Good evening and morning, I hope you are having a good day.
Happy Labor Day. Tonight I want to talk to you about diversity and inclusion.
So my nine-year-old nephew just started school in Florida this year. He has
begun the fourth grade. Yesterday at a Labor Day cookout, he talked to me about
someone that came to his class to give it a presentation about issues that
affected individuals with disabilities. My nephew was amazed with the
presentation. As someone that studies issues faced by individuals with
disabilities, I was also amazed with what he was presented in class.
I feel that we don’t talk enough about the issues of
diversity and inclusion. It wasn’t too long ago, when individuals with
disabilities were isolated in the public school system. Regular education kids
did not see individuals with disabilities. Fortunately, this is not the case
now. I am very pleased that my nephew is learning about issues faced by
individuals with disabilities. I think it is absolutely critical to engage in
the dialogue with young children about the subject of disabilities. I believe
that disability is a vibrant cultural, that must be taught at all levels in
school. We need to embrace the fact that all individual’s with disabilities
have the ability to be supported in the community. We need to look at this from
the perspective that not all of us are the same. To my nephew Brandon, I hope
that you continue to learn about issues that face individuals with
disabilities. I am pleased that you were able to have this very valuable lesson
about life.
