This episode of Philanthropy Speaks marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. 

Host Lynn Williams, Director of Equity & Community Engagement, sits down with Jessica Dixon, Community Advocacy and Peer Specialist at the Disability Network, for a conversation about the disability experience, ableism, intersectionality, and inclusion. 

Jessica discusses how the Disability Network supports and empowers people with disabilities to live independently in Genesee County, and how the team ensures that people with disabilities have a seat at the table for systems-level conversations. Jessica also shares how her own lived experience, including both visible and non-apparent disabilities, has shaped their work. With humor and heart, Jessica invites listeners to rethink assumptions, center the voices of people with disabilities, and move from pity to partnership.

Listen to this episode to understand how "the disability experience is the human experience," and what it means to build a world where everyone can thrive. 

If you’d like to learn more about the Disability Network, visit disnetwork.org. To learn more about the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, visit cfgf.org. 

Support the show