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.
In Conversation with Mike and Alyson
What happens when someone asks, “Do you know a basketball coach?" Alyson and Mike show us exactly where that question can lead.
Different with Purpose | With Carol Combs and Achsah Fitzhugh
Two mentors on unlearning old narratives, building real community, and what it means to put disability in the trunk of the car where it belongs.
Different with Purpose | Interview with Pamela Whiteley and Kyle Miller
On transferring power, disrupting systems, and what it really looks like when someone no longer needs you; and that's the whole win.
Different with Purpose .. Interview with Allison Lourash, PhD on Asset Based Community Development
Every Neighborhood Already Has What It Needs. ABCD Scholar Allison Lourash on How to Find It.
Curiosity Friday with Sara Vank: The Expert Who Had to Start Over
Policies Give You Certainty. Curiosity Gives You Everything Else.
Community Building | With Mitch Haralson, MSW, LCSW
Robbie Jennings Michels: There's an epidemic of loneliness in the United States. Isolation is rampant, especially among the 60 million Americans
Showing support
A director's editorial, a cemetery visit, and one woman's words that cut straight to the heart of what inclusion actually means.
Unnamed and Unknown | Part 4
They were a light in the world, reduced to a number. Voices from Starfire's fourth Disability Day of Mourning.
Unnamed & Unknown | Part 3
Out of sight, out of mind. That's what the institutions counted on. Tim, Nancy, Cassandra, and Nestor are counting on something different.
