10/29/2025
Inclusion isn't just a bunch of hocus pocus! And it's not just charity, either. When you include others you open yourself up to new ideas and new ways of thinking. It's true you improve the quality of life of the person you're including, but you also change yourself and the other people who learn to be inclusive as well. Inclusion and empathy are tightly linked.
When you say "this is a whole person" you're not just thinking physically. A whole person is someone who has interests, favorites, pet peeves, opinions, bad days, inside jokes, etc. people with disabilities often have each of those things minimized away from them, so when you think of someone as a whole person you're granting them the space to be that person,.even if it's all happening internally in a way you can't observe.
If you have a disability and are feeling left out of the conversation, keep practicing and don't be afraid to interrupt. Interruptions can feel awkward at first but they're a very natural part of conversation, and if it takes you a lot of effort to communicate then it may be your best bet to participate when people are forgetting to give you chances to participate in the conversation.
