[Music] you look different we sound different
you look different we sound different
you look different we sound different and we even perceive the world in
and we even perceive the world in
and we even perceive the world in different ways but at the core of our
different ways but at the core of our
different ways but at the core of our being we all seek the same things we
being we all seek the same things we
being we all seek the same things we seek acceptance we seek inclusion and we
seek acceptance we seek inclusion and we
seek acceptance we seek inclusion and we seek community individuals of
seek community individuals of
seek community individuals of disabilities are no different in that
disabilities are no different in that
disabilities are no different in that regard they seek the same things that we
regard they seek the same things that we
regard they seek the same things that we do but what can be difficult is the
do but what can be difficult is the
do but what can be difficult is the accessibility to all the amazing things
accessibility to all the amazing things
accessibility to all the amazing things that our world has to offer you see my
that our world has to offer you see my
that our world has to offer you see my friends we live in a world where one in
friends we live in a world where one in
friends we live in a world where one in five of us has a disability these are
five of us has a disability these are
five of us has a disability these are our neighbors our friends or perhaps
our neighbors our friends or perhaps
our neighbors our friends or perhaps even a loved one but out of this group
even a loved one but out of this group
even a loved one but out of this group only 20 percent have a visible
only 20 percent have a visible
only 20 percent have a visible disability the remaining 80 percent have
disability the remaining 80 percent have
disability the remaining 80 percent have invisible disabilities but what is an
invisible disabilities but what is an
invisible disabilities but what is an invisible disability well an invisible
invisible disability well an invisible
invisible disability well an invisible disability is one where the person
disability is one where the person
disability is one where the person affected by it looks no different than
affected by it looks no different than
affected by it looks no different than me or you
me or you
me or you they could have post-traumatic stress
they could have post-traumatic stress
they could have post-traumatic stress disorder
disorder
disorder early onset dementia autism just to name
early onset dementia autism just to name
early onset dementia autism just to name a few they want the same things that we
a few they want the same things that we
a few they want the same things that we do or what can be difficult for them is
do or what can be difficult for them is
do or what can be difficult for them is the way they perceive and experience the
the way they perceive and experience the
the way they perceive and experience the world you see the majority of them have
world you see the majority of them have
world you see the majority of them have sensory processing issues bright lights
sensory processing issues bright lights
sensory processing issues bright lights loud noises certain smells and large
loud noises certain smells and large
loud noises certain smells and large crowds can not only be overwhelming to
crowds can not only be overwhelming to
crowds can not only be overwhelming to them but also sometimes physically
them but also sometimes physically
them but also sometimes physically painful how do I know this well my son
painful how do I know this well my son
painful how do I know this well my son is one of them he has autism you see
is one of them he has autism you see
is one of them he has autism you see before his diagnosis this was the world
before his diagnosis this was the world
before his diagnosis this was the world that we were very unfamiliar with we did
that we were very unfamiliar with we did
that we were very unfamiliar with we did not realize that being autistic could
not realize that being autistic could
not realize that being autistic could potentially limit his accessibility to
potentially limit his accessibility to
potentially limit his accessibility to all the things that he enjoyed doing for
all the things that he enjoyed doing for
all the things that he enjoyed doing for instance going to the park to the pool
instance going to the park to the pool
instance going to the park to the pool or even to a museum but all that change
or even to a museum but all that change
or even to a museum but all that change one summer you see Abram had always
one summer you see Abram had always
one summer you see Abram had always loved museums he loved all the exhibits
loved museums he loved all the exhibits
loved museums he loved all the exhibits there particularly the ones about
there particularly the ones about
there particularly the ones about mummies but he also struggled with
mummies but he also struggled with
mummies but he also struggled with sensory issues and because of this you
sensory issues and because of this you
sensory issues and because of this you might see him sometimes jump up and down
might see him sometimes jump up and down
might see him sometimes jump up and down flap his hands or sometimes even let out
flap his hands or sometimes even let out
flap his hands or sometimes even let out a shot or two to cope with this one
a shot or two to cope with this one
a shot or two to cope with this one summer we took him to a museum with the
summer we took him to a museum with the
summer we took him to a museum with the mummy exhibit he was so excited walking
mummy exhibit he was so excited walking
mummy exhibit he was so excited walking into that Lobby it was very loud and
into that Lobby it was very loud and
into that Lobby it was very loud and very crowded and because of all this and
very crowded and because of all this and
very crowded and because of all this and his excitement even was being a little
his excitement even was being a little
his excitement even was being a little extra bouncy when suddenly we were
extra bouncy when suddenly we were
extra bouncy when suddenly we were approached by a security guy the guard
approached by a security guy the guard
approached by a security guy the guard told us that if we could not get under
told us that if we could not get under
told us that if we could not get under our Sun under control we would be asked
our Sun under control we would be asked
our Sun under control we would be asked to leave explaining to him that Abram
to leave explaining to him that Abram
to leave explaining to him that Abram was autistic the god did not believe us
was autistic the god did not believe us
was autistic the god did not believe us but said that he did not look at the
but said that he did not look at the
but said that he did not look at the stick and because of this we would have
stick and because of this we would have
stick and because of this we would have to leave you see my friends stories like
to leave you see my friends stories like
to leave you see my friends stories like ours unfortunately are becoming more and
ours unfortunately are becoming more and
ours unfortunately are becoming more and more common each and every day such is
more common each and every day such is
more common each and every day such is the life of someone living with an
the life of someone living with an
the life of someone living with an invisible disability routine outings are
invisible disability routine outings are
invisible disability routine outings are difficult not only from the sensory
difficult not only from the sensory
difficult not only from the sensory standpoint but also from the social
standpoint but also from the social
standpoint but also from the social prejudice standpoint because we as a
prejudice standpoint because we as a
prejudice standpoint because we as a community have only created disability
community have only created disability
community have only created disability with the visible because of this a lot
with the visible because of this a lot
with the visible because of this a lot of these individuals and your families
of these individuals and your families
of these individuals and your families end up withdrawing from communities and
end up withdrawing from communities and
end up withdrawing from communities and living lives of isolation we need to
living lives of isolation we need to
living lives of isolation we need to change this we need to rethink
change this we need to rethink
change this we need to rethink accessibility in order to truly create a
accessibility in order to truly create a
accessibility in order to truly create a community of acceptance and inclusion
community of acceptance and inclusion
community of acceptance and inclusion but before we can do this we need to
but before we can do this we need to
but before we can do this we need to first examine what accessibility truly
first examine what accessibility truly
first examine what accessibility truly means see for the longest time
means see for the longest time
means see for the longest time accessibility has only been equated to
accessibility has only been equated to
accessibility has only been equated to physical access to a particular space so
physical access to a particular space so
physical access to a particular space so for example accessible doors and
for example accessible doors and
for example accessible doors and accessible ramps but accessibility needs
accessible ramps but accessibility needs
accessible ramps but accessibility needs to go beyond that in eastern come
to go beyond that in eastern come
to go beyond that in eastern come the entire experience thus creating a
the entire experience thus creating a
the entire experience thus creating a welcoming environment for everyone but
welcoming environment for everyone but
welcoming environment for everyone but how do we do this where do we begin
how do we do this where do we begin
how do we do this where do we begin we begin with sensory friendly events
we begin with sensory friendly events
we begin with sensory friendly events these events where all the noxious
these events where all the noxious
these events where all the noxious stimuli has been removed from the
stimuli has been removed from the
stimuli has been removed from the environment so you might see no harsh
environment so you might see no harsh
environment so you might see no harsh lighting no loud sounds and smaller
lighting no loud sounds and smaller
lighting no loud sounds and smaller crowds at these events but these events
crowds at these events but these events
crowds at these events but these events are a great initial first step they have
are a great initial first step they have
are a great initial first step they have some significant limitations firstly
some significant limitations firstly
some significant limitations firstly they are normally only catered to the
they are normally only catered to the
they are normally only catered to the artistic community which is great but
artistic community which is great but
artistic community which is great but still leaves out a lot of people with
still leaves out a lot of people with
still leaves out a lot of people with sensory issues secondly they are also
sensory issues secondly they are also
sensory issues secondly they are also limited to time and place because more
limited to time and place because more
limited to time and place because more often than not these are one-off events
often than not these are one-off events
often than not these are one-off events and finally they also miss about
and finally they also miss about
and finally they also miss about educating the general community about
educating the general community about
educating the general community about sensory processing certain issues during
sensory processing certain issues during
sensory processing certain issues during these events so you see as you can see
these events so you see as you can see
these events so you see as you can see we need to take the next step we need to
we need to take the next step we need to
we need to take the next step we need to move beyond sensory friendly into
move beyond sensory friendly into
move beyond sensory friendly into sensory inclusion but what is the
sensory inclusion but what is the
sensory inclusion but what is the difference between sensory friendly and
difference between sensory friendly and
difference between sensory friendly and sensory inclusion the best way to inform
sensory inclusion the best way to inform
sensory inclusion the best way to inform you about this is with an example
you about this is with an example
you about this is with an example imagine for a minute you walk into a
imagine for a minute you walk into a
imagine for a minute you walk into a restaurant it’s very crowded and it’s
restaurant it’s very crowded and it’s
restaurant it’s very crowded and it’s very loud you walk up to the host the
very loud you walk up to the host the
very loud you walk up to the host the hostess and you tell them about your
hostess and you tell them about your
hostess and you tell them about your sensory issues they look at you with a
sensory issues they look at you with a
sensory issues they look at you with a blank stare and say well we would love
blank stare and say well we would love
blank stare and say well we would love to accommodate you but we don’t have
to accommodate you but we don’t have
to accommodate you but we don’t have that ability to today but if you come
that ability to today but if you come
that ability to today but if you come back next Tuesday between the hours of
back next Tuesday between the hours of
back next Tuesday between the hours of 10:00 and 11:00 in the morning that’s
10:00 and 11:00 in the morning that’s
10:00 and 11:00 in the morning that’s when we have our sensory friendly dining
when we have our sensory friendly dining
when we have our sensory friendly dining hall now imagine walking into that same
hall now imagine walking into that same
hall now imagine walking into that same restaurant talking to that same host and
restaurant talking to that same host and
restaurant talking to that same host and hostess and telling them about your
hostess and telling them about your
hostess and telling them about your sensory issues but this time a look of
sensory issues but this time a look of
sensory issues but this time a look of recognition they give you a sensory bath
recognition they give you a sensory bath
recognition they give you a sensory bath with noise cancelling headphones and
with noise cancelling headphones and
with noise cancelling headphones and proceed to seat you that my friends is
proceed to seat you that my friends is
proceed to seat you that my friends is sensory inclusion you see sensory
sensory inclusion you see sensory
sensory inclusion you see sensory inclusion creates daily accessibility it
inclusion creates daily accessibility it
inclusion creates daily accessibility it educates the general community so that
educates the general community so that
educates the general community so that we can true
we can true
we can true create a culture of acceptance and
create a culture of acceptance and
create a culture of acceptance and inclusion in addition to this it’s also
inclusion in addition to this it’s also
inclusion in addition to this it’s also easier for a business to execute because
easier for a business to execute because
easier for a business to execute because only minor modifications are needed to
only minor modifications are needed to
only minor modifications are needed to the flow of business take for example
the flow of business take for example
the flow of business take for example the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA now
the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA now
the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA now the Cavaliers have held a ton of sensory
the Cavaliers have held a ton of sensory
the Cavaliers have held a ton of sensory friendly events but they made the move
friendly events but they made the move
friendly events but they made the move to become sensory inclusive this year
to become sensory inclusive this year
to become sensory inclusive this year they did this because of a boy named
they did this because of a boy named
they did this because of a boy named casa su casa de Savoie that loves sports
casa su casa de Savoie that loves sports
casa su casa de Savoie that loves sports but because of his sensory issues he
but because of his sensory issues he
but because of his sensory issues he does not get to attend many sporting
does not get to attend many sporting
does not get to attend many sporting events one sensory friendly event his
events one sensory friendly event his
events one sensory friendly event his parents decided to take him walking into
parents decided to take him walking into
parents decided to take him walking into the arena they were immediately accosted
the arena they were immediately accosted
the arena they were immediately accosted by security
by security
by security you see Carson is a nonverbal artist he
you see Carson is a nonverbal artist he
you see Carson is a nonverbal artist he communicates with an iPad that has an
communicates with an iPad that has an
communicates with an iPad that has an external speaker affixed to his person
external speaker affixed to his person
external speaker affixed to his person this iPad is not only his voice but also
this iPad is not only his voice but also
this iPad is not only his voice but also his lifeline to the world not
his lifeline to the world not
his lifeline to the world not recognizing this the security guard was
recognizing this the security guard was
recognizing this the security guard was extremely condescending and demeaning
extremely condescending and demeaning
extremely condescending and demeaning demanding that Carson remove his device
demanding that Carson remove his device
demanding that Carson remove his device this effectively stripped Carson of not
this effectively stripped Carson of not
this effectively stripped Carson of not only his voice but also his dignity when
only his voice but also his dignity when
only his voice but also his dignity when the Cavaliers found out about this they
the Cavaliers found out about this they
the Cavaliers found out about this they were determined not to let this happen
were determined not to let this happen
were determined not to let this happen ever again working with our nonprofit
ever again working with our nonprofit
ever again working with our nonprofit culture City we taught them about
culture City we taught them about
culture City we taught them about sensory processing issues we gave them
sensory processing issues we gave them
sensory processing issues we gave them the tools to better serve their guests
the tools to better serve their guests
the tools to better serve their guests that had those issues we provided them
that had those issues we provided them
that had those issues we provided them with sensory bags that contained fidget
with sensory bags that contained fidget
with sensory bags that contained fidget toys and noise cancelling headphones and
toys and noise cancelling headphones and
toys and noise cancelling headphones and we also worked with them to create
we also worked with them to create
we also worked with them to create sensory friendlier
sensory friendlier
sensory friendlier areas in the arena places where people
areas in the arena places where people
areas in the arena places where people could go to things got a little too
could go to things got a little too
could go to things got a little too overwhelming but becoming sensory
overwhelming but becoming sensory
overwhelming but becoming sensory inclusive the Cavaliers galvanized their
inclusive the Cavaliers galvanized their
inclusive the Cavaliers galvanized their community they made the arena a place of
community they made the arena a place of
community they made the arena a place of refuge where all could come and be
refuge where all could come and be
refuge where all could come and be accepted and included so you see my
accepted and included so you see my
accepted and included so you see my friends becoming sensory inclusive can
friends becoming sensory inclusive can
friends becoming sensory inclusive can truly change
truly change
truly change lives it can transform communities but
lives it can transform communities but
lives it can transform communities but we need to take that next step we need
we need to take that next step we need
we need to take that next step we need to move beyond the visible into the
to move beyond the visible into the
to move beyond the visible into the invisible and we need to rethink
invisible and we need to rethink
invisible and we need to rethink accessibility then and only then can we
accessibility then and only then can we
accessibility then and only then can we truly create communities that are
truly create communities that are
truly create communities that are accepting and inclusive for everyone
accepting and inclusive for everyone
accepting and inclusive for everyone because deep down inside despite our
because deep down inside despite our
because deep down inside despite our external differences we all seek the
external differences we all seek the
external differences we all seek the same things basic acceptance we seek
same things basic acceptance we seek
same things basic acceptance we seek inclusion and we seek community thank
inclusion and we seek community thank
inclusion and we seek community thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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