certain everyone on the team is truly a part of the
team’s decision-making process.
3) Cooperation – actively helping others succeed rather than competing or
attempting to one-up someone.
4) Responsibility – managing personal behavior to maintain a diversity-
positive environment and questioning inappropriate behavior when it
occurs.
SAMPLE LODEN MODEL (DIVERSITY WHEEL) ACTIVITY
 III. ABILITY AND
DISABILITY AS A
DIMENSION OF DIVERSITY
According to Collins English Dictionary, ability refers to the possession of the
qualities required to do something; necessary skill or competence, or power.
According to WHO, disability defines as the umbrella term for impairments,
activity limitations, and participation restrictions, referring to the negative aspects
of the interaction between an individual (with a health condition) and individual’s
contextual factor (environmental and personal factors).
According to the American Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) , defines a person
with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activity.
According to Couser 2005 , disabilities may affect one’s senses or one’s mobility;
they may be static or progressive, congenital or acquired, formal (affecting the
shape of the body) or functional, visible or indivisible.”
IV. THE DILEMMA OF
DIVERSITY
DILEMMA OF DIVERSITY
In this age of fast paced development where diversity plays a unique role,
there are still challenges that confront a lot of people who have been identified as
“different”.

DISCRIMINATION ISSUES

race
age
gender
intellect inspite of charters, laws, and policies
WAYS TO PUT PROGRESS IN DIVERSITY
- In workplaces, there are systems and processes put into place to
intentionally promote diversity.
- In school, diversity is the best way to teach what it means to be
tolerant and respectful of each other’s differences.
- In government, the acknowledgement that diversity is an integral
component of community equates to laws and policies being passed
to look out for the welfare of people of diverse cultures and
backgrounds.
LET’S REVIEW!!!
What is the definition
of diversity?
Why is diversity
important in the
present times?
 What are the two
dimensions in Lohen’s
Wheel of Diversity? How
can this model be used?
 Why are ability and
disability considered
another dimension of
diversity?
 How does diversity
encourage innovation
and problem solving?
 What can non-
acceptance of diversity
do in an organization?
DONE!!!