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1. INTRODUCTION TO PARTICIPATION: Participation is used worldwide in many disciplines (for example in social work or education) as a key indicator of inclusion. It can be a useful tool to measure the outcomes of programs focused on supporting inclusive practices in schools, workplace and other areas of social life of people with disabilities. This chapter presents the concept of participation as one way of understanding and measuring inclusion based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. As mentioned in the chapter Inclusion, the current educational system in the Czech Republic sees inclusive education as its main principle and inclusion as a needed result of educational activities. Inclusive education is also a key mechanism for social inclusion. Reaching quality education, which can be utilized at the job market, is one of the most important ways to social inclusion, because qualification is an important starting point for success in employment and at the same time inclusion to other key structures of current societies, for instance community life or free time activities.
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