To begin, I’ll tell you this.  It’s a “surprise” Remarkable in Michigan.  I have been Nikki’s friend since her teen years.  Nikki is non verbal, until she gets her Accent pad going then, well, she’s every bit of a 31 year old.  She’s also a lot like her mom.  Sassy, to the point and you’re going to get the truth out of her.  It’s a characteristic lacking in many in today’s day and age.  Nikki uses her pad to talk every day, but on Thursday November 5th, she used it to address something pressing in her life.  At the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and presented by Harbor Light Credit Union, Nikki took front and center for a lunch and learn to share how we might not even know when we could do better.  It’s an important talk. 

“Ableism is discrimination, prejudice, or social bias against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is defined simply as prejudice or discrimination against individuals with disabilities.  Are you sitting there reading this wondering if you’re guilty?  Well, it’s an emerging topic and Nikki is here to help get the conversation started. I am going to share our relationship over the years to give you the perspective on how I have come to know how ableism affects people around me.

I mentioned that I met Nikki when she was a teen.  Yes, even uttering the word “Nikki” weirds me out a little…she’s Nicole to me, but she’s 31, I’ll address her as she wishes.  Nikki is part of a group in Muskegon called No More Sidelines that is based on an inclusive experience for the disability community centered around sports, interaction, arts and more.  As a kid, she’d always be excited to see me….I was on the radio and in front of crowds a lot…so, ok.  I helped her out on a couple of projects.  She was a contestant in a beauty pageant that the community helped her get to, she was at all the fundraisers and I tried to understand her..but as non verbal…I just had to trust.  Along came the Accent pad communications device and along came Nikki.  It was pretty apparent quickly that her wit, intellect and desire to do more for others was where we connected and without a word spoken until that device came along…..we both knew it.  Kindred spirits seem to gravitate to one another.  Our relationship grew into adulthood….and well….there’s a funny admission from the old fart here.  A couple of years ago, we finished an interview and I commented that I’d known her for a while and in fact …”now that she’s 22…I am just amazed to see her all grown up…”, the camera went off and she said “Hey gramps…I am 29 now….way to lose track of time”.  I sat there dumbfounded while on her pad….it said LOL.  Smart and sassy.  See.

Her forum is to share her experience of being treated differently because of her physical limits.  It’s a very open and honest discussion about situations that others may not know how to navigate with those who are in the disabled community.  Some of the examples are shocking.  Some of them are things that we might consider being polite, but come across as offensive.  I will say this in defense of me….my age slip with Nikki, it’s not exclusive to her.  Our group…No More Sidelines…all of the “kids” that were there when I came in….they are the “kids”, and will forever be.  It’s hard to see them grow up.  Nikki has grown up to be one of the “kids” we’d hoped for though.  Strong, out front and able to be in the mix anywhere she is.  Not tucked away and secluded.  Her drive and passion for herself and her community is what leadership is truly about and while she’s going to tell you more than once in her talk she doesn’t want admiration for living her life, she’s had mine long before her “life” really began.  She’s been a champion since she was a kid and I was smart enough to spot it.

When you hear her talk, think about what she has to say.  Apply it.  Include people who might be different in some way.  A disability is only one part of a person.  It’s not their defining characteristic.  Is Nikki Remarkable in Michigan?  Nah…she’s remarkable everywhere.

If you’d like to book Nikki to speak at your place of business or at your upcoming event…. CLICK HERE to make contact with her.