Independence is all too often taken for granted by many of us. Living with a disability has the ability to drastically change one’s perspective on what’s important.
As a C6 quadriplegic, I have accepted that I will always need physical help in my daily activities. However, my definition of independence is entirely mental with respect to being financially stable and consistently advocating for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. A key linchpin in my daily life to make this happen is having an accessible computer set-up that allows me to operate my own technological life.
Over the last 18 months, I have worked tirelessly to marry my professional career with my disability advocacy work. I reached a point in my life where the work I engage in needs to be meaningful and help others in the disability community. I have come to realize this is who I am at my core - a person with a disability who believes in paying it forward, human kindness, and advancing inclusiveness for all.
I have been extremely fortunate to meet incredible leaders around the globe who have asked me to participate in delightful projects to help people in the pan-disability community gain meaningful employment, have their voices heard and time compensated for their insights. I am involved in many projects, but what is incredibly humbling to me is working with companies that truly celebrate my lived experience with a disability.
One such beautiful company I have recently started working with is Open Inclusion. Open Inclusion is an inclusive research, insight and design agency based in the UK and operating globally. Open has been built with, for and by people with disabilities. We amplify the voices of our diverse insight community by informing leading brands of their diverse customer need to help create solutions that are desired by people with disabilities, and better for all.
I have been graciously tasked with expanding the Open Community to the U.S. by collaborating with thoughtful organizations such as the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to amplify the voices of those in the disability community, offer paid research opportunities to better inform brands on how to design and create more equitable and impactful products, and services. We are building a delightful community of “Creative Renegades” - a group of individuals with disabilities who are sick of being excluded from the bad design of product services or environments, and, more importantly, who want to do something about it! We really are a positively different community and recognize and value the power of diverse perspectives, including people with the lived experience of disability or other specific access needs. Will you join our community?