“Ableism”? Have you heard of it? Well, here’s the Googled definition – “Ableism is a form of discrimination, social prejudice, or systemic bias against people with physical, intellectual, psychiatric, or sensory disabilities. At its core, ableism operates on the assumption that typical or non-disabled abilities are superior, and that a disabled person’s body or mind is “abnormal” or in need of “fixing”. Like racism or sexism, it devalues entire groups of people and defines them strictly by their limitations.”
Knowing Nikki Kary since she was 12 or 13 years old has been nothing but a gift and amazing learning experience. Early on, I knew her, but I didn’t “know her” because we couldn’t talk due to her non verbal condition from Cerebral Palsy. Was it intuitive or just her excitement to see me the “radio guy” that she heard over the speakers way back then? Don’t really know. As time has gone on and communications improved, developed and gave her a voice through things like texting, instant messages, and social media posting, it became more and more apparent as to why knowing Nikki felt so normal. She’s grown into being a powerful young woman who’s voice isn’t just her own, it expands into her entire community.
Nikki is funny, emotional and passionate. She’s never above putting me in my place….not even if I forget she’s in her 30’s now and no longer the cute kid I once knew. Those updated ways of communicating have given her the missing piece. She uses an Accent pad and types with her eyes. It’s an amazing device and takes away the limits she has in using the muscles it takes to speak. If you kind of see how the pieces are falling into place here, you’ll figure out in short order why Nikki has decided on being a motivational speaker and how she’s taken to advocate for others who may not be able to speak for themselves, or to speak to groups who may not understand life from the point of view in the disable community.
The basic message is the. “Hey, we’re pretty normal except this or that.” It’s true too. Going back to the ableism thing at the beginning….a lot of us don’t even recognize when it’s happening. That’s the core of the message here. That’s the core of the message that Nikki will be bringing to a live seminar at the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce on October 22nd. How do workplaces and co workers better navigate the world around and with the disabled community? It’s really not that hard and it’s an incredible point of view from someone with nothing but lived experience. It’s a reserved event, Harbor Light Credit Union is sponsoring the talk and lunch, so please CLICK HERE and register so there can be an accurate count on how many to provide for.
Here we have an example of it…navigate “around” the disabled community? BAD ANDY. Not by intent or desire…. How do we navigate to include the disabled community, because after all…. we are all really no different. Some abilities are just more apparent. Taken directly from Nikki’s Facebook page ““There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more” -Robert M.” It’s time we all see more, in everyone.
To speak with Nikki directly or inquire about having her speak at your business or event, CLICK HERE to reach her through her Facebook page.
