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discrimination in favor of able-bodied or ‘neurotypical’ people.
Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that “typical” abilities are superior.
At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability.
Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies entire groups of people as ‘less than,’ and includes harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations of people with disabilities. (Source: Access Living)
How have you engaged with yourself, your colleagues and your community on unlearning the ableism inherent in so many of the systems and social norms we live within?
We came together for this virtual event to explore:
Witness this free online community event, featuring our panel of advocates, to explore how unpacking ableism benefits us all — and how you can be a part of it.
Nili Mathews (she/her) is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with over 25 years of experience working with people with disabilities. She has a BA in Recreation and Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Therapy. Nili has worked in physical rehabilitation, mental health, residential camping and community recreation.
Nili was the second hire at the pilot program at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, which later became Kids Included Together, she has remained dedicated to the KIT mission ever since: ensuring that all kids thrive. Since 1997, Kids Included Together has helped child and youth development organizations and schools create and sustain inclusive practices, training over 130,000 individuals in more than 600 organizations in all 50 states and 13 countries.
Nili has worked in a variety of roles at KIT, now serving as their Training Manager, providing dedicated support and expertise for inclusion programs around the world. Learn more about Nili and her work at KIT here: [LINK].
Abby Griffith (she/her) was born in Areka, a city in the Wolaita Sodo region of Ethiopia. Abby is completely blind. She moved to the United States in 2008 at the age of fourteen. Abby speaks three different languages: Amharic, Wolaita, and English. She is the first college graduate in her biological family, with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a Certificate in Human Services Case Management and Administration from Washington State University, Vancouver.
In 2020, Abby became involved in advocating for transportation through Disability Rights Washington, where she was interviewed as part of a story map project. Currently, she is a Disability Mobility Initiative fellow at Disability Rights Washington [link]. Abby also works as a peer mentor at Clark College providing guidance to students.
Abby is a member of the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee of Vancouver, WA and a board member and steering committee member for OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon. She is also a member of Odyssey World International, and treasurer of the Clark County Council for the Blind. Connect with Abby and the Disability Rights Washington organization here: [Link].
Scott Tritt (he/him) has built on a successful career as a television news producer in California, from his journalistic training and ability to tell stories in a compelling and memorable way. Today he serves on the Board of KIT [link] and Social Venture Partners San Diego [link].
Living with a self-described mild case of cerebral palsy has put Scott in the position to be a 1-on-1 advocate, sharing understanding of disabilities and ableism from a personal perspective. He has continued to grow and enjoy a career and lifestyle that defy many of the limits others assumed were there — from excelling in sales and storytelling to traveling the world and more.
In his free time, Scott continues his quest for memorable meals…sometimes pie, sometimes escargots (but only once in the same meal).
Joy Brungardt (they/them) is an organizer and advocate from Kansas City. They are an educator and facilitator on trans issues and other topics under the anti-oppression umbrella. Joy is neurodivergent and is ADHD/ASD (autistic). They are also a dancer, cat lover, and cosplayer.
Joy has run one of the largest trans support groups in Kansas City for the past 10 years. EQUAL Trans Support Group [here] provides community, peer support, and resources to its 900+ members. The intersection of disability and gender identity is of great interest to Joy. Today, they are working with LTHJ Global to extend the benefits of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) curriculum to all.
You can connect with Joy on LinkedIn here [link].
And your host… 🎙️ Lindsey T. H. Jackson!
Lindsey is a creative force in motion. Every year, organizations and outlets like MoPOP, the Washington State GSBA and King5 News call on her to guide thousands of individuals through their shared journeys of Unlearning our culturally patterned biases and traumas. And now, we’re fortunate enough to be one of them!
Through her ongoing research on the root causes of our Western culture of pressure and burnout, Lindsey has spent over 15 years clearing the path to wellness & liberation alongside leaders, teams, and organizations.
And today, she’s the CEO creating the future of work with her team at LTHJ Global — leading the organizational Diversity, Equity & Inclusion evolution from the inside out.
You can connect with her on LinkedIn [here] or learn more about her work here at LTHJ Global [here].
This event included ASL interpretation which faced technical difficulties. If you are seeking additional support, please write to us: social@lthjglobal.com.
We explored this together in the shared space of our virtual Zoom event on Unlearning Abelism.
Registration is free for this event each first Wednesday of the month; bring a friend!
Want to join the next Unlearning?
The meeting on 6th July – is it an online event or in-person event?
Hi Amy, thanks so much for asking! It’s an online event via Zoom – you’ll receive the link to join once you register 🙂