I was recently selected to participate in the Competence and Confidence Partners in Policymaking (C2P2) program through Temple University’s Institute on Disabilities. The program is designed to empower family members and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or autism to advocate for positive change in policies that will enhance their quality of life.
During our first session, Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living, spoke to the group about his experiences. The session was powerful and very insightful.
“My “aha” moment came when Mr. Braddy stated that his condition was not his disability; his disability was due to the lack of resources and assistance.“
This blew my mind.
If you think of “disabilities” in terms of the lack of resources and support, we are all disabled in some regard. For example, a young child would never learn to climb a tree, if they don’t have exposure or access to trees.
Being physically handicapped didn’t prevent Mr. Braddy from going to college or becoming a college professor. The challenges he faced in achieving these goals were due to the lack of access and support. He shared that one of the biggest obstacles of being a professor was having to ask his students to open the door for him to enter or exit.
To misquote R&B artist Chris Brown, how can you learn from outside the club, you can’t get in?
People who use wheelchairs can now access buildings that were previously inaccessible because ramps are now required by law. Ramps don’t just benefit people who are wheelchair bound, but also parents with strollers and people who can’t use stairs due to knee injuries or pain.
The thing is…45 is when things start to get good for women – or at least it did for me. At 45, we enter a space of empowerment. The fear of judgment diminishes, and we become more confident and secure in our identities.
“The classic tale of man vs. machine. John Henry won the race but died in victory with a hammer in his hand. [1],[2]” He literally worked himself to death.”
“We must consider, employ, and engage people who do not look, live, or behave the same. It is imperative to the evolution of technology that we be more inclusive. . .”
. . . [S]ometimes we hide the magic that happens behind the curtain because we consider those things to be minuscule. They aren’t. . . . So get into the habit of telling everyone how you create magic every day. .
“Diversity of thinking and experience is essential to advancing technology. Inventors must not only think outside of the box but look at the box from various perspectives.”
