Voices and Reflections
Stories, Ideas, and Perspectives
This section brings together writing from Inclusion Seekers and our partners on community life, disability, social isolation, and the relationships that shape stronger communities.
Alongside stories from local projects and learning experiences, we publish essays, reflections, and commentary from contributors and partner publications in the U.S. and internationally.
The goal is simple: to share practical ideas, real experiences, and broader conversations about connection, participation, and everyday community life
Find the stories that matter most to you. Search our blog.
Tim Vogt has spent his whole career providing support for people with disability labels. He thrived as the Executive Director of a legacy organization called Starfire in Cincinnati. Their work was highly regarded, but Tim began to wonder if it was actually delivering a full life to all the people being supported. His answer was deeply distressing, so he decided to transform the organization to do whatever would be needed to give people full lives in the community. This book is the story of that remarkable transition – the struggles, the complexity, and the emerging results. It is a leading-edge example of what can be done to reform and refresh hundreds of organizations so all of us can be full citizens together.
The Four Commitments: A Structure for Innovation by Tim Vogt
How four simple commitments helped families turn isolation into real, joyful neighborhood connections and belonging.
Disability Inclusion Is Emerging as Central Asia’s Next Social Frontier by Alen Amini
Modernization is reshaping Central Asia. But for a person with a disability, the barriers are structural, the data is thin, and the support system starts and ends at home. This piece was written for The Times of Central Asia.
America’s loneliness epidemic is even worse for people with disabilities | Opinion
Forty percent of adults with disabilities report chronic loneliness or social isolation, nearly double the national average.
How Numbers Hold Our Story: A Writing by Jan Goings
Some numbers stay with us for decades. Jan Goings explores why and what they really mean.
A Joyful What If? … a writing by Carol Combs
What if you can shrink your world or expand it. The difference is where you let it take you.
Sources of Strength … a writing by Antonio Herndon
You've always had what was needed. Antonio Herndon explores where our deepest strengths really come from.
An Accessible Heart… a reflection from Jan Goings
Accessibility keeps bubbling up… I just participated in a workshop on making accessible videos, particularly adding descriptive narration to better engage viewers.
Investment – Expectations – Return … a writing from Michele LaCourt
Investment. Expectations. Return. One advocate unpacks what those words really mean when the stakes are someone you love.
ICEBREAKER, a story blog by Michelle
Moving is hard for any family – hence why many studies list it as the number one most stressful life event.
