Lime Connect’s Post

One of Charles M. Blow's most wondrous columns. One to cherish. "I have no intention of raging against my aging. I intend to embrace it, to embrace the muscle aches and the crow’s feet as the price of growing in wisdom and grace; to understand that age is not my body forsaking me but my life rewarding me." We've seen so much discussion on LinkedIn about ageism in the workplace. It's real. It's unfortunate. And it persists. We live in a culture which rewards youth and chases their influences. And frankly, we need to also ensure that we don't discount the young or trivialize them. That too is ageism. I would be lying if I said I never complained to my husband about feeling and looking older. I do. But I also recognize what my experience brings and am fortunate to now be able to focus on what I want to do for "work" -- be it in the non-profit sector or with paid assignments. And I've always recognized the power of inter-generational relationships -- where age isn't an issue; the common ground is an opportunity. As it's #PrideMonth in America, the problems facing the #LGBTQ population are steadily gaining traction. And here's where we must tackle our destiny together. Our population is perhaps the most diverse of all maginalized populations -- we rarely talk about the age diversity and the power that we can bring together. Perhaps, we don't need to talk about it, because we live it so well. And there is a lesson here too. Let's seek less hate and violence and more rewards together -- and if our allies want to join us in action, great. If not, we'll go it alone. https://lnkd.in/ejFgyDxx

A few days ago, I shared a post discussing the intersection of work and parenthood while raising a child with disabilities, and the stigmas and societal myths surrounding disabilities. Given that my son is neurodiverse, being autistic and having ADHD, people often assume that there are certain things he can't do: 🚫 That he can't socialize 🚫 That he can't make friends 🚫 That he can't show empathy 🚫 That he can't learn 🚫 That he can't attend school 🚫 That he can't secure a great job 🚫 That he can't communicate 🚫 That he can't find a lifelong partner 🚫 That he can't have a ‘normal’ life (however that may be perceived…) You might have come across this excellent campaign on various social media platforms in connection with #WorldDownsSyndromeWeek, featuring Canadian actress Madison Tevlin. It brilliantly encourages us to challenge our assumptions about people living with Down’s Syndrome - and disabilities in general. The slogan is ‘Assume that I can, so maybe I will’ 🚀 . I, too, can fall into the trap of making assumptions based on biases, mostly out of fear for how the world will respond or exclude my son from fulfilling his potential - but I endeavor to remind myself of the power of words and how they can alter perceptions and behaviors. With reference to the phenomenon of the ‘Pygmalion Effect’ (also known as the Rosenthal Effect), whereby one person’s expectations of another’s behavior or abilities may serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy - the targets of the expectations internalize their positive labels, and those with positive labels succeed accordingly (and vice versa). 💫 “When we expect certain behaviors of others, we are likely to act in ways that make the expected behavior more likely to occur.” (Rosenthal and Babad, 1985). 💫 #WorldDownsSyndromeDay #AssumeThatICan #Inclusion #WDSD2024 #EDI

"Oh come on. You're exaggerating. You really just don't want to do the thing, right? If you'd lose some weight you'd feel better. The tests don't show anything wrong." If you have a chronic or autoimmune invisible disability, you have probably heard at least some of those phrases. It is the hardest thing in the world to educate people that for those that "Don't look like there's anything wrong", yes, indeed there are challenges and struggles going on inside the body that are felt BIG time but are generally not seen by the world around them. It is my organization's mission to be Silent No More. That means that we will take every opportunity to share the stories of warriors, to bring resources to the community, to advocate with doctors and in the travel industry -- all to make lives better for the thousands of women with these invisible disabilities. If you think I'm crazy, here's an article that talks about a young man and his mom's journey through the discovery of his illness and the four years it took to find a diagnosis. POTS is an extremely scary and life changing illness. Take a read and better understand. It's not just children but many, many women deal with this daily. Here's the article: https://lnkd.in/ea2hy7_H #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisorder #InvisibleWarriors #POTS #InvisibleDisabilities Alabama Association of Nonprofits Becca Lory Hector Christina Ryan Gavin Neate Holly Duffy Randi Lincoln 🌈 Lindsey Gilbreath 🦄 🌟

Imagine you're passing a message to a friend. You say something, they hear it, but how they understand it depends on their own experiences and beliefs. This is how we make sense of what we hear or read. But sometimes, on social media especially, our own biases get in the way. We might quickly judge something based on what we already think, leading to arguments. Now, imagine a teacher trying to explain something without taking sides. It's tough! I've struggled with this myself. But with your input, I'm trying to improve. Think about invisible disabilities. They're called "invisible" because you can't see them, like chronic illnesses. Even the people who have these struggles might not realize they have a disability. So, when we try to talk about it, the message doesn't always come across clearly. That's why we're tweaking our mission. Instead of focusing on chronic and autoimmune invisible disabilities, we're changing the wording to include ongoing invisible illnesses. Does that make more sense to you? Let me know your thoughts! #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDiseases #MedicalChallenges #LongtermIllnesses #InvisibleWarriors Elizabeth Seamon Liz Semaan Christine Van Haren, RPh, BCPA Lori Smoker Young Lara Hobson Lara Minges, MSW, CFNC, FNLP Blake Madden National Council of Nonprofits

Facing an unplanned diagnosis for your child can be tough, but remember, life with special children can also be incredibly beautiful. 💕 Check out this inspiring article to learn more about embracing the journey of raising a child with unique needs. #SpecialChildren #LoveWithoutLimits #patientsarepeople #CareStartsHere🌟 The Unplanned Journey | Center for Parent Information and Resources [https://hubs.li/Q02n2vgm0]

I'm incredibly inspired by CoorDown's latest groundbreaking campaign, "𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐂𝐚𝐧" which has recently swept 7 Lions including one Gold, four Silver, two Bronze at Cannes Lions 2024. Featuring the talented 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐯𝐥𝐢𝐧, the campaign challenges the pervasive stereotypes surrounding individuals with Down syndrome by showcasing their abilities and potential. It flips societal assumptions on their head, presenting real-life scenarios where individuals with Down syndrome excel in areas traditionally deemed beyond their capabilities. It’s powerful narrative not only fosters inclusivity but also shifts public perception towards a more empowering and supportive outlook. The campaign's widespread acclaim, reflected in its viral reach on social media and recognition by disability rights activists, highlights the importance of pushing boundaries to drive societal change. In the past decades, many global brands had run campaigns that served as powerful examples of how challenging stereotypes and promoting inclusivity can create a lasting impact on society, and here are some of my favourite: ⚛ 𝐃𝐨𝐯𝐞: “𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲” 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 - challenges the stereotype of “Traditional beauty standards”, to redefine beauty by featuring women of diverse shapes, sizes, and ages, promoting body positivity. ⚛ 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐞: “𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐞𝐫” 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 - challenges the stereotype of “Gender roles in sports”, by highlighting female athletes overcoming barriers, encouraging female empowerment. ⚛ 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭: “𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐧” 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐥 𝐀𝐝 - challenges the “Accessibility in gaming”, by showcasing the Xbox Adaptive Controller, emphasising the importance of inclusive technology for gamers with disabilities. ⚛ 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐞: “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠” 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 - challenges “Gender-specific career paths”, by encouraging girls to explore diverse professions, breaking gender stereotypes. ⚛ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 & 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤” 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 - challenges “Racial bias”, by addressing conversations about racism, raising awareness about racial inequality. ⚛ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞: “𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜” 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 - aims to inspire everyday and diverse individual users to act on their passions and create something incredible behind their macs Everyone has a role to play by pushing boundaries and advocating for a more inclusive world. 𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜. 💬 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 ♻ 𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 🚩 𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 Weiying Pan 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 #Inclusion  #Diversity  #BreakTheStereotype  #CampaignSuccess  #WorldDownSyndromeDay #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #BrandStrategy #storytelling https://lnkd.in/gCYZhaeN

Part of crafting this week's slides on Navigating Disability Grief in BIPOC Solidarity meant thinking critically about my own grief as a disabled social worker, educator, equity practitioner, artist, etc. and being intentional in my email communication to identify and articulate my own access needs! ✍️🏾 It is still not too late to register for Navigating Grief in BIPOC Solidarity, so please do not hesitate to sign-up if you are Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour, and white folx are welcome to share widely! 🙏🏽 https://lnkd.in/gBFegm-q Dates: Thursdays from February 15 to April 11, 2024 Times: 6-8 pm EST Location: ONLINE Remaining Weekly Topics: March 21, 2024: Navigating (Dis)ability Grief March 28, 2024: Navigating Carceral Grief April 4, 2024: Grief as a Spiritual Practice April 11, 2024: Navigating Climate Grief [Image Description: White text on a black background states, "This email provides information to help you prepare for the 6th session of Navigating Grief in BIPOC Solidarity, should you benefit from additional time to review the materials." Then, underlined white text on a black background states, "Since we are now up to 51 sign-ups, it has become increasingly challenging for me to connect Zoom display names to registrants while facilitating the session, so please make every effort to log into the Zoom space with the name you used to register, as my memory is not what it once was in the aftermath of trauma, COVID-19, aging, etc." Below that, white text on a black background states: Unfortunately, I was notified by Scarborough Arts that Workman Arts was unable to secure BIPOC ASL interpretation services for the series, so my apologies for that gap in access; as of now, none of the 51 sign-ups have noted ASL as an access need. As follows, is our drive, which contains all the slides from Weeks 1-5, as well as the course materials, including journal articles that inform my approach, interviews, poems, essays, etc:] #KrystalKavitaJagoo #IntersectionalEquityInsights #SustainableBIPOCResistance

Ah, milestones. Otherwise known as report cards for parents that we place an undue amount of pressure on ourselves (and our kids!) to meet. You know–those developmental milestones that tell us, as parents, when our child should roll over, sit up, stand up, walk and talk. And honestly, no one told me that hitting milestones is generally an organic process, and as a first-time mama, I had no clue. And as a mama of a disabled child, there was no “typical” for us. Callie was definitely in the “normal” ranges for some things–sitting up, rolling over, holding up her own head, eating solids, and so much more. But with her disability, she was nowhere close to the milestones for first steps, walking, and running. I honestly think that feeling of having one foot in the “normal” milestones and one foot in the “disability” milestones is what I struggled with the most. For all intents and purposes, she was thriving in a lot of areas and regrettably, I tried to implement the same deadlines for her disability too. By nine months she should be trying to crawl, she would be able to take some steps (with a walker or prosthetic) by the time she was a year old. By 18 months, she would no longer have PT and OT. When the goals weren’t met, I blamed myself, pushed Callie harder and wallowed in self-pity. If I had the chance, I would gently tell my younger self this: You can’t force society’s milestones on her. Focus on growth and your relationship with her and the rest will fall into place......... #disabilityinclusion #disabilityawareness #disabilty #disabilityadvocate

Let's hear it for interdependence! 🙌 Which, as Rhaina Cohen points out, "doesn’t resolve deeper structural problems that older people tend to face toward the end of life, including the exorbitant costs of long-term care and ageism that can leave them feeling invisible." Rhaina Cohen Keep reading:

Assume that I can so maybe I will. #AssumeThatICan, challenges us to reconsider our perceptions and the unintentional limitations we might place on individuals with disability due to the soft bigotry of low expectations. Unfortunately, this is probably more prevalent for people with Down syndrome. Too often, society underestimates the abilities and contributions of people with disability, sidelining their dreams, skills, and aspirations. This form of subtle discrimination not only limits their opportunities but also overlooks the remarkable achievements and contributions they make every day across all sectors of society. The #AssumeThatICan campaign is not just a call to action; it's a reminder that individuals with disability can lead fulfilling lives, pursue their passions, and excel in their chosen paths when given the right support and opportunities. It's about shifting the narrative from what individuals can't do to celebrating what they can do. As professionals, we play a crucial role in creating inclusive workplaces that not only welcome diversity but also nurture and celebrate it. By setting high expectations, providing equal opportunities, and offering the necessary support, we can unlock the vast potential of every individual, including those with disability. #AssumeThatICan #WDSD24 #WorldDownSyndromeDay #EndTheStereotypes #disabilityinclusion https://lnkd.in/gdpsxwGE