Inclusion

What is it good for? Absolutely Everyone!

Giulianna’s school is taking this week to recognize all disabilities and practice inclusion. Each day they have prepared a theme and what to wear. Today was Team Up Day, where they wear a team jersey to team up for inclusion. We have plenty of jerseys but today we wore out special Team John Ryan shirts made for us by our incredible team at Children’s Specialized Hospital while filming George to the Rescue.

This had me thinking why it took me so long to truly practice inclusion. Up until now I had considered myself a truly inclusive person. I have friends of all races, abilities, religious beliefs and sexual preferences. However, it is not inclusive to only know people of all kinds, we need to fight with them. Hold their hands through their adversities and tough times.

Obviously, I know I have only become more aware and familiar in the recent year and a half of how hard it is to be a disabled person in a world made for everyone else. In that, I questioned why did I have to wait to be outspoken to those without much of a voice? It is not only enough to now those differently abled than you, but it is important and necessary to become a voice for them. We overlook inclusion so much because most of the time it may not affect us, when really because it does not affect us is when we should see how difficult it would be to live without things we do every day.

I learned through John’s journey with apraxia of speech that speaking is not the only form of communication. Speaking is one form of communication, you have sign, picture exchange, augmentative and I am sure I am missing a few more which I will learn more along this journey. At first, I was so nervous about not being able to ever hold a conversation with my son. Until I learned I will have other options to communicate with him. This was truly worrisome when I thought about his safety. Imagine you are in danger and cannot speak and the only way you know how to is through sign but no one in the room knows sign. Let’s say you have a fine motor skills disability which inhibits you to write down what is troubling you. What do you do when it is not common to be in a place where people can communicate with you? Of course, there are other ways but the most common and typical way which we never have to even think about, is not the same for them.

It is common situations like this along with countless many others much more drastic that it is important for us to practice inclusion. I think the real question is, how do we practice inclusion with more than just being a friend to the cause?

1. Learn (I mean truly take the time to learn) about some of the disabilities. There are countless of Instagram pages, google, we live in 2023. Start with the disabilities that are most common and most heard of down syndrome, autism etc…

a. Take the time to learn different ways to approach, communicate and respect a person with a disability

2. Include them in your circle, love them and appreciate them. They are some of the most incredible humans on this planet so you will gain so much more than just a friendship.

3. Advocate: If you are reading this you already have someone to advocate for (us!) Every disability has a group, community or some kind of way to contribute back. Every voice count, if you see a walk or run for someone do it. Know they are raising money for equipment, locations and so much more for them which are necessary. If you cannot donate, use your voice, share a post or simply contribute your time. Our families have an exhausting schedule between therapies and all of the other craziness life brings us. Families are always going against the current and sometimes they need a shoulder to lean on or sometimes someone to just talk to.

4. Recognize we have come a long way, but we still treat disabilities as a scary dark topic. To have a disabled family member or friend is the same as your typical friends. They may not have full abilities, but they are still humans and deserve to be treated as such.

We are lucky to live in a town and community that truly practices inclusion, however there are still many places that do not and sharing information is truly the only way to fight for inclusion!