The Blessings of Inclusion by Susan Beayni

When I think of citizenship, I think of the Zulu word, "Ubuntu". Loosely translated, it means, "my humanity is inextricably bound up in your humanity". To me, this means that we are different so we can come to know our need for one another. I am always led back to "Ubuntu" when I think of the wonderful impact my daughter, Rebecca, has had on me and on many others whose lives she has touched. Rebecca has cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability, which makes her dependent on others for almost everything. Despite these limitations, Rebecca has led a rich life as an integral, functional, and influential member of society. She represents persons with disabilities who wish to invoke their rights as citizens who are seen, heard, and permitted to contribute to the community in a meaningful way. Usually, when people first meet Rebecca, they do not see her ability to participate as a full citizen. But the primary stumbling block is not her physical limitations but rather a prevailing unwillingness to see beyond them.

Part of being a fully democratic society is making certain that decisions reflect the common good, which means that ALL voices must be heard. Sadly, this is not the case in contemporary Canadian society where the voices of some of our most vulnerable citizens are ignored. Rebecca forces others to slow down and listen in order to communicate with her and this is her gift to the world. People like Rebecca guide us toward a good society, in which everyone deeply listens to and engages with all citizens, regardless of ability.

Rebecca as a guide at the Children's Peace Theatre		Launch of Ryerson's poster with Rebecca's painting

Rebecca's school and work experiences are a testament to how one person can change the culture around them. Teachers, administrators, fellow students, and co-workers have often said that Rebecca's mere presence changes the fabric of their relationships, making them more collaborative, compassionate, and intuitive in seeking strategies that benefit all persons.

From elementary school on, Rebecca was fully integrated into the regular classroom. She had wonderful teachers who planned their lessons creatively and effectively in order to cater to her learning needs. Sometimes this involved having Rebecca's classmates assist her and help her teachers create accommodations that would benefit everyone. Such students not only learned pro-social skills such as responsibility for others, commitment, and community building; many also experienced academic gains because teaching strategies used to assist Rebecca benefit all levels of learners. When Rebecca was in the eighth grade, I remember seeing her out in the schoolyard "skipping" with some of the boys in her class. She had always loved to watch children skip, so in the earlier grades her classmates had figured out a way for her to "skip" by turning the ropes back and forth over her head as she sat in her wheelchair. It was touching for me to see grade 8 boys, who might otherwise be inclined to assert themselves in the stereotypical ways of young men, exhibit such tenderness toward my daughter.

Support of friends at World Youth Day 2002		Dancing for the Pope at World Youth Day 2002 (Copyright © Bill Wittman)

Now an adult, Rebecca continues to educate people in citizenship, and has a vigorous calendar of commitments. On Mondays, she goes to her old elementary school and listens to Grade 1 students read, which helps the little ones gain confidence in their reading ability. Rebecca is non-speaking, so children can read to her freely with no expectation of criticism but simply the reassurance of a smiling face. Rebecca is also a facilitator at the Royal Ontario Museum in the Hands-on Bio-Diversity gallery. In addition, my daughter brings hope and inspiration to the vulnerable and dispossessed in her volunteer work at the Mustard Seed community outreach centre. Most inspiring to me is that Rebecca is a dancer with the Spirit Movers liturgical dance group. Given others' limiting ideas and expectations toward people with disabilities, how does a person like Rebecca, who is nonverbal and wheelchair-bound, do all of these things? The answer is simple. She will do anything that inspires her when given the chance. This is citizenship, and Rebecca is an exemplary educator in this regard.

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