Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:01 KPI
Speaker 1 00:01:00 And greetings, you're tuned to K F E I 90.3 fm, Minneapolis, and k fei.org. This is Disability and Progress where we bring you insights into ideas about, and discussions on disability topics. I want to tell you, we want to hear from you, so if you want to email us and let us know what you think of the show and ideas that you might have, what you'd like to hear on the show, you can do so by emailing us at Disability and progress, sam jasmine.com. My name is Sam, I'm the host of the show, Charlene Dolls, my research woman. Hello Charlene. Good evening everyone. Erin is my podcaster and I'm the engineer. This week we have Scott Hatley, founder of the nonprofit Insight, I N C I G H T in Portland, Oregon, which has been around for almost two decades, helping people with disabilities unlock their fullest potential. Scott is with us and he's gonna talk about this nonprofit and let us know all that we need to know. Hi Scott.
Speaker 3 00:02:06 Hey there, Sam. How are you?
Speaker 1 00:02:08 Good. Thank you so much for joining us. Really appreciate it. Um, I want to at least start out by having you tell your story and why you decided to start this nonprofit insight.
Speaker 3 00:02:22 Yeah, well thank you again Sam, for the opportunity. I'm excited to be here with your audience. And um, insight was an organization that started with a view of my college classmates and we just saw the stats around people with disabilities, um, not succeeding, not being employed. We also, um, from our own experiences having disability, saw the need for an organization that could help really change the culture around disability and help people with disabilities leverage their obstacles to find success and unlock their potential. And so that's kind of been their journey the last couple of decades.
Speaker 1 00:02:59 What's insight's mission?
Speaker 3 00:03:02 So our mission is threefold. Um, our focus is changing hearts and minds, leveraging obstacles and unlocking potential. And that's our mission and it's part of our larger vision of moving the world, um, expecting great contributions with people experiencing disabilities.
Speaker 1 00:03:24 And um, do you have a disability?
Speaker 3 00:03:29 I do, yeah. So at age four and a half I was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Uhhuh. Um, so at that time, you know, my parents didn't know what to expect. Mm. And uh, so we just kind of played the hand. We'd been dealt and figured out life and just leveraged obstacles as best we could. And now I'm happy to report that last month I just celebrated my 44th birthday <laugh>.
Speaker 1 00:03:55 Good job. So this is really pretty personal.
Speaker 3 00:03:59 Yeah. Well and you know, I think it's also a significant accomplishment thinking about it cuz there aren't a lot of individuals with Duchenne muscular DYS should be specifically that have made it to this point in life. And so yeah, I've just kind of always been inspired to wanna do what I can to help create more opportunities for those with disabilities who maybe haven't had the same journey or opportunities I've had in my life.
Speaker 1 00:04:24 I wanna talk a little bit about changing hearts and minds. I really like that. Can you talk a little bit more more about what that means to you?
Speaker 3 00:04:33 Yeah. Well, you know, there's so many organizations in in the community that serve individuals with disabilities in different ways. Um, and yet we really feel like one of the key points that's holding back the statistics is I think it's a bit of an awareness piece. So helping sort of change the culture around disability in our community and, and helping individuals that, and organizations that haven't, let's say, had as much interaction with those with disabilities to help them kind of be invited into that conversation. Because it feels like, you know, there's one, two sides of integration mm-hmm. <affirmative> that side. There's always, how do we help more people with this place, you know, see their obstacles and leverage it to success. Right. And so, you know, we can't kind of do one without the other, I believe.
Speaker 1 00:05:22 Right. You do offer, um, it looks like you offer scholarships for school. Yes,
Speaker 3 00:05:30 We do. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:05:31 Can you talk a little bit about that?
Speaker 3 00:05:34 Yeah, so that's actually our signature program. We've been doing it for about 18 years. Um, we just really saw that often that where students fell through the crack was right after high school. And so if we could provide some tools that would help them with their education path, give them some resources and then also connect them to an organization that could be there to support them each step of the way. Whether it's, Hey, I need a mentor, I need an internship, you know, I need support in finding a job. So just having a place that they could turn to through their journey. Um, you know, cuz a lot of the relationships in schools into 18 or 21 mm-hmm. And then kids are on their own. And so if we could connect them with something that would help them, we thought that would be a huge aspect of success for them.
Speaker 1 00:06:23 I'm curious to know, do you have statistics on like where your people who get your scholarships go or the the job, um, statistics at all?
Speaker 3 00:06:34 So we, um, when we look at our group, we have students that go to all kinds of different schools mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so, you know, we have a pretty good retention rate in our scholarship program. Um, sometimes it can be a challenge to keep track of everybody as far as Yeah. Oh yeah. Jobs and employment. Um, but we've seen that a fair number of our scholars have been able to land in employment either on their own or with our support. Um, so we felt pretty good about kind of the success rate of that. Um, and yet realizing that's not the only piece of the whole Right. As well.
Speaker 1 00:07:09 I just wanna quiz you a little more on the scholarship because I think that's a, that's, you know, it's a great thing to have. Is it a full scholarship? Is it a certain amount? Is it, and and how does that work? What are the qualifications?
Speaker 3 00:07:22 Unfortunately, um, it's not a full scholarship. Um, you know, and we, we gra or increase the value every time mm-hmm. <affirmative> every year. And as the organization grows and progresses, um, our scholarships range from around $500 to about $2,500. Um, and it depends on the kind of progression in school. Many times when you're just starting out with us, it's a smaller scholarship and Uhhuh <affirmative>, as you stay with us, we increase it. Um, we also are focused our scholarship right now on the west coast. So it's California, Oregon, Washington, um, but in time we'd like to expand it back nationally again. Um, and so it's kind of a great way to connect people to us as well beyond just the fiscal, you know, award of money. It's, it's a way for them to be connected to a group in an organization that can support them.
Speaker 1 00:08:16 Right. Right. And do they have to be going to school the time that they get the scholarship?
Speaker 3 00:08:24 That's what we strive for, is that students are in school taking a certain number of credit hours. We don't try to make it too overly difficult just cuz we know sometimes individuals face some difficult situations and maybe full-time student status isn't exactly their, um, you know, what they can do the best. And so we try to kind of work with the students but, you know, want them to be engaged and be at least on the track. Cuz sometimes we have students that are, it feels like on the eight year track and <laugh>. So it's like
Speaker 1 00:08:57 We kinda
Speaker 3 00:08:59 You up and down a little bit.
Speaker 1 00:09:00 Yeah. Yeah. I'd like to talk about the idea of reframing sco, um, perceptions. And you talk a lot about that on your website and, uh, for obstacles. How do you do that and teach people to, you know, strive to overcome their obstacles and, and find, you know, enjoyment in doing that and, um, overcoming the obstacles. Can you talk a little bit about that?
Speaker 3 00:09:26 Yeah, so one of my favorite, uh, mission points of our organization is leveraging obstacles. And so I think that really speaks to what you're kind of talking about mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, and it's one of those things where there's a lot of elements to it. Um, we kind of talk about dynamic adaptability and so, you know, like for me personally, I think some of what has helped me over the years is I've kind of just looked at situations and had the mindset of like, I need to figure out how I can use different connections or relationships, not in a bad way, but, um, to help me succeed and help me, um, pursue things in life. And so, you know, some of that's having mentoring relationships, it's being able to, I would say another key aspect is developing compensating assets. And so we use that term a lot around insight Uhhuh.
Speaker 3 00:10:18 And so an example of that is, you know, my situation, I don't have a, a lot of dexterity mm-hmm. <affirmative> and, you know, I'm pretty much reliant on my computer, so if I'm in front of my computer I can take notes. But if I'm just out meeting with people, it's hard to really take notes, um, other than having someone else do it. And so I've just kind of developed, uh, what I call my superpower and I just have a ability to never forget a name and a face. Ah. And so excellent. Um, I've practiced that and honed that over the years and so because of that, like it kind of just sticks with me. And so I remember a lot of details. And so for me that's a way I've been able to overcome my physical limitations. Um, obviously there's a lot of other examples of how many of us in the community have found other ways to compensate for the challenges. So I don't know if that exactly answers your question, but
Speaker 1 00:11:11 No, I think
Speaker 3 00:11:11 What comes to mind when I think about it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:11:14 I think we need to borrow you once in a while for our radio show <laugh>. I could use that. Remembering everyone that's been on, somebody's like, you mean you don't remember everyone? I'm like, do you know how many people come on <laugh>?
Speaker 3 00:11:26 Right. I was gonna say over time it probably gets challenging to remember every guest.
Speaker 1 00:11:31 Um, I'm wondering, you know, I think people don't always seek out how to kind of challenge themselves around obstacles. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, how do you encourage that? Because I think that's a really valuable, you know, goal and, and things to do. It's easy to get comfortable, but how do you challenge yourself to keep working that around when you find an obstacle to, to overcome it?
Speaker 3 00:12:00 I love that question, Sam. Um, you know, one of the things is, um, let's saying is that like most of your, you know, greatest potential is just outside your comfort zone. Mm-hmm. So it's important for all of us to challenge that. And it can be hard sometimes, you know? Oh yeah. I think we find a rhythm, but, you know, some of the ways that I've challenged myself at different points is, you know, I've, uh, I'm in a much different spot than I was right outta college. I was so shy and just always, uh, anxious. And if you, like, if you had asked me to do this show, I would've been really just, it would've been paralyzing almost. Um, and so what I had to do is just kind of step out there and do some things that were uncomfortable. And I did a lot of public speaking and it would be funny to actually go back and see the first time I probably <laugh> spoke because I would probably laugh at myself and think it looked really embarrassing. But, um, you know, you just, it's like you have to build the momentum. Right. I kinda see it as like a snowball effect. Like you can't just like, I mean you can't, but like most people can't just jump from here to there. You know, you have to kind of build up to those experiences. So I was like, I think was it Eleanor Roosevelt once said something about like, do something every day that scares you. Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 00:13:21 That's a
Speaker 3 00:13:21 Really good, I've always been good about that. But like, you almost just have to kind of find those opportunities where you can just do a little something that's uncomfortable and then you build on it and you know, you get more comfortable.
Speaker 1 00:13:32 You know, I like that. I, I should encourage myself to do that. I think it's easy to say, well, you know, I'm happy when I'm content and not, but then you don't learn. Right, right. I was, I found myself trying to explain that to somebody once who was very content just being where she was and not really striving for anything. And that really sat wrong with me. I I had a hard time with that. Mm-hmm. Not only because I, I have a belief that one should always do that and I realize I need to step mine up too, but how do you kind of convince someone that you can balance, you know, happiness with being uncomfortable in a way, not making yourself look horrible, but, but it feels like if you never ex you know, accept that you're gonna have some struggles or be uncomfortable, you will never grow.
Speaker 3 00:14:27 Right. No, I think that's a great point. I found that many times it's helpful to walk next to people because I have a lot of people in my life that wa walk next to me and when I maybe struck out or, you know, um, had a moment where I sort of maybe bit off more than I could chew, they were often there
Speaker 1 00:14:48 Think you've all been there, helped
Speaker 3 00:14:49 Me and picked me up, um, because they maybe have a little more confident. Right. So I, I try to walk with other people as best as I can with them in that journey and encourage them and, you know, challenge them in a way. Um, because you're right, if you never get out there, you're never gonna grow. Um, you know, and I think, uh, I think it's hard cuz I think a lot of people with various disabilities I've seen, I think they get caught up in some of those, the fear and sort of like, how do I do this? And they don't always have a great role model that necessarily shows them the steps. Um, and so I've kind of been a little bit of a trailblazer and yet sometimes there's moments in time where I'm like, I'm not satisfied with where I'm at. Like, let's shake it up a little bit and ah, yes. You know, unfortunately I've, I've been able to kind of like, I think it goes even to that point of the motion. Like once you start to kind of get the, the snowball rolling, it makes it that much easier. And it's almost like the steps compound upon each other. Right. And then, you know, things just sort of help fall in place a little bit.
Speaker 1 00:15:55 Somebody told me something once and it, I carry it with me and I, I often do think of it. And he, he said, change is inevitable. Growth is optional. And I think that is so very true in your website. Just the word wording on it reminded me of that so much that you can choose to grow or not to grow, but there will always be changes. Nothing will ever stay the same.
Speaker 3 00:16:18 Well, and that's what we always work on here at Insight as well as like, you know, things are gonna change. How do we adapt or be ready to confront those changes when they happen been? Um, and it's not always easy. Um, I think that the, the thing that it seems like it is very simple, you know, the answers are simple, it seems like in life sometimes they're just not easy.
Speaker 1 00:16:43 Right. Scott, I'm wondering, you, you talk a little bit on your mission and your website about awakening, and I'm wonder if you could talk about what does it mean to experience an awakening opportunity and how can one recognize it
Speaker 3 00:16:58 Uhhuh <affirmative>? So ultimately the aspects of even my personal journey and insight is, is to awaken the opportunities for those with disabilities. And so for I see awakening opportunities as kind of a couple different aspects. It's helping with what are the tools and steps that kind of put you in that situation. Um, I would say I always knew I wanted to do something meaningful in my life, but I didn't always know what that was gonna be. But I did certain things in my life that allowed, that set me up for that opportunity. So it was, you know, I had high expectations growing up. Um, family expected things of me. I was in a culture of a city that that kind of expected kids were going to college. And so all my friends went to college and, um, then I went to college and met the right like-minded people and then started inside.
Speaker 3 00:17:57 And so it was these steps that I just kept moving forward and kept building forward. And so lots of our programs here at Inside are geared toward how do we help individuals move forward and build forward in their life, whatever step that we're meeting them at, whether it's, hey, we're meeting 'em in high school and helping them broaden their opportunities and thought processes. Or if we're, they're in college and they're coming to us or they're coming to one of our job fairs as an employer or as a job seeker looking for a new opportunity or a chance to redefine their career. And so it's really, I would say just opening up those doors, um, to awaken the opportunities in their life.
Speaker 1 00:18:37 You said something that really triggered something with me and you said your family had expectations mm-hmm. <affirmative>, and I think that really is a key thing. Um, I teach technology to be people who are visually impaired and, and sometimes deaf and blind. Um, and I think you see two types of people. You see the families that, um, expect things from their children and they often go on to do well. You also see the families that don't have high exp expectations of any of their kids. And they either have that motivation and drive to do better or they don't. So do you do any kind of education with families that, uh, around expectations? Because I think that's a big thing.
Speaker 3 00:19:32 Yeah, no, I agree. Um, you know, I, I mentioned it earlier about one of the things that happened when I was diagnosed is my parents, uh, one of the doctors that diagnosed me basically just said, Hey, you know, you're gonna grieve for a period of time over the loss of the well child and then you're gonna have to pick up the cards and the hand you've been dealt and plan as best as you can. And so my parents took that to heart. And so that's always stuck with me. And when I am talking to families and you know, what I kind of seek to do is be a role model. And I think many times, you know, even families that do have expectations sometimes can get caught in the details of not knowing quite what steps to take. And so they almost need to see people that are in similar situations to them and their families and see them succeeding and see the path they're going and it's motivating for them.
Speaker 3 00:20:29 Um, but you know, I think what I've also found is, as I also mentioned, I'm 44 now and mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I've, well outlived, like I'm probably in the 1% of people with Duchenne that are still alive. And so I really put, or I ascribe that to having a purpose in my life mm-hmm. <affirmative> and really feeling like I've got a direction and I feel like it's given me something to strive for. And there's a lot of families I think that sometimes don't see that they're almost, they feel like it's like the end of the world. And so, you know, in a way I've outlived some of my high school classmates over the years. So it's like just um, thinking about what it's, what, um, how rich my parents' life has been because of the journey we've walked. And so, you know, it's like helping families I think have that expectation but realize there's a richness that can still come by. Just, um, you never know what the journey's gonna be like. You know, anybody can achieve success. It's just a matter of the path they to get there and the support they have along the way, I believe.
Speaker 1 00:21:35 Do you think that awakening UR opportunities can be sought out? Or do you think they just happen?
Speaker 3 00:21:42 I think it's both. To be honest. I think you can seek it out, but I think when you are seeking it out, sometimes momentum builds and then opportunities kind of start to happen. And I don't wanna say exactly fall in your lap, but I almost feel like sometimes you can create your own opportunities. Like, I know that sounds simple, but you know, there's a little bit of both. I think you have to have a vision at times, either a vision for your life or a, a vision for your career. And then once you have that vision you can kind of figure out like, what are the steps that it would take me to get to that vision and Right. And, you know, that changes along the way.
Speaker 1 00:22:24 I think. Um, taking risks is a part of things and, and you talk about it and I, I wonder what makes you take risks. I think there's a certain amount of how do I take risks and still feel okay and not feel so scared that I'm, I'm off balance and paranoid or, or have so much anxiety. How do you learn that happy balance there?
Speaker 3 00:22:51 Yeah. Well I'm glad you brought that up cause I do believe you're right, there're risks are part of it or you know, some people call it calculated risks. Like, you know, you don't necessarily just go <laugh> bungee jump or something, but you know, you kind of figure out the steps. Um, I would say for me it's, I've had to build up to that and I would say most people have to build up to it. I wouldn't say I was exactly a type of person that was a risk taker earlier in my life and I've been around people that were more of that kind of mindset and I've seen how they succeeded, um, and how they've kind of dealt with those challenges as they've even done it. Um, but I think there's one of those things where I feel like there's very few things in life that can't be course corrected.
Speaker 3 00:23:37 Um, and I think it's, you know, it's been easy for me in some ways because I had a support network. So, you know, when I was right outta college, I was living with my parents for a good chunk of time working to launch insight just cuz we didn't have the resources to pay me full time. Right. And so I feel like I was kinda, I got to a point where I was like, I kind of want to live independently again like I did in college, in the dorm. And so I just set the vision and I started to leverage some relationships I had and they led to a connection to an apartment. And then I used my university connections to find some students that were in the nursing program that could help me with nursing. And so like I kind of took that leap knowing that I had my family that I could sort of step back on if that didn't work out. And so that was back in like 2016. And so, you know, it's worked out great and I'm thriving and finding caregivers and all that. And so, you know, it was one of those where I had to take that risk or I would've probably still been living with my parents if I hadn't done that. So, um, I guess that's kind of where my mind goes,
Speaker 1 00:24:46 You know? And I think you said a couple key things that give you a little bit of a parachute. I mean, you had a family mm-hmm. <affirmative> that kind of you knew was there, that was good. But you talked about all these different steps you had to take, you had to take a financial step, right? You had to take a, a PCA or caregiver step, you had to take, you know, you had to make plans. And when somebody doesn't have a parachute or how do you talk about to them about making connections and building their parachute or figuring out what they can do?
Speaker 3 00:25:20 Yeah. There's so many places for people to get involved. And so, you know, I, I even know I've talked to other people with disabilities and they talk about the struggles of friendships and it's like, they're like, I feel like I'm doing all the work in the relationship. And so, you know, for, for me, I often, I don't get caught up in that stuff. I'm like, well, if I'm doing all the work, I mean that's fine if, if it means that we're having a connection. Like friends and family get busy, they have kids, they have families. And so I always encourage people, you know, whether they have a parachute or not, it's like, there's so many ways to make connections in the community. I mean, you can get involved in a service club like Rotary or you know, Qantas Club. You can get involved in your college that you go to.
Speaker 3 00:26:07 Um, you can get involved in churches, you can get involved in community centers. Um, there's just some, or you can, you can volunteer at animal shelters, you can volunteer at homeless shelters. I mean, there's just so many ways that we can get out there and make connections and I think it gets easy to sort of get paralyzed in a, you know, spot where it's like, I don't know what to do. And so, right. Sometimes I feel like it's just kind of stepping out there and just seeing what group fits. Like you might go to ROT Club and be like, well these aren't my people. Or Right. You know, go to a place your volunteer and be like, these aren't my people. And so, you know, I think you just have to keep working on until you find your community and your network.
Speaker 1 00:26:48 I think you're absolutely right. Scott, I wanna talk a little bit about, um, relationships and how do different cultures and faith traditions shape people's ideas of relationships?
Speaker 3 00:27:06 Um, yeah, that's a great question. Um, I would say relationship is a key part of many different cultures. Um, and yet I know even in our culture, sometimes maybe we're not as focused on relationship. And I also know over the years and centuries, sometimes disabilities have a different relationship with, um, family, if that makes sense. So, um, yeah, I don't know. I'm not quite sure I'm answering your question
Speaker 1 00:27:42 Exactly. No, I just, um, it, it occurs to me when I, I thought about this is that, you know, there are actually some cultures that don't accept disabilities. So it can be very difficult for families when they have a child with a disability because their culture just doesn't allow for that or mm-hmm. <affirmative> looks down on that, let alone later. Even if you fast forward thinking about that person having a romantic relationship just isn't seen all the time. Um, I, and, and that latter part I feel like crosses over more boundaries than just people culturally not accepting disability. Even in the able quote able bodied world sometimes, you know, they think, well, and I've heard this, that you should be matched up with somebody who has a disability, who has a disability because of course you have a disability or what you have a relationship and you're, you have a disability. Um, so I wonder if you could speak a little bit to that and what your thoughts are on those two things. Yeah,
Speaker 3 00:28:51 Really well, so with that context, you know, I kind of see relationships as one of those complex things at times. And I think what probably makes it complex is the people, like we're just all complex creatures and sometimes interacting together it can adds some different aspects. Um, but you know, I've always found that, um, I've been able to have good relationships with people of all different kind of types of ability. You know, whether it's a visible disability or an invisible disability, um, or maybe not anything documented kind of disability with individuals. Um, and yet I also know that relationships can be complex and especially when you have disability and you have opposite sex and you know, there's all these different pieces that can play into it. Right. Um, and so I wouldn't say I'm any kinda expert and I feel like it's one of those things we just have to continually work at and work on.
Speaker 3 00:29:52 And, you know, I feel like some of what disability culture building involves is how do we help people and kind of meet people where they're at so those who maybe don't have as much experience with disability and, and help, you know, as individuals with disabilities ourselves, how do we share our experiences so they get an understanding of what it means to have a disability and what kind of challenges we navigate on a daily basis. And you know, how that can interface with relationship. Um, I guess that's kind of what comes to mind when I'm kind of in answering your question.
Speaker 1 00:30:30 Yeah. I wonder if you could de dig a little deeper and tell me like how do we kind of connect and, and share and pr and show them that we too are human or that we wanna be included, not, you know, just be their part of the woodwork, but be inclusive really as a whole.
Speaker 3 00:30:50 Yeah. Well I found over my years that people with disabilities sort of interact differently or have different levels of tolerance for questions that maybe could be inappropriate or geared toward inappropriate. And for me, I've always been an open book. Um, you know, and I'm used to going into, um, speak to elementary school kids right? And they're always asking questions like, how do you go to the bathroom or mm-hmm. why.you wear
Speaker 1 00:31:19 Glasses. Mm-hmm. Yeah. It's all part of it, right?
Speaker 3 00:31:22 <laugh>. Exactly. They're curious and, you know, if obviously people have different levels of comfort and those are very personal questions and you know, and then when you tell them the answer, they're kinda like, oh, okay, I got it right. I'm good. And they move on. Right. You know, they don't get kinda stigmatized by it. And as we become adults, I think we still have those questions that kindergartners and elementary school kids have, right. And yet we don't really actually know how to ask those questions or maybe ask them appropriately. And so I try to kind of just meet people where they're at and, and just, um, be an open book. And, you know, I try to answer as many questions as I can. And if it seems like it's way up the wall, I kind of redirect it a little bit. But I try to sort of allow people to ask their questions and get a feel for me. Cuz I feel like they're not trying to be offensive. They're trying to just kind of make a connection. And so I feel like that's where the changing hearts and minds comes in is how do we help people build relationships so that they maybe can get to know the person first and then sort of find the way to ask questions that meets that person where they're at. Um, you know, whether it's, hey, there's someone like me who's an open book versus somebody that maybe isn't quite as forthcoming with, you know, information about their condition.
Speaker 1 00:32:48 I love your concept. Um, I remember being on the bus many years ago and it was after just after I had gotten my first guide dog and you know, some small child, probably four or five or six started asking questions. And I remember the mother shushing them and I remember automatically just saying, no, don't do that. You know, I had this feeling that fear is the biggest, you know, when you get made fun of when you're growing up, it's a fear thing, right? I mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I feel like it's because the unknown and fear kids are scared of the unknown, they're also afraid of what they don't know. And when they do know something, all of a sudden it's just not so fun to make fun of anymore. It's just right. There's nothing there to make fun of, they already know. So, um, I wish adults would take a picture from that <laugh>. Um, I think go ahead.
Speaker 3 00:33:43 I think you're so right. Um, I have a, uh, trach and vent mm-hmm. <affirmative> and, you know, sometimes kids are like staring at the vent and the trach and they're just like, what's going on? And you tell 'em like, Hey, that's how I breathe. And Right. You know, it helps them understand. And so then I just, I have a feeling the next time they seem someone of the vent, they'll just be that much more comfortable with them and it won't feel like as, it won't be as severe focused, they, it won't be as much of a, I don't know the right term, but, you know, it won't, they'll be comfortable with it. It won't be a shock to that.
Speaker 1 00:34:16 It feels like your, your nonprofit does a lot of education and one of the things that I think is lacking that I, and I just may not know the right nonprofit, so I probably will get in a lot of trouble from this next thing, or maybe not, but I feel like there's the education over in churches and religious, you know, you talk a little bit about faith, that's a huge gap I think with people with disabilities and faith. I think people with disabilities often have faith, some do, some don't. Just like people with no disabilities. But I feel like the inclusiveness, like true inclusiveness is sorely lacking. I think that, um, people certainly say hello to you when you walk through the door in church, but oftentimes that's where it stops. Hi, how are you today? Just done? Um-huh Where is the, would you like to sit by us? Would you like to sit with us during coffee break? Um, hey, I have somebody who needs help with things and I think this is a big one. They're often churches have charity that they do. When do they ever include you in helping the charity, not just being the charity. So I wonder if you guys ever, um, do anything with that or if you ever have some thoughts on that and thoughts of doing anything with that.
Speaker 3 00:35:45 Yeah, no, I think you're right. Um, it, the faith community is a huge network, um, that when leverage can really make significant change. Um, and I think, you know, disabilities just still been one of those uncomfortable aspects. Um, and you don't always see people with disabilities out at churches. Um, you know, like I'm a person of faith and so I'm a church attender and you know, I don't see a lot of individuals in chairs like myself, right. At times, um, I'll see older folks that, you know, are maybe older in age using chairs. And so I, I think you're right, there's a huge opportunity there as well. Um, I know we've done some of our employment events at churches in the past, um, and it was great cuz it kind of, we had a network of some volunteers that could help. Um, and so, you know, I think some of what we even talk about is how do we, um, change church and minds and organizations? And so many times, you know, I've been saying like not just for-profit businesses, but nonprofits and even government agencies and even the education system, and I haven't necessarily been including churches in there, but I I I love that you kind of brought that up because I think that is an aspect of it. Um, and I don't know, I'm sure we can dive in to a lot of,
Speaker 1 00:37:17 But I think that's what pulls people away, right? Yes. They feel excluded. Um, I'm good enough to sit my bottom and your pew, but that's where it ends. And then after a while they fall away because they don't wanna just to be a hot seat. They want to be more than that. So, um, I, I hope somebody's listening who gets it and who is doing a lot with that, and I'd love to hear from them, but I just, it's one of those things that I think as my growing up definitely was one of the things that pulled me from church going is that's exactly how I felt. Um, and that just was not enough. You know? It, it did two things. It made me feel like religion isn't just, or faith even isn't just going to church. You can have faith and you can not go to church. You can, you can have faith and be a, a churchgoer and then what kind of faith do you have? Is it, are you really a truly good person who tries to work good or is it, are you just attending? So there's all, all of that, but it's more than just that. It's, it's what happens when you get to the church and, and how do people make you feel, just like in any group. You talked about the Rotary group and things like that. So, um, I appreciate you touching on
Speaker 3 00:38:35 That's, I I think there's pieces of it too, and I think it's, uh, I mean we're all, you know, when you, let's say for instance like, so I'm part of a Christian Church and so, you know, it's like we're all sinful. We all have sin, and it's like, just because someone goes to church doesn't mean they're necessarily a perfect person or they do things
Speaker 1 00:38:54 That's
Speaker 3 00:38:55 Right, right. All the time or, and so it's, you know, it's kind of that hard thing. And I think sometimes people behind the church wall can be judgmental, you know, and sometimes I think people on the outside of the church wall can sort of be turned off. And yet I feel like in my own personal life, my faith, it really kinda depends on what I put into it. And so like, it's like taking the steps and it just builds and it builds. And so sometimes it's like, you know, you may not feel the vibe right away of inclusion and sometimes as an individual, like aside from what you know, would be good for organizations to do in their own organization, like, what can I do to like, take a step forward and just kinda keep pushing a little bit longer and until I can make some connections, because I've, I've even found that sometimes it, it takes a while to really find your inclusion or your kind of spot with people. And some of that is getting involved more and some of it's building relationships, right? And some of it's just meeting the right people that kind of open doors for you. So I think, I think there's a lot, lot to dig. So kinda dig into on that too.
Speaker 1 00:40:03 I thank you for that. Um, Scott, I had this thought after we were talking and you know, when you talk about kind of keep on keeping on and reaching out, where do you, how do you find that, that energy to keep doing it? You know, sometimes I think sometimes people reach out 2, 3, 4 times and like, I'm sick of reaching out. I want someone to reach to me. <laugh>, they get tired of being the one who's the one reaching out all the time. And so I'm wondering, and obviously you need to refuel or, um, get some energy to keep doing it. W what's your personal secret?
Speaker 3 00:40:46 Yeah, that's a great question. Um, you know, I I feel like some of that could be a little bit inner drive of just wanting to be part of society. And it could be, um, this idea of like, I think some of us with disabilities kind of wanna find that normal, and yet mm-hmm <affirmative> there isn't really a such thing. There
Speaker 1 00:41:09 Isn't no normal, there really isn't, is there?
Speaker 3 00:41:12 No. And so I think a lot of my life I've strive to just, I just want to be normal and, you know, do what normal people do. And so that's always kinda driven me, even though as now I've gotten older, I'm like, well, I am not normal and no one is exactly normal. And so, um, so I think maybe that's been a little bit of a comfort as well as I've grown is that, um, you know, I'm just really, uh, I've been someone that's been driven by relationship and so being able to build relationships is exciting to me. And so I think that's gonna drive, um, I think just faith has been a big part of my life of just, um, being motivated to wanna, you know, serve the the Lord and just make the steps and, you know, be able to make a difference in society and, you know, help people's path. And so I think that's driven me a little bit. Um, obviously I think having family support has really pushed me as well. You know, I see my sister out there making connections and so I was like, Hey, I want that same thing. And so, um, I guess that that's what I, I have to share about that.
Speaker 1 00:42:21 It is funny that you say that, and I remember growing up hearing you're not normal or act normal or, and somebody once said to me, you know, Sam, nobody remembers anyone who's like everyone else, right? And it hit me then I was like, oh, what do I wanna be? And so I, I often tell my kid that when they complain about, mom, why did you give us such a weird name? Or why did <laugh>, like, nobody remembers anyone who's like everyone else and for good or bad, right? Um, yep.
Speaker 3 00:42:53 Yep.
Speaker 1 00:42:54 The the extra bad get memorized and the extra ordinary get memorized No in between it seems. But, um, what do you wanna see for insight in the future?
Speaker 3 00:43:09 Well, we we're, uh, organization that's West Coast focused, and we would really like to be able to elevate the conversation. Even many of the topics we've talked about today, um, to a larger audience. Um, there's a lot of organizations out there doing great work, um, and yet it just feels like one of the next progression steps. It feels like, you know, the ADA's been around since 1990 and it feels like we've made progress and yet it feels like we haven't and
Speaker 1 00:43:41 There's so far to go. Yeah,
Speaker 3 00:43:42 It's been 33 years. And so it's kind of like, well, what's, what's the deal? Why, why are we not making the progress we want when it seems like we have all the technology in the world now and now artificial intelligence is really stepping up and, you know, there's still progress, but there's a lot of the aspects in the built environment that are accessible to people with disabilities. And so like, what's the hold back? And so we feel like it's this conversation we're having and changing heart and minds. And so, um, at Insight we'd really love to continue to elevate that conversation. Um, we have a magazine called the Understanding. We do trainings and content, and so love to be able to, to see that take off nationally. Um, personally I'm working to write a book, um, and so I'd love for that to, to be able to help elevate some conversation down the road. And so, um, I would say that's really where insight's at, how do we invite more people into this conversation so it doesn't, so they're, you know, part of it, they doesn't feel like it's, uh, shameful or, you know, pushing them away. It's just like, how do we help them sort of have some of those six year old questions, <laugh>, you know, all the pieces. So
Speaker 1 00:44:57 Talk about your magazine.
Speaker 3 00:44:59 Yeah, so it's called the Understanding and it's all about pushing positive perspectives. Um, and so we like to share stories, um, and we work to do, um, to balance it out so we have multiple disabilities covered. Um, so one, um, magazine we, uh, highlighted somebody that heard voices as we kind of highlighted that aspect of disability. Um, we've highlighted somebody who has had more obsessive compulsive disorder and mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, some different disabilities. Um, and we've highlighted organizations that are doing work around people disabilities. So we're really about how do we advance the conversations, how do we create, uh, magazine that, um, promotes thought leadership and tells stories of people succeeding. And so that's, that's been our focus. And so it's still very small grassroots, uh, magazine, but we feel like it could become an important mouthpiece for the kinds of conversations we're having.
Speaker 1 00:46:04 How do people get the magazine?
Speaker 3 00:46:06 So right now you can either go to insights website, i nci gt.org, or you can go directly to our website for the magazine, which is the Understanding magazine.com.
Speaker 1 00:46:21 Cool. I think you'll be getting some visitors, <laugh>. Oh,
Speaker 3 00:46:26 Excellent. We love to have visitors and, and we're open for ideas. We're also, we also are wanting to recruit more authors, even nationwide, that would be willing to write and contribute to the magazine.
Speaker 1 00:46:39 Cool. So in, um, I, first of all, I wanna thank Cody. Cody kind of reached out to us and suggested you for this radio show and podcast, and I, uh, he said you had a goal of being on, I think it was 10 podcasts this year. So how many is this for you now?
Speaker 3 00:47:00 So this is my second podcast, woo.
Speaker 1 00:47:03 <laugh>.
Speaker 3 00:47:04 So we're building traction. Um, and so we're hoping to get on a few more this year. Ted might be ambitious for year one,
Speaker 1 00:47:11 <laugh>. Well, maybe he, he's an ambitious kind of guy, I guess,
Speaker 3 00:47:15 Right? But then I also feel like if, you know, throughout ambition there, like how are you gonna ever reach it, you know? That's right. So, um, that's exactly, we'd be happy if we still a lump five, but, you know, we'll see what happens this year.
Speaker 1 00:47:27 Well, congratulations on all of this, and I love the idea of the magazine. I think that takes a lot to keep it up, and I hope to be able to get a look at that. So is there anything else you'd like to leave us with?
Speaker 3 00:47:42 Well, I, I just really feel like, um, we have so much potential still, you know, people with Disabil, people without, and especially around this conversation, so, you know, I just wanna encourage the audience to just think like, what can you do to help advance, you know, this potential and help people leverage the obstacles and change society for the better? And so, um, I feel like having these conversations is one, you know, step of many that helps make that happen.
Speaker 1 00:48:14 Well, I I wish you a lot of good success with the nonprofit insight, and I'm sure that I'll be taking a closer look and thank you for reaching out and I wanna encourage other people to reach out. You know, I started growing up in Washington State, so I, I know that area and, um, I've been in, lived in Oregon before when I was a teenager. So beautiful area. I just love those.
Speaker 3 00:48:42 Yeah, it really is. Northwest is a great place to be, so I really appreciate it. Sam, it's been a pleasure to chat with you and, and join your audience today.
Speaker 1 00:48:52 Thank you, Scott. Take care.
Speaker 3 00:48:54 All right, take care.
Speaker 1 00:48:55 This kfi I, 90.3 fm, minneapolis and kfi.org. This has been Disability and Progress. My name is Sam, I'm the host of this show. Thanks so much for tuning in
Speaker 0 00:49:05 Kpi.
