INCLUSIVE DREAMS

Written by a disability rights advocate who’s tired of listening to the same tired script. For years, policy documents, humanitarian appeals, and development reports have repeated a familiar line: “ Persons with disabilities are among the most vulnerable. ” It appears in funding proposals, emergency response plans, and government strategies. It is rarely questioned. But perhaps it should be. Disability is not a synonym for vulnerability. And when we treat it as such, we risk misunderstanding both disability and vulnerability itself. A physical impairment does not automatically produce risk. What produces risk are systems, such as inaccessible infrastructure, discriminatory attitudes, weak institutions, poverty, conflict, and exclusionary policies. A wheelchair does not make someone vulnerable. A staircase without a ramp does. A hearing impairment does not exclude a person from information. The absence of sign language interpretation does. The difference matters. When di...

Redefining Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities In a society that often highlights the limitations of individuals with disabilities rather than their abilities, the journey toward authentic inclusion has been both long and complex. Historically, people with disabilities have faced systemic exclusion, not because of an inherent lack of capability, but due to deeply ingrained societal biases. In recent years, however, there have been significant strides toward fostering inclusion and creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. While these efforts are commendable, they have inadvertently introduced a new challenge often referred to as the "DEI bias" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). This bias stems from the misguided assumption that individuals with disabilities who achieve success or occupy prominent roles have done so primarily due to sympathy or preferential treatment rather than their qualifications or merit. This misconception creates an additional laye...