NIssue 111

Hello, Beyond the Label Family! 👋

We're back with another exciting edition of the Beyond the Label Newsletter, and you won't want to miss it! 🌈

In performance reviews, schools, and medical offices, we are trained to look for the gaps. We circle the spelling errors in red ink. We highlight the "areas for improvement." In the context of special needs and disability, this tendency creates what I call the "Deficit Trap."

The Deficit Trap is the habit of defining a person entirely by what they cannot do. We see the lack of mobility, the lack of speech, or the lack of social conformity.

But what happens when we flip the lens? What happens when we look at what is present?

When we focus on assets rather than deficits, we often find that disability is a powerful driver of innovation. This is not just a "feel-good" sentiment; it is historical fact.

• The typewriter was invented to help a blind countess write letters.

• Email protocols were largely developed by Vint Cerf, who was hard of hearing, to communicate more easily with his wife.

• Fidget spinners, weighted blankets, and text-to-speech tools all originated in the special needs community before benefiting the wider population.

This is the "Curiosity Mindset." Instead of asking, "How do we make this person 'normal'?" we ask, "What unique insights does this person’s operating system offer?"

When we stop viewing difference as a liability, we unlock a treasure trove of creative problem-solving. Resilience is forged in the fires of adaptation. People who navigate a world not built for them are often the most agile thinkers in the room.

Question for you: How does your organisation view difference? Is it a liability to be managed, or an asset to be leveraged?

Join the Beyond the Label movement and make a difference! Together, we can create a world that celebrates unique abilities and embraces diversity. 🌍

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Thank you for being a part of Beyond the Label! 🌟

Warm regards, Beyond the Label Team 📚🌟

PS: Stay tuned for more inspiring stories, updates, and resources in our next newsletter! 📬🎉