Background - 23.10.2024 - 14:30 

How can we all be true allies for people with disabilities?

“Together for inclusion: how can we achieve true partnership in inclusion?” This was the topic of a roundtable discussion with inclusion strategist Lina Maria Pietras and Dr Louisa Riess from the Center for Disability and Integration (CDI-HSG) at Washington House on 16 October. A review.

Many companies invest in D&I initiatives to become more inclusive. Nevertheless, many initiatives fail to make the working environment truly inclusive. Especially when it comes to the inclusion of people with disabilities, there is often a lack of knowledge and a fear of doing something wrong. The two discussion partners Lina Maria Pietras and Louisa Riess agree that what is missing most of all is dialogue.

Finding one's own voice

When Lina Maria Pietras began to tell her life story in a calm voice that evening, the audience hung on to her every word. It is a story characterised by ups and downs, by her inner struggles and ultimately by a deep sense of self-discovery. In her book ‘Herzauge’, Lina Maria Pietras talks openly about this journey. She has been severely visually impaired since childhood and now has only 4% vision. Today, she coaches and advises executives and companies around the world on the topic of inclusion. She talks about the challenges her visual impairment brought with it, about her desire as a child to be “normal” and about her overcompensation to the point of burnout to show everyone what she can achieve despite her disability. Louisa Riess, a researcher at the Center for Disability and Integration (CDI-HSG), moderated the conversation and lent Lina Marie Pietras her eyes to read passages from the book. Together, the two talked about how we can all find our own voice and be true disability allies.

More confidence and trust

For Lina Maria Pietras, true partnership in inclusion means, above all, trust and confidence. The nice thing is that many people want to help. However, she unfortunately often experiences overprotection instead of real help in her everyday life. She talks about people she asks where the butter is in the supermarket and who then eagerly rush to get the butter for her instead of simply answering the question so that she can shop independently. “Allyship” therefore means that we trust people with disabilities to know what they need and that we give them the help they ask for. According to Louisa Riess, this also means, for example, that we do not exclude people with disabilities from projects or trips at work from the outset, but openly seek dialogue.

“Inclusion is not a one-way street.”
Lina Maria Pietras

Seeking dialogue

During the conversation, it became increasingly clear how central dialogue is to genuine allyship because inclusion is not a one-way street. Lina Maria Pietras emphasised that all too often we make assumptions about what people with disabilities need without knowing whether these assumptions are really true. That is why it is important to question these assumptions and instead openly ask what our counterpart needs. On the other hand, it is just as important for people with or without disabilities to communicate their needs. Only when we communicate can others really know what we need and can we be truly inclusive. Louisa Riess shared the results of a current research project on the voice of people with disabilities in companies. She said that co-designing and communicating needs is demonstrably an important factor in the inclusion experience of people with disabilities.

The interdisciplinary Center CDI-HSG has been conducting research on the professional inclusion of people with disabilities for 15 years. Their research has shown that inclusion benefits all employees. Inclusive companies have healthier, more productive and happier employees. To create a more inclusive work environment, the two speakers agree, leaders are crucial to fostering dialogue and discussing experiences and emotions.

Confidence instead of perfection

During the conversation, it also became clear that inclusion is complex and that we all make mistakes. Sometimes we find ourselves reacting harshly to the needs of others, making assumptions about them, or falling into an overprotective attitude. However, this should not stop us from continuing to take responsibility for ourselves and others. In her closing remarks, Lina Maria Pietras emphasised that allies also need allies to support and encourage them in their role as inclusion partners.

“Allies need allies.”
Lina Maria Pietras

‘It is important to spread the responsibility for an inclusive society across all shoulders. We should take care of the people around us and take responsibility for each other. Just as we do for ourselves. [...] Because we are all unique and valuable. There is so much in us. In you, in me, in everyone around us,’ Louisa Riess concluded the discussion with a quote from Lina Maria Pietra's book “Herzauge”.

A contribution of the Center for Disability and Integration (CDI-HSG).

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