Cultural understandings of inclusion in Southeast Asia

This conceptual position article explores cultural values' influence on disability inclusion in Southeast Asia. This is relevant to progress on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Sustainable Development Goal 10 on reduced inequalities and SDG 17 on partnerships. Progress and pathways towards increased disability inclusion and 'leaving no-one behind' reflect factors related to attitudes, accessibility, participation, and service delivery, as well as power, politics, and economics, all of which are influenced by cultural values. Values influence how disability and inclusion are understood in society, in policies and services. Values affect motivation and 'how change happens' in different contexts. This article applies a framework for understanding cultural value differences to disability and inclusion, and prospects for changes in policy in Southeast Asia. A case study about Indonesia illustrates the application of the framework on understanding of disability, inclusion and change in one country. The article encourages more nuanced, strengths-based, and culturally informed approaches, to enable change-makers to navigate complexities associated with achieving disability inclusive societies.