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!

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As Mad Man Don Draper once said, "If you don't like what's being said, change the conversation."

Two influential organizations in the Rochester, NY community are doing just that. And it's commendable. They've embarked on an education-based mission to make sure people with disabilities are seen, heard, and understood -  and they're prompting important conversations that are in many cases, overdue. 

Our public broadcasting station WXXI and the Al Sigl Community of Agencies have partnered on weeklong programming for a “Dialogue on Disability” initiative.

The talk radio and television shows are designed to encourage conversations about the abilities of people with physical and intellectual disabilities. The programming will run from Jan. 10 through 17. Some offerings I'm most looking forward to include:

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As we're designing new person-centered software platforms we're incredibly committed to using person-first language and doing everything that we can to change attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities. 

We know that if we want to achieve true inclusion and support people in the dreams to be independent and live happy and fulfilled lives, it's essential to shift society's way of thinking. And we need to change policy too - because the very government who is in charge of supporting these individuals can oftentimes hold them back. 

A recent article in The Washington Post really resonated with me this morning. The piece, titled Why a man with intellectual disabilities has fewer rights than a convicted felon tells the story (and struggles) of Ryan King, an employed and independent man with developmental and intellectual disabilities who wants independence. Ryan's parents, who serve as his legal guardians, want independence for him too - but the courts disagree. 

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Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) is a not-for-profit organization created to support independent living for people with disabilities and seniors in need of assistance. They provide full access, power, and self-determination with a focus on integration and assisting people to reach their greatest potential. They support a culture that encourages risk-taking, creativity, and innovation and it's a truly refreshing approach to disability services. 

By providing information, advocacy, and training they are able to help individuals live as independently as possible. 

We are in absolute awe of what the individuals they work with are able to accomplish with their support and encouragement. We are also incredibly proud to be partnering with them on a really exciting project.

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