Atypical – Just Another Word for Discrimination?

Point of view … perspective … life experience … and what we learn each day. The more I learn about other people, their challenges, and their resilience, the more I am determined to help illuminate what many of us do not see. Please take a few minutes to read this post and to share it; the people in all our communities who live with disabilities and barriers could really use our help.

Failing Should Be Taught More …

Learning to fail seems counterintuitive to everything our success culture seems to value. I believe people who say they never fail likely aren’t trying enough new ideas or ways of doing things. Failure isn’t the end, I believe it is simply an additional step on becoming successful. What is important, is learning how to fail so that failure doesn’t discourage you and lead to giving up.

The best choice is the right one; the next best is the wrong one.

Decision paralysis is something all of us have or will face … making decisions is hard. What if you don’t make the right choice? What if you only have one shot it? Will my decision change my life forever? All good questions and you are going to make good decisions and bad decisions … its part of life and know that whatever happens you will learn and get better.

Changing a life, yours, your child’s, your student’s, or a life for one of your friends.

Equity doesn’t always seem to exist in our school systems. Some students thrive, some struggle just to survive. Some are highly visible and others seem to shrink and because invisible. Today’s post is a very brief series of suggestions and thoughts to help more of us to become visible, to feel supported, to become engaged and encouraged to welcome being noticed and to build the lives you want for yourselves.

What is accessibility? Are we compliant or complicit – Accessibility in 2025?

We notice the ramps, the braille on some washroom signs, we all sometimes use the power door options when we have large items to get through doors, but do we notice the places that aren’t accessible?

More than 20 years legislation became law that guaranteed accessibility standards for people who live with barriers and disabilities. The law promised action. It has been hit or miss, there have been some improvements, but not enough. We need to ask ourselves are we compliant or are we complicit? We also need to advocate and take action.

How well do you read social cues?

As a career advisor who works with people who live with barriers it is interesting reversing perspectives about social cues. Most people who live with barriers have to learn to adapt to social cues that are not intrinsic to them, what are you doing to recognize and accommodate their social cues?

This post is a brief introduction to social cues that could add understanding and appreciation to our daily interaction with people who experience barriers. The more we support diversity, equity, and inclusiveness; the more opportunities for growth we all have.

Revisiting the 20 Things

The original “Twenty” was shared with me many years ago as a guide for excellence. Designed, initially for sales excellence, I have kept it close from job to job, sector to sector, and with some periodic updates, it continues to be my guide to achieving success. I am grateful to the friend who shared them with me and I hope you may find them to be as useful for you.

You are one person … what can you do?

This week I was asked, “What can you do, you are only one person?” Perhaps I am naive, perhaps I am too optimistic, I know I am tenacious, occasionally bordering on relentless; however, I do believe one person can make a difference … especially to someone who feels “stuck;” they feel they can’t go backward, they can’t backward, and they can’t stay where they are. More useful than mere words, this is how I believe, me, you, and anyone can make a difference to help unstick someone who is stuck.