Hello my people… the end of the year is almost here, but we still have time to continue reflecting and learning with ComeOut! 📚✨
This December 3, 2024, International Day of Persons with Disabilities , is a key moment to reflect on inclusion in all its forms. 🧩💡
In collaboration with Nando Recoba, International Disability Consultant and Founder of the Tarobá Cultural Center for Integration , we delve into how language and actions can empower people with disabilities while opening conversations about the multiple layers of identity that enrich our communities.
Talking about "person with a disability" instead of "disabled person" is not just a terminological change; it is a paradigm shift. 🔄🗣️This language recognizes that disability does not define the person, but rather arises from the physical, social and attitudinal barriers of the environment.
· 👉The term " disabled " often defines a person by their condition, placing an emphasis that can be limiting and stigmatizing. This approach tends to label people based on their disability, which can restrict how others perceive their abilities and potential.
· 👉In contrast, the term "person with a disability " takes a more inclusive and dynamic approach, recognizing that disability is a situation that emerges from the interaction between the person and environmental barriers, whether physical, social or attitudinal.
This approach is especially important when we consider the intersection of identities 🌐 : many people not only face barriers because of a disability, but also because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or membership in other marginalized groups.
Intersectionality , a core concept in inclusion, reminds us that people don’t fit into single categories. A person can be queer and have a disability, and these experiences cannot be understood separately. Imagine, for example, someone who faces architectural barriers due to using a wheelchair and, in addition, prejudice in their workplace for being part of the LGBTQ+ community. These experiences don’t simply add up; they intertwine, amplifying challenges but also resilience. 🌈♿
This understanding demands that our actions and policies be inclusive at all levels. It is not enough to address disability in isolation or sexual diversity as a single issue. We need to build spaces where every person, in all their complexity, feels safe, valued and able to contribute fully.
The fight for human rights is ultimately indivisible. Whether for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or those living at the intersection of these identities, the message is clear: inclusion is a universal right.
📣 A Call to Action
As leaders, professionals, or simply as people part of a global society, we have a responsibility to break down barriers and rethink our practices . 🏗️✨From ensuring that our physical and virtual spaces are accessible, to using respectful language and promoting inclusive policies, every gesture counts.
Today, let us recognize and celebrate the diversity that surrounds us, remembering that identities are not separate boxes, but rich intersections that enrich our society. This December 3, more than ever, let us reflect on how we can build a world where every person, regardless of their identities, has a place at the table.
💡Final Reflection
If you lead a team or influence a community, ask yourself: Am I considering all the identities and experiences of the people around me? Inclusion is not an end goal; it is an ongoing journey that challenges and transforms us. 🚀🌍
You can get “ Come Out! Companies also have to come out of the closet ” on Amazon in Spanish , Portuguese and English .
