Diversability®

In what I felt was a very moving appearance on The Graham Norton Show comedian/actress Miranda Hart opened up about living with a chronic illness, something she writes about in her new book, "I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You" ( I love the title!) Inspired by Selena Gomez documentary about her own health battles, Miranda spoke about how watching Selena share her story gave her the courage to reveal her own struggles. What made the moment even more powerful was seeing Selena’s emotional reaction as Miranda spoke. You could clearly see how deeply Miranda’s words resonated with her, the shared understanding and pain that comes with living with a chronic condition. Both women have faced their health challenges in both the public eye and in private, and their courage in speaking openly is a testament to the importance of sharing these stories. Living with a chronic condition can be incredibly isolating, and Miranda acknowledged the fear of being vulnerable. Of sharing something so deeply personal that it makes you feel exposed. But there’s also a power in vulnerability. It takes immense courage to admit that life isn’t always as easy as it appears, especially when you’re battling an illness that people can’t always see. For many of us living with chronic illnesses like AS, fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic migraines, this really hits home. These conditions affect our daily lives in ways that are just so hard to explain. They’re unpredictable, often invisible, and require us to constantly adapt. Sharing our struggles can often be too overwhelming because it means confronting not just our own pain, but also the misunderstandings and judgments of others. But I think Miranda’s bravery reminds us of the importance of speaking up. When we share our experiences, we create a space for others to feel seen and understood. We break the silence and stigma around chronic illness, helping to build a more compassionate and empathetic place to live. It’s not easy to be vulnerable. But when we are, we can not only find our own strength, we also inspire others to embrace their own stories. So, to anyone out there navigating a chronic condition, remember—you are not alone, and there is immense power in your truth. Image Description: The image is split into two close-up shots. On the left, Selena Gomez appears emotional, with tears welling in her eyes. She is wiping her face with her hand and her lips tightly pressed together. She has long dark hair and is wearing a black outfit, with a visible ring on her finger. The background is blurred with soft purple lighting. On the right, Miranda Hart is speaking with a serious, focused expression. She is wearing a dark blue top, her brown hair framing her face. The background behind Miranda features a warm orange glow.

Ableism is not always obvious. Sometimes, it looks like praise. Calling disabled people "inspiring" just for existing. For navigating a world not built for them. While ignoring the real problem — the system. Here’s what ableism often looks like: ● Celebrating survival over fixing the barriers. Applauding disabled people for overcoming obstacles, not removing them. ● Praising perseverance while ignoring inequality. Admiring strength without questioning why it’s needed. ● Tokenizing stories instead of creating solutions. Sharing “inspiring” stories but not advocating for systemic change. ● Excluding voices from decision-making. Designing policies without those who live the experience. True inclusion starts with accountability. It’s about holding systems accountable. It’s about changing policies, not just mindsets. It’s about recognizing that admiration isn’t action. Admiring disabled people is not enough. We need real change, not just words. We need accessibility, representation, and equality. Don’t just celebrate resilience. Ask why it’s required. Demand a system that works for everyone. #WeAreBillionStrong P.S. Next time you feel “inspired,” ask yourself — what can I do to help change the system? ID: A social media post by Debra Ruh (@debraruh) features a quote by Carson Tueller: 'Ableism looks like calling people 'inspiring' for navigating a system that is designed for exclusion while doing nothing to hold the system accountable.' The background is a soft, pink iridescent gradient

Do you know all of these accessibility features on Google Meet? #Sponsored My friends from GRID, Google Rising Influencers with Disabilities, and I are thrilled to celebrate #NDEAM by sharing how we use the accessibility features on Google Meet to increase our productivity and learning opportunities and build connections in our work. Transcript: This video is sponsored by Google. Many people think that disabled people can't work, but what if I tell you something different? October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. And the theme of NDEAM this year is access to good jobs for all. This NDEAM let's celebrate tech that includes everyone. It's more important than ever that video conferencing tools are accessible for blind people. This is why I use Google Meet. Google Meet will read out loud the chat messages to me as they come in. [Screen Reader Voice Over] Saldivar says in Chat, "What's the weather like where you are?" Or even tell me who's currently presenting or when someone raises their hand. Michelle Hu has raised a hand. As a Deaf person, meetings can be challenging for me. It's hard for me to participate fully and make my voice heard. This is me and the interpreter is here, but Google has an amazing accessibility feature, Tile Pairing. Now everyone knows when I'm talking alongside my interpreter. One of the best features of Google Meet is Live Captions. It transcribes everything in real time, allowing me to follow along without missing a beat. I especially love that Google Meet's captioning feature translates captions in different languages. I can share my latest medical updates with loved ones regardless of my preferred language or location. If you have ADHD like me, you need to know about the Remove Video Distractions feature. Take your mouse, click the three dots on the picture and then stop video. Now I can focus on this. Hi! Keyboard shortcuts are my secret weapon for efficiency. I use the space bar for push to talk, control + alt + P to show or hide participants, and control + alt + I to announce room info. It's great to have these accessibility tools to help us navigate the world. Google Meet is a tool that supports my accessibility needs so that I can do a great job for you. On National Disability Employment Awareness Month, make your workplace accessible for all. Let’s spread awareness that disabled people do work too. Video Description in comments. #GooglePartner #Google #GoogleGRID #Accessibility

🖥️ Chronic Illness is at Work – and we’re here to make it better for everyone. I’m thrilled to announce the global launch of Chronic Illness at Work a world-first initiative designed to support organisations, leaders, and employees in navigating chronic illness in the workplace. Equally exciting, Jamie MacLennan and Beate O'Neil from Asia Pacific TELUS Health | TELUS Santé are also partnering with us to bring these transformative programs to their customers. Did you know? 👉 Over 30% of your employees live with chronic physical conditions. 👉 Yet, only 22% of People Leaders feel equipped to manage those confidential, complex conversations. 👉 Meanwhile, 67% of employees with chronic conditions actively manage their appearance to minimise visibility of their illness. No wonder there’s widespread Chronic Confusion, as both people leaders and employees struggle to authentically deliver on organisational outcomes. I know this challenge intimately. Throughout my career, I struggled with fluctuating capacity and wrestled with how much to share with managers.  At times, I put myself and the organisation at risk by under-sharing, pushing myself well beyond limits without telling anyone. Other times, driven by vulnerability and the anxiety of wanting to prove I was doing everything to get well, I over-shared. Eventually, I developed processes that made it easier for me and my managers to collaborate and deliver high-quality work without sacrificing my health. For the past four years, I’ve worked with professionals living with chronic illness, helping them transform their work experience. However, People Leaders are also in need of support, tools and guidance on how to manage these experiences and deliver on organisational commitments. They deserve to have Chronic Confidence too. That’s why Chronic Illness at Work is here to empower organisations, leaders, and employees to navigate these challenges with clarity, purpose, and authenticity. Our programs deliver a new way forward through awareness workshops, specialised training, and executive coaching for leaders. We equip teams with the tools needed to collaboratively manage this experience. Sustaining long-term performance, supporting engagement, enhancing well-being, reducing overwhelm, and enabling greater retention of talent. Let’s bring Chronic Confidence into the workplace – for everyone. 🌍 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/evMqwQGJ With gratitude to all those who have been part of this process: My past People Leaders and Colleagues: Ruth Giles, Rachel Baxter, Tony McNamara, Tony Walker ASM, Terry Symonds, Jason Phillips, Zoe Austin-Crowe, Wei-Fong Yee, Sabrina Stow Supporters: Brad Thiele, Lisa Fielding, Stefan Markworth, Leticia Grigorieff, Cliff Wilding, Nicola Pye, Patrick Lyons, Tabitha Frith, Samantha Wills, Jo Stanley Chronic Trailblazers: Flic Manning, Kate Nash OBE 💜, Kate May, Tiffany A. Yu, MSc, Lilly Stairs, Lauren Freedman, Nitika Chopra, Peta Hooke, Hannah Rose Olson

12 books to enhance your DEI practice and understanding of disability, immigration, and neurodiversity: 1. Unspoken: A Guide to Changing the Hidden Corporate Code — Ella F. Washington 2. Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace — Mita Mallick 3. The Alchemy of Talent: Leading Teams To Peak Performance — Vijay Pendakur 4. The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forgong Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World — Tiffany Yu 5. You Belong Here: The Power of Being Seen, Heard, and Valued on Your Own Terms — Kim Dabbs 6. The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America — Edited by Nikesh Shukla & Chimene Suleyman 7. Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America — Laila Lalami 8. Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need — Sasha Costanza-Chock 9. I’m Tired of Racism: True Stories of Existing While Black — Sharon Hurley Hall 10. Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions — Tiffany Jana & Michael Baran 11. Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines — Joy Buolamwini 12. The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work — Ludmila N. Praslova You can also check out my previous posts for more book recommendations. Links in comments. —— [Alt text embedded in the image. ]

Denver friends! 🎉 Join me at my Denver book event on Tuesday, October 15 to celebrate the launch of THE ANTI-ABLEIST MANIFESTO at the Black and woman-owned bookstore The Shop at MATTER. I’ll be joined by white, jewish, Queer, Disabled community advocate and organizer Allie Cannington for a book talk, Q&A, followed by a signing. Allie and I met in 2017 when we were both living in the SF Bay Area, and this will be my first back in Denver since a 2019 trip during Denver Startup Week 😊 RSVP: https://lnkd.in/g3W4Tdmf 📆 All book events at http://tiffanyyu.com/book #AntiAbleistBook #BookLaunch #Denver Image descriptions: 1. Square graphic on an orange gradient background. Text, “The Anti-Ableist Manifesto Denver, CO book event. Tiffany Yu in conversation with Allie Cannington. Below, headshots of Tiffany and Allie in circles. Below, text, “Tuesday, October 15, 6:30pm MT, The Shop at MATTER, 2114 Market Street, Denver, Colorado 80205.” 2. A 2017 throwback photo of Tiffany and Allie meeting in San Francisco.

Are you a disabled person looking for paid gigs? At my job, we're always looking for amazing disabled people to connect with clients. Gigs could include things like participating in a program, speaking at an event, participating in a focus group, and more. ALL gigs are paid a good, competitive rate! If you're interested, fill out our Disabled Contact Network form, so we can keep you in mind for gigs! https://lnkd.in/gB3RGRGS

Once again, disability was the #1 category of EEOC discrimination lawsuits this year (FY24). If you are not prioritizing workplace accommodations in your 2025 planning, I urge you to reconsider. "The EEOC continued to vigorously enforce the ADA, filing 48 cases or almost half of all merits litigation on behalf of workers with disabilities. Many of these cases challenged employer qualification standards or other inflexible policies, such as those requiring employees to work with no medical restrictions without consideration of possible accommodations, or those assessing points for absences related to an employee’s disability." Full EEOC Press Release: https://lnkd.in/g8gZFktz

Congratulations to Diversability® founder and Foundation friend Tiffany A. Yu, on the release of her book "The Anti-Ableist Manifesto”. This guide is an examination of disability to teach any ally to go beyond awareness and be actively anti-ableist. Many employers and managers often overlook accessibility. By embracing accessibility, you can create a welcoming environment for a diverse range of employees and customers. Available now, from Hachette Book Group: https://lnkd.in/efuNgaq9 Grand Central Publishing

Every person deserves to feel accepted and valued—no exceptions, no barriers. Let's build a world where everyone truly belongs. 🎥Watch: https://lnkd.in/gd3mZSdS 🎧Listen: https://lnkd.in/gTuRaSsj 💻Web: https://lnkd.in/g87-5Tuh #SpecialEducation #Inclusion #Epilepsy #Disability #TheInclusiveDad #WeAreBillionStrong #BillionStrong #BillionStrongGlobalAdvisors #BillionStrongPartners Image: A red and blue graphic with a quote bubble that states, "Inclusion is being able to show up at a place and not have to ask for permission to be there." -Tiffany A. Yu, MSc, Episode 015. There is a blue and red graphic of three figures, two standing and one in a wheelchair.