This morning I had coffee with an executive from a very well-respected local agency. We were talking about self-direction, managed care, and many of the other large scale changes happening in our world when we took a moment to ruminate on the fact that this is a very pivotal time.

Sure, many of the changes are terrifying to think about and I'm not sure any of us are very clear on how we're going to get from here to there -  but that's the exciting part! We have a chance to make a real difference and shape the way that things go.

During this conversation, I shared that I'd spoken with a mentor who has been in the field for longer than I've been alive and he admitted to feeling very guilty and ashamed for some of the things he'd taken part in and condoned during the early part of his career (shock therapy, horrific instituational practices etc.)

The gentleman I was having coffee with then shared that his agency has every new hire watch Willowbrook videos as part of their training - and how absolutely horrendous and awful it is for everyone to see.

We're not where we need to be for sure, but it's really encouraging to look back and see how far we've already come. For us, this morning, that begged a very important question: what will people think of what we're doing now, twenty years down the line?

A few hours ago, the Chicago Tribune shared this article about Target stores adding new shopping carts to their fleets. These new carts, called Caroline's Carts, are specifically designed for adults and children with disabilities. To many families, they are an answered prayer.

Once a person with disabilities has outgrown the seat in a standard shopping cart, their family and support staff's shopping trips could be incredibly difficult. Manuevering a wheelchair and a shopping cart at the same time is just not practical for one person so you need to either shop as a team or leave the person with disabilities at home. Which brings me to my next point.

The real story here isn't that Target is adding new shopping carts to all of their stores, it's what those shopping carts mean for people with disabilities and their families.

One of the nation's largest retailers just did something big. By adding these carts, they're saying that not only do they welcome people with disabilities in their stores - they're willing to do whatever it takes to make shopping there as easy and as comfortable as possible for them and their families. They're not just building their entrances to ADA specifications, they're creating an experience that is welcoming.

That's inclusion at its finest and today I am incredibly proud to be a Target shopper (who is virtually incapable of leaving one of their stores without spending $100.)

There's no question that other major retailers are seeing this and will likely follow suit (my favorite grocery store Wegmans already has!) - and that's a big step in the right direction.

Kudos to Target and all of the families who will benefit. This is a beautiful thing!

Many of our partner agencies in New York State are freaking out - with good reason. Governor  Andrew Cuomo is fighting hard for his proposed $15 minimum wage, which is great. Unfortunately there is a major flaw that threatens the viability of mostly government-funded human service organizations.