Inclusion Can Change Lives for the Better
Blog by Olivia Murphy
"[Inclusion] means doing the challenging work of community-making with a spirit of purpose and commitment, remembering that no person is wrong or a burden."The word inclusion can mean so many different things to different people, especially when discussing disability. Some people may think of inclusion as physical access. To me, inclusion means having equal opportunity in terms of events, social gatherings, and education. Inclusion is supposed to make everyone feel equal. I had the pleasure of asking other disabled people what they thought inclusion meant and what it meant to them. I met one of my best friends and fellow Cerebral Palsy Warriors, Holly, in Easterseals' Thrive mentoring program about nine years ago, where the whole point of the group is to connect young women with disabilities in Massachusetts.
Holly shared, "Inclusion means creating an environment of welcoming, nurturing regard. It means valuing each person and believing that they have something important to contribute to the whole of a group, narrative, or movement. It means being open to adapting and making the necessary changes that allow each person to move toward full engagement and potential. It means doing the challenging work of community-making with a spirit of purpose and commitment, remembering that no person is wrong or a burden. It means holding fast to the truth that matter, and we all belong."
I resonated with her statement. Growing up, I always felt like my school's inclusion was performative and only done to make them look better. In any social situation, I never felt like I belonged when I would go out for recess. I couldn't do certain sports or activities, so recess monitors would assign people to hang out with, which always seemed so forced and unnatural. It made it hard to make genuine friends. As I stated, inclusion is essential in terms of the social aspect of life.
