Communicating without Bias 

                                                                            

                                  Hiking Burnt Mountain, Sugarloaf, Maine, USA.

    Communication encompasses much more than the ability to speak aloud or by some other medium. Communication is deeply rooted in human nature and how we learn to interface with the world around us. From the very get-go, verbal and physical communication is the most crucial aspect of our development. When we think about communicating, a lot of times there is already a bias formed there based on the simple fact that we all come from different environments and backgrounds. These influence our communication modes. 

Taking a closer look, there is a lot of evidence that beyond our environment and background we also tend to communicate with and about individuals based on identity groupings; terms like "the blind" or the "mentally unstable" create a boundary between individuals that can often create discord or segregation where it doesn't belong. The simple fact remains that people, no matter from what background or what personal challenges they may face, want to be treated with dignity, compassion, and equality. 

We see this throughout all of history. Every frontier has been amended in some way, shape, or form ranging from race and ethnicity, gender, and now, disabilities. There is always room for human improvement of our social and emotional intellect. How we interface and communicate with the world has a lot of power to instill change and dictate how future generations will do so as well. The fact remains that disabilities are not defining terms. They are conditions that many if not all of us face at some point in our lives and they must be integrated into what we understand and interface with. 

In this recent communications learning module, we see an overview of communicating with and about people who have disabilities. I think a big takeaway here is that they are a variation of "normal." There is no one size fits all or one perfect mold for humanity. We all fall on a spectrum and we all hold key crucial elements that lead us to have quality lives. Being able to set aside the awkward element and being able to stand comfortably in a healthy, humble humility for the world and the learning process we are all constantly undergoing is crucial. Navigating journalism especially involves how to present people, places, and events to the larger world so that they may be understood and represented. I learned from this article that the most important tool we wield is the ability to avoid references to disabilities when communicating unless they are directly pertinent to the context. We do not have to zoom in on things that set people apart so much as highlighting the strengths, insights, and experiences they do have. Everyone is different, everyone is unique, and we have the power to change dialect when it comes to setting the bar for how we identify people. 

A few insights that come to mind for me personally-

As a child, I was involved with a civil rights group in my elementary and middle school. I went on to participate each year as an avid skier and runner in the Special Olympics events hosted by various institutions. These experiences stick with me even today. I remember attending a conference at the Augusta Civic Center and meeting countless individuals who experienced intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as those who work closely with them. It was an eye-opening experience for me because there is a very profound realization that all people, everywhere, all across this great green globe are having human experiences. Each and every one of us hold some piece of the spiritual, social "puzzle" or mystery. We are all having a profound existence and every single existence looks different. Our minds do not all work the same, and that is not a difference to fear or shy from. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, or disabilities, we are all human and worthy of compassion and celebration. These experiences give me goosebumps to this day. I can still hear the joyous laughter of people crossing the finish lines, whether on skis, using a prosthetic, or someone using a ski-sled who typically uses a wheelchair. Enjoying the simple pleasures of human interaction in the spirit of games and races not only highlighted individual capabilities but brought people together and unified in their individual experiences. The human experience is something we are meant to celebrate, differences included. In the future, I often fantasize about people having equal opportunities and freedoms to enjoy their experiences. For now, it starts with communication and how we approach the subject as we interface with the world. So much of what we do flows from our ability to communicate. 

As someone who aspires to become a better writer and potentially use journalism and communications to my benefit inside and outside of my career, there is so much room for improving human social conditions. It starts with language. When we shift our language, we change our perspective. That's as powerful a tool now as it always has been throughout our history.