Lifeworks Community,
In my work, I am fortunate to meet with many of you – community members, business leaders, and elected officials. In each conversation, I ask about your personal connection to disability. More often than not, the initial response is that there is no connection. But then, I ask if there are friends or family members with hearing or vision loss, dyslexia, diabetes, arthritis, or who use a mobility aid. Suddenly, it becomes clear: we all have a relationship to disability. Our understanding simply needs to be broadened.
Our society often views disability in extremes, not recognizing the diversity within the disability community. By recognizing our connections to disability, we set the expectation that disability is a natural part of being human, not something to be hidden.
At Lifeworks we are breaking down the stigma of disability. We envision a world where people with disabilities are represented everywhere – as CEOs, entrepreneurs, call center agents, dog walkers, manufacturing floor supervisors, ride share drivers, and more.
The reality is people with disabilities are already in these positions and beyond, but bias often keeps people from disclosing their disabilities. When we view disability as a strength, we will all confidently say, “Yes, I have a personal connection to disability.”
Creating a world with more disability representation takes time, effort, and education. Lifeworks is committed to this journey. Through community conversations and disability inclusion trainings, we provide tools to build a more welcoming world for people with disabilities.
Our community conversations bring people together to discuss disability openly so that we can identify gaps, address challenges, and build a collective understanding. Our disability inclusion trainings have already educated 660 people this year alone, empowering participants to create inclusive environments in their workplaces and communities.
This on-the-ground work is guided by the mantra “Nothing About Us, Without Us,” coined by the disability rights movement, reminding us that people with disabilities have the answers. They know how to increase representation and foster inclusive communities. Our role is to listen, follow their lead, and ensure they are meaningfully involved everywhere in society. By involving people with disabilities in every step of the process, we ensure that the solutions we create are both effective and meaningful.
Ready to join the conversation about disability? Have ideas on making our communities more inclusive? Connect with Emma Rohrer, at erohrer@lifeworks.org or 651-332-6822.
Warmly,
Gertrude
