From Scribbling Notes to Writing Change | Sandesh Bhingarde | TEDxRAPodarCollege

Core Message - The core message emphasizes shifting societal mindset towards inclusivity, moving beyond short-term help to genuine understanding and leadership by individuals with disabilities [4] - The speech introduces the "vowels of inclusion" (A, E, I, O, U) as a framework for fostering inclusivity [5] Vowels of Inclusion Framework - Awareness and Acceptance: Highlights the importance of recognizing and accepting diverse backgrounds, abilities, and disabilities without labeling individuals as "special" or "separate" [5][6] - Empathy: Stresses the need for creating safe spaces, active listening, and understanding individuals' unique stories beyond assumptions and biases [8][10] - Integration: Focuses on bringing people with diverse backgrounds together, ensuring access to wider communities and breaking down stereotypes, while constantly introspecting for true accessibility and fairness [10][11][12] - Openness: Underscores the importance of being open to adapting and learning different ways of interacting with people with disabilities, citing sign language interpretation as an example [12][13] - Unleashing Diversity: Highlights the power of diversity in unlocking new ways of understanding and appreciating the world, encouraging a shift in focus beyond visuals [14][15][16] Organizational Impact and Sustainability - The organization practices the "vowels of inclusion" to include the community in every decision, emphasizing purpose and perseverance over huge resources [16][17] - Letting the community lead can make the model truly sustainable, with the ultimate goal of achieving normalization [17]