Twenty years is a milestone which can be hard to wrap your head around. Two decades packed full of successes, growth, perseverance and moving the world with people
experiencing disabilities. A history of obstacles leveraged, setbacks overcome and lemons turned into lemonade, and nevertheless how is INCIGHT already twenty years old?!
It’s hard to know how to exactly define such a journey, and all that goes into pulling it off. A small blip in time, and yet a history too brief to achieve the standing of Portland institution. Still, a strong foundation established and built for something with real potential to change society.
This INCIGHT reality has paralleled the outcomes for people with disabilities which continue to lag behind those of the general public. A scant 15 years after the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law, INCIGHT’s founders crafted a bold vision: to champion the potential within every individual while expecting great contributions. Though they were optimistic enough to believe it was achievable, they also understood that the journey would be neither quick nor easy. Nonetheless, they were a passionate group of changemakers who knew something needed to be done and they could give it their best effort.
To be clear, the ADA has transformed accessibility and access for people with disabilities, monumentally impacting society. From the outset, INCIGHT has also realized there is still work to be done to fully achieve its intended purpose. The ADA author's original intent was to elevate the stature, awareness level and place in society of those with disabilities, changing the hearts and minds of greater society so that their contributions would be expected.
This reality has brought about an evolution for INCIGHT over its 20-year history in mission, strategy and focus. The door to larger impact has opened through increased invitations to help lead the inclusion and contributions conversation. Our organization focus is twofold: one, help people with disabilities leverage the obstacles in their lives by providing the needed tools and resources such as scholarships, job fairs, curriculum and coaching, and two, lead a culture shift around disability by changing hearts and minds through greater awareness, trainings and stories in our magazine, The Understanding, focused on positive perspectives.
Over the past two decades, INCIGHT has been a driving force, breaking barriers and setting the stage for extraordinary contributions. A beacon of hope and empowerment for many, INCIGHT has assistedover 12,000 individuals in achieving their educational and career goals. Our signature scholarship program has awarded more than 1,010 students with disabilities grants totaling $715,000. Over 200 employment and education events have been held. These accomplishments highlight just a few of the many milestones reached.
This year has been an opportunity to take a moment to reflect on these 20-year milestones. Our home city of Portland, and the state of Oregon, have been good to us. We have received a proclamation from the city council on our anniversary, a flag flown over the United States Capitol in honorof INCIGHT’s remarkable milestone presented by Senator Wyden’s Office and countless letters of support and recognition. Each is helping to elevate and provide greater awareness to our work, and especially as we look ahead.
INCIGHT can't do it alone. To reach our goals and accomplish what we aim for, we have needed partners to join our efforts. Our team strives to build profound relationships with all groups as we seek to change heartsand minds, leverage obstacles and unlock potential. It truly takes the whole community to lift up this work, and touch a greater number of lives.
INCIGHT is a vehicle for individuals experiencing disabilities to pursue their dreams through educational programs, employment services and leader development training that support authentic independence. To do this, we work with people, organizations and cultures, helping them thrive as they reach for their fullest potential. We also partner with businesses and organizations through disability awareness and professional growth sessions in the form of lunch-and-learns, certificate programs, and impactful keynote addresses.
There is still work to be done as INCIGHT turns the page INTO our next 20 years as an organization. The future for change is bright and our team is poised for what’s still ahead, and continuing the mantle the authors of the ADA started. We wantto see their dreams come to fruition. We feel we are at the right place, at the right time, doing the right work. We invite the community to join usin this mighty endeavor as we elevate this work into the future. Together, we can keep moving the world while also expecting great contributions with people experiencing disabilities.
Scott Hatley was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He is a co-founder and the Executive Director of INCIGHT.
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