News

The concept of “Oneness” with its focus on community unity, diversity, and inclusive engagement—can be meaningfully applied to include and uplift people with disabilities in our community. I practiced law in this community and Pittsburgh for many years and while things have changed for people with disabilities, it wasn’t until I joined Achieva, in particular the Achieva Family Trust, that I learned first-hand how far we have come and how far we still need to go. This is particularly important in communities like ours where people living with a disability may not even be aware of programs and initiatives to improve their lives.

My current role as Vice President of Achieva Family Trust is centered around supporting individuals with disabilities and their families through legal and financial means, primarily via special needs trusts, benefits counseling, and a charitable program directly shaping access to supports and legal planning for people with disabilities. While there are strong organizations on the national level, many of which I belong to and follow, on a local level we need to see more inclusion and initiatives to improve the lives of people with disabilities in our community. It is important to ensure long-term security and quality of life for people navigating complexities that most of us never even realized existed. The financial component is only the tip of the iceberg. 

To apply the concept of oneness to assist people with physical, emotional, mental, intellectual and developmental disabilities, we should apply the oneness principles to actively support and empower our disabled community.  As I have come to learn, when we lift up one, the entire community wins.  

Where do we start?

First and foremost, we need to ensure that our community provides accessibility for all which should encompass physical access, the ability to communicate easily, and ensuring full social integration. This includes wheelchair-accessible venues, ASL interpreters at events, sensory-friendly environments, and materials in Braille or large print allowing people with disabilities to fully participate and feel welcomed rather than excluded. We must also partner with people to share their stories and feature their voices, experiences, and accomplishments to break down stereotypes and foster empathy and understanding across all community members.

This applies to people of all ages and starts with school-aged children and supporting inclusive education programs and awareness campaigns about disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion. We are on the brink of a major shift in culture where everyone can be integrated within their community, whether they are disabled or not. To foster oneness we must encourage a culture of acceptance and understanding starting at birth and make inclusion a foundational principle, not an afterthought, in everyone’s mind and not just for those impacted by a disability or only when inclusion is easy.

Creating dedicated “Oneness” events that focus specifically on the experiences of individuals with disabilities will move integration forward exponentially. Including panel discussions, performances, or exhibitions featuring disabled artists, activists, or local leaders to promote visibility, advocacy, and belonging within the broader diversity mission will ensure that people are heard and seen.

The spirit of “Oneness”—coming together to celebrate and learn from each other—can only be fulfilled when disability inclusion is fully embraced. By making deliberate efforts to include people with disabilities in programs, planning, and leadership, “Oneness” ensures that every neighbor in the community feels heard, seen, and valued.