What’s the best method to build Inclusion? Education.

This is an encore episode as I focus on my teaching.

 

This week's guest is Becky Kekula.

The single sentence definition of the word 'Inclusion' is "The action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure". Now let's expand that a bit: "The practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or intellectual disabilities and members of other minority groups". That's better, but not quite there yet.

Becky looks at Inclusion differently. In my view, she shifts the light from the term being a political volleyball to being educational. As I found on her website, Becky "strives to teach acceptance while educating and motivating all people to establish goals and work hard to accomplish them." This is part of Becky's mission during her more than 400 speaking engagements.

Becky was born with achondroplasia, the most common type of short-limbed dwarfism. Unknown to me, there are more than 300 types of dwarfism. Being a proud 'Little Person', she uses her stature to present a bold platform from which she spouts in support of education rather than confrontation -- though she's not afraid to share her humanity about those who are immature in accepting of those that look different from their morning mirror.

Care to experience Becky's candid views? Watch her TEDx Talk appropriately titled "Disability is Not the Problem... Fear is the Problem" HERE. Go ahead. You probably need a bit of an adjustment in your perspective. We all do from time to time.

Of course, in preparing for this interview, I watched Becky's presentation more than once. Two statements stood out to me:

“Fear is a product of misunderstanding” 

“I continue to believe that despite what others may say no goal or dream of mine is impossible” 

Bravo, Becky. Bravo!

Want to learn more? Visit her website HERE.

One last thing: Watch for a book titled Just Call Me Becky which is part on paper and part heading in that direction.