Michelle Steiner is a disability writer, advocate, and para educator. She published articles on The Mighty, Non-Verbal Learning Project, Dyscalculia Blog, The Reluctant Spoonie, Imagine the World as One Magazine and Word Gathering. Recently she began a blog called Michelle’s Mission.  Her photographs were featured in Word Gathering and Independent and Work Ready. She works as a paraeducator in a school with students with disabilities. She lives in The United States with her husband and two cats.

Michelle Steiner

Discover key strategies for empowering individuals with disabilities, including creating safe spaces, highlighting real-life examples of successful inclusion, and actively involving them in conversations and decision-making. Learn from resources like the Disability Visibility Project and Job Accommodation Network, and understand the importance of hiring and empowering people with disabilities in leadership roles for genuine, lasting inclusion.

Empowering People with Disabilities: Actions for Inclusion and Change

Discover key strategies for empowering individuals with disabilities, including creating safe spaces, highlighting real-life examples of successful inclusion, and actively involving them in conversations and decision-making.

Beyond Duct Tape Diversity: 3 Ways for Sustainable Inclusion

Discover the personal journey of overcoming societal barriers and stigma associated with learning disabilities. This article delves into the challenges faced by individuals with learning disabilities and highlights the importance of self-advocacy and the pursuit of inclusive strategies. Follow the story of resilience as one individual defies limitations, embraces their unique abilities, and empowers others to find their voices in an often-unaccommodating world. Learn how society's perception can be transformed through understanding, support, and a commitment to inclusivity.

Living in society as a woman with a Learning Disability

"I cannot change the fact that I have a disability and how limiting society can be. The only thing I can do is use strategies to help myself be able to do things and compensate. I use my voice to speak power and hopefully a more inclusive society. " -Michelle Steiner

Interconnected will be an important word as we continue to look towards the future in building inclusion and accessibility.  Taking new information, unrelated concepts, different perspectives and interconnecting them to build out the future will be a skillset to continue to develop to continue moving forward.

Interconnected

"We want to be a community that is centered around universal design and being inclusive of all people regardless of ability. That means that we have to continue to learn about accessibility and disability, and celebrate the many contributions and gifts our disabled students bring to our campus.” -Eduardo Pazos, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for Inclusion and Diversity

The Resource Key is proud to announce that we have been listed in The Valuable Directory, a unique resource featuring expertise within digital, physical and cognitive accessibility, as well as tools for inclusive recruitment and branding practices.  As one of only 77 successful organisations globally, we are proud to have been selected by an independent expert review panel.  Our appointment shows our ongoing support to ending disability exclusion, and we look forward to working with The Valuable 500 companies to achieve this.

The Resource Key Joins The Valuable Directory for Disability Inclusion

"The Resource Key is proud to announce that we have been listed in The Valuable Directory, a unique resource featuring expertise within digital, physical and cognitive accessibility, as well as tools for inclusive recruitment and branding practices.  As one of only 77 successful organisations globally, we are proud to have been selected by an independent expert review panel. "

Mozzeria is a pizzeria located in Washington, DC that is known for their authentic wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas.  We love that inclusion and accessibility is embedded within every area of Mozzeria.

The Restaurant Redefining How to Build Community

“I really want to see deaf employees earn the respect that they deserve, so that when somebody walks in that doesn’t sign, they see that deaf people can do everything from owning a restaurant to bartending to cooking.” — Ryan Maliszewski, Mozzeria CEO

  321 Coffee is a “coffee shop and roaster providing meaningful work opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

321 Coffee

“Together, we are building a company that stands for inclusion and doing business the right way.” — 321 Coffee

100 Cameras “works with youth around the world who have had challenging experiences, and they teach them to process and tell their stories through photography in a way that impacts how they view themselves and their role in their community.”

100 Cameras

“Every kid – no matter their background or circumstances – deserves the right to have access to tools that support them in processing their experiences in a way that creates space for emotional freedom in their future."  — 100 Cameras

AgrAbility is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded program that provides support, education, and assistance to ranchers and farmers with disabilities. AgrAbility was started through the 1990 Farm bill, the first eight State/Regional AgrAbility Projects (SRAPs) were funded in 1991. During that time, “the National AgrAbility Project (NAP) was led by Purdue University’s Breaking New Ground Resource Center in partnership with Easter Seals (national office).” 

AgrAbility

“Agricultural workers with disabilities are often unable to continue working in a manner they are accustomed to, resulting in reduced productivity and increased chance of secondary injury. But with the help of AgrAbility, many of these professionals are able to put their knowledge and expertise back into the field.”  — AgrAbility

Yes I Can provides career skills training and employment services to individuals with disabilities to assist them in developing the skills they will need to secure a career within the entertainment industry earning a competitive wage.

Yes I Can Unity Through Music and Education

“YIC believes individuals with disabilities should have the same right as non-disabled individuals to have access to a full range of available employment opportunities and to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing based on their talents, skills, and interests.” — Yes I Can Unity Through Music and Education (YIC)

Inclusively is the technology-centered inclusion solution and employment platform for job seekers with disabilities, mental health conditions, and chronic illnesses. 

Inclusively

“I believe that having a job is something that can change someone’s life. It is something that provides stability, but not just financial stability, it provides something that you can look forward to, that you can work on, that you can have successes in, that you can become better at, that you can learn to overcome challenges.” — Charlotte Dales, CEO of Inclusively

Photography and video exhibit – both online and in-studio – that showcases the food-related stories of eight disabled Canadians, eight Canadians from culturally diverse backgrounds, and eight Cowichan Valley food and beverage producers.

Cowichan Valley Disability, Culture and Food Through Art Exhibit

"I want to use my platform to showcase the stories of other people, I want to elevate their voices, I don’t want to tell their story for them, I want to give them the ability to share their stories to allow people to connect with it. Like you are sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee and you’re learning about something that you have never ever ever have thought of before because of your own privilege and you’re like wow how have I not know about this I want to be part of a solution.”— Jules Sherred

Input from the disabled community is a critical part of any company’s inclusivity efforts. Here’s how to seek out their perspectives.

How to include workers with disabilities in your DEI initiatives

"It is important to have a company culture that welcomes people with disabilities prior to them being hired for a position. The culture is a thread that is interlaced into each area of the company, from its values to its recruitment process, efforts to retain employees and provide leadership opportunities for growth, to many other areas." -Jourdan Saunders, CEO of The Resource Key

We enjoyed reading this article about The Goodtime Hotel a few weeks ago. In the article “Grutman said the goal is to make “aspiration accessible,” and Birnbaum said the hotel will be “affordable luxury.” We looked on The Goodtime Hotel website and they specifically state all of the ways in which their hotel is accessible. We love that inclusion and accessibility were thought of from the start.

Hotel Ensuring Accessibility from the Start

“Grutman said the goal is to make “aspiration accessible,” and Birnbaum said the hotel will be “affordable luxury.” We looked on The Goodtime Hotel website and they specifically state all of the ways in which their hotel is accessible. We love that inclusion and accessibility were thought of from the start.

The Project Why is what comes to mind when starting, agreeing or pursuing any project.  Sometimes the “Why” is just as important as the project itself. Why did you agree to this project?  This question is important because when committing to a project we want to be able to finish what we started, and asking the “Why” questions allows a deeper understanding of the connection to the project, and commitment to the project. 

The Project Why

Events have the capacity to bring about change, to create spaces to develop relationships to bring about change, and gather new information to use to bring about change.

Events Empower

Authentic Representation is so important.  Authentic is key because you can have representation without it being authentic. 

Authentic Representation

Music can be such a powerful tool for activism in the community, leadership through lyrics, and communicating authentic messages. 

Who are we designing for? What are we considering when we are designing? So many more questions that come to mind when designing and more importantly inclusive and accessible design.  Honestly, we wouldn’t have to say “inclusive and accessible design” if inclusion and accessibility was a part of our design process from the start. The design process is constantly changing, evolving, open to change.  Nothing about design feels static or not changing. 

Design Impact

Who are we designing for? What are we considering when we are designing? So many more questions that come to mind when designing and more importantly inclusive and accessible design. 

Stay Connected takes on a whole new meaning depending on the person, context, and environment.

Improve your social media presence with The Resource Key's free webinar replay on 4 Ways to Make Your Social Media Inclusive and Accessible. Learn about using alt text, image descriptions, color contrast, and hashtags, as well as best practices for accessible content creation and strategies for creating an inclusive online community. Receive a webinar replay, transcript, PowerPoint, and reference outline with resources for free. Start creating a more diverse and equitable online community today.

4 Ways to Make Your Social Media Inclusive and Accessible - Free Webinar Replay

Inclusive Starter Keys:  Inclusive and Accessible Social Media.

Free Inclusive and Accessible Social Media

Discover how The Resource Key contributed to the 3rd Annual Head to Speech Interprofessional Task Force Summit and Brain Health, Sports & Fitness Expo 2024. Explore our journey in fostering community, education, and collaborative practices across disciplines related to brain health, sports medicine, and more. Learn about the summit's impact on the Head to Speech Community and how it aligns with our core mission to build bridges within the community.

The Resource Key at the Head to Speech Summit 2024 for Brain Health & Sports

The Resource Key was a vendor at Head to Speech Summit & Expo in Washington DC at University of the District of Columbia.

One of the hardest parts about having a Learning Disability hasn’t been the disability but how society views it. I have found many strategies to compensate for my difficulties in math and other areas. The most challenging part of having one has been how society has viewed it. From the beginning, it has not been an easy journey navigating a world that was not created for people who need different strategies to learn, live and access the community.

The first struggle was people often tried to limit my potential. My peers did not view me as a smart valuable classmate. They saw that I struggled to learn basic concepts in the classroom and that I went to a Learning Support Room for classes and to have tests read. The small Western Pennsylvania school gave me little room to blend in. The community was known for being close-knit and accepting if you were one of them. My disability made me stand out negatively, and it was clear that I did not fit in the school community.  Socially school got more difficult as peer groups became more defined. Thankfully, I found other people my age in an art program in a neighboring school district. I found acceptance there and was able to shed the reputation of being the outcast that haunted me throughout my school years.

Academically, school got easier as I progressed. Slowly, I was in more regular education classes for reading, science, and social studies. By the time I was in high school, I was in all regular ed classes except for math and resource. I was doing well, but everyone was concerned about what would happen after high school. I had a Learning Support teacher who did not think that I could handle college because I struggled with math. She suggested a vocational training school, even though nothing there interested me. Thankfully, I did have people who did encourage me to pursue college with disability accommodations.

After high school, I found that society continued to limit me and focus on the problems. I can remember a physiatrist who told me that it was unlikely that I would go beyond a community college. Once in college, I had a professor who told me that my job choices would be limited, because of my disability. Some of my peers thought that receiving disability accommodations was not fair. Because of the stigma that surrounded them, I decided not to use disability services. Without these services, my grades dropped. I had a professor who suggested extended test times when I mentioned that I was struggling in her class. I was able to pass her class and I got my associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

After college, I was able to move out on my own and found jobs working in childcare. Many of my employers did not understand my disability and I continued to struggle. Eventually, due to financial reasons, I had to move back in with my parents. During this time, I decided to better myself and go beyond community college and into a state university. 

I found a program that I was interested in and used the disability accommodations offered to me. I had a note-taker, extended test time, and tutoring. Most importantly I advocated for myself. I found that most of my professors were understanding and did what they could to help me. The stigma of accommodations was still with my peers, but I learned to focus on doing what I needed to do. I made Dean’s List and was able to graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree. 

Getting a college degree did not cure my disability or encourage society to be more inclusive. I learned to use strategies to help me be able to thrive, and not just survive in this world. I also had to learn to find my voice to be able to speak up for what I needed. I spent too many years hiding my disability like it was a shameful secret and letting others tell me what I could and could not do. I no longer feel shame for having a disability. I have also found new ways to solve problems and have the confidence that I can handle the situation at hand.  Today I work with students as a teacher’s aide in a public school. I encourage my students to use their voices to advocate for themselves, and I teach ways that they can help themselves.

I cannot change the fact that I have a disability and how limiting society can be. The only thing I can do is use strategies to help myself be able to do things and compensate. I use my voice to speak power and hopefully a more inclusive society. 


About Author:  Michelle Steiner is a disability writer, advocate, and para educator. She published articles on The Mighty, Non-Verbal Learning Project, Dyscalculia Blog, The Reluctant Spoonie, Imagine the World as One Magazine and Word Gathering. Recently she began a blog called Michelle’s Mission.  Her photographs were featured in Word Gathering and Independent and Work Ready. She works as a paraeducator in a school with students with disabilities. She lives in The United States with her husband and two cats.


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