Role of Diversity

Understanding the role of diversity involves some self-reflection. Self-reflection helps in understanding the framework from which you perceive yourself and others and approach interactions with others. Are there some facets of diversity that you are particularly aware of and others that you might have overlooked? Do you perceive some facets of diversity as being a deficit or a difference? As you ask yourself these types of questions, you will likely begin to appreciate the complex topic of diversity. In this Discussion, you will engage in self-reflection and discuss what you hope to gain from this course. This Discussion topic will be revisited later in the course.

To prepare:

• Consider the question Akhtar & Jaswal (2013) ask regarding deficit or difference, and how differences between populations should be interpreted.
• Think about how you define diversity. Do you perceive some characteristics of diversity as a deficit, while perceiving others as a difference?
• Consider situations in which you worked with children and adolescents with diverse backgrounds. Did you perceive their diversity characteristic as a deficit or a difference?

Write your own informal definition of diversity. Explain what diversity means to you in terms of how it might affect your interactions with children and adolescents. Then share your thoughts on what you expect to gain from this course.