Tag Archives: inclusion

The Inclusion Conversation

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By Christine E. Staple Ebanks 
Advocate, Author, founder of the Nathan Ebanks Foundation 

Inclusion is… 

“the mindful practice of including and accommodating people who have traditionally been excluded because of their disability, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.” 

Why is “inclusion” so important, especially now? 

We have more in common than we think. A friend of mine always reminds me that as human beings, “we are one, sharing one human experience.” She explains that while we are diverse in age, national origin, socioeconomic status, education, and physical appearance, we share one human experience.  

We breathe to live. We hurt, cry, and experience happiness, sadness, and the myriad of emotions we share as human beings inhabiting the planet. I am sure we can each recall a time(s) when we felt excluded, left out, not understood, or like we didn’t belong. This inherent need to belong, connect and have our voices heard is what makes the act of inclusion so important, especially at this time.  

Our world is becoming increasingly diverse. Research informs us that this current “post-Millennial” generation who are becoming adults is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in history (Mondal, 2020). To live peacefully and in safety, for us to work together, play together and build our communities and nations, we need to make room for everyone. Inclusion and belonging are what make diversity work. (Eileen Hoenigman Meyer, 2019). 

The opposite of inclusion is exclusion and omission. When we fail to be inclusive, we practice to exclude, ostracize, discriminate and are intolerant to differences. Hate and violence are byproducts of this way of being. This negatively impacts all of our society, home, school, work, and social spaces. Just take a look at what’s happening today. The world has become a very intolerable place to live, do business and raise families. 

Inclusion is a mindset. It requires us to take action on a personal, corporate, and national level. When we are inclusive, we are participating in creating environments in which any individual or group can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to participate fully. An inclusive climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people. (Independentsector.org)

When we include, “We become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different People. Different beliefs. Different yearnings. Different hopes. Different dreams“. – Jimmy Carte

The everyday moments of living provide opportunities for us to practice inclusion. 

Here is one thing you can do to get started. Over the course of the next few weeks, be mindful of inclusion. In the next week, observe and pay attention to how and when you may be excluding others. Make a physical note of how it occurs. Is it based on their religion, their race, their appearance, their gender, their sexual orientation, their class background?  How are you practicing exclusion without even realizing that you are?  

Then join our conversation at the upcoming Town Hall Meeting on April 29, 2021, where we will have a deeper discussion on what small steps you can take to impact inclusivity.  

Source: 

Mead, J., & Paige, M. (2019). Building a Wall around the Schoolhouse? Education and Immigration in the Trump Age. Journal of Law and Education, 48(4), 449. 

About Inclusion — NJCIE. https://www.njcie.org/inclusion/ 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: The Impact on Human …. https://adurolife.com/blog/human-performance-coaching/diversity-equity-inclusion-the-impact-on-human-flourishing/ 

Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter — Independent …. https://independentsector.org/resource/why-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-matter/ 

Everyone has the right to be safe and to #LiveFearFree.. https://www.facebook.com/ButetownLabour/videos/758787731509309/ 

HL7 International Organizational Statement on Diversity …. http://www.hl7.org/documentcenter/public/legal/HL7-Statement-on-Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion.pdf 

Mondal, Somen. 2020. Why is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Important to Organizational Success? Ideal.com. Retrieved 03/28/2021 

About Inclusion. njcie.org/inclusion. Retrieved 03/28/2021 

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. khanacademy.org Retrieved 03/28/2021 

Wilkins, Dan. The Need for Inclusive Communities. https://www.abilitycenter.org/essays/need-inclusive-communities/ 

Race, Equity and Anti-Bias Training Staff Perspective, Part 1

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This past year, our country faced race and equity issues that require conversation and change at every level. In an effort to truly understand these issues and affect change, Easterseals has begun Race, Equity and Anti-Bias training, which will be provided to every staff member. The process will include conversations about race, equity and bias within Easterseals and the communities we serve. These conversations will help guide future trainings to address concerns and issues within our organization.

The training will occur in small groups to help ensure that staff feels comfortable to discuss their experiences and their concerns about these issues. The trainings are being facilitated by Andrea Lawful Sanders. You can learn more about her at https://alawfultruth.com/about/

The following post is by Mildred DelValle Morales, a Speech Language Pathologist at our Early Intervention Center, in which she shares her perspective on the training.

I have been working for Easterseals of SEPA for 4 years now and have met a wonderful group of peers that address each day with passion. Many of them I can say are now my friends. Working every day in an intensive roller-coaster of emotions, adventures, challenges, celebrations and paperwork can be overwhelming if you take it on by yourself. Feeling part of a team was my first expectation when I started working at Easterseals and it has truly been a dream come true. I couldn’t serve the population we serve without such a supporting staff.


After 25 years in my profession as a Bilingual Speech and Language Pathologist, I can honestly share that I feel like a student. I learn from everyone around me including the kiddos we serve every day. As part of this agency, I am used to attending trainings but this year’s Anti Bias training really touched my heart. I guess we all expected the same type of training where you listen and ask questions, but this time it was different. I felt as if I was participating of a retreat where I had the chance to know about others true stories and how everything happening now in our community impacts what they do. Feelings can easily be dismissed by stating a word or simply describing it with a sentence but sharing your feelings and thoughts as part of a conversation where we all participate as equals, is refreshing. During the training I was able to transport myself to my childhood even when others were sharing their own experiences. I found myself feeling excited, happy, mad, emotional as I listen to my coworkers shout out the truth about what is true in their lives. I did hold back many times so that I could listen to others, because I grew and added to my experience of life as they shared theirs. I can’t wait to meet again and continue this journey building relationships, learning from each other and coming up with strategies that will allow us to see with new eyes.


Feeling thankful and excited at what is to come!

Milly and her husband, Dr. Jose R. Irizarry and their dog Ginger, participating in the virtual Walk With Me

All about play

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by Sue Lowenstein

As many of you may already know, the Bucks Division has expanded programming to include typically developing children in our new Friendship Academy classroom!

One thing we can say for sure about all of the children at Easter Seals is that they love to play in our gym. The children from our APS program head to the gym to work on their gross motor and play skills, and nothing is more motivating than playing with their new friends from Friendship Academy.

It is always nice to take a break from the classroom and expend some energy moving and grooving in the gym. Under the guidance of Sue Lowenstein, Physical Therapist, and with the help of several staff including Laura Dettore, Teacher, our kids explored lots of fun equipment such as our moon bounce, our large colored barrel, our wooden rocking boat, our indoor slides, and much much more!!! Smiles and laughter are heard all around!

Elizabeth and Julianna - cropped Jayvier and Evie

Sue Lowenstein is a part time physical therapist who has been employed with Easter Seals of SEPA – Bucks County Division since 2001. She is a resident of Levittown who is busy raising and playing with her own 3 daughters when she is not having fun at work!