Unpacking Inclusion (But Not the Way You Think)

Have you ever really stopped to think about the word inclusion? Not just what it means, but how it feels. It’s a nine-letter word - simple enough to spell, yet complex enough to challenge entire systems. But what if each letter could guide us into making inclusion not just something we say… but something we do? 

At #BlindSmartAccess, inclusion isn’t a checkbox or a trendy term we throw around. It’s how we move. It’s how we think. It’s how we live. 

So, let’s break it down - letter by letter. Let’s ask ourselves the real questions. 

1. I – Invite 🤝  

Inclusion starts with an invite - not just to join the room, but to feel wanted in it. Who gets the email, the call, the seat? And maybe more importantly… who doesn’t? Are we extending our hands, or just leaving the door ajar? 

2. N – Notice 👀  

Let’s face it... You can’t include what you never noticed was missing. Who’s being left out, not out of malice, but because they weren’t even seen? If we only build for what’s obvious, how many people are we invisibly pushing out? 

3. C – Connect 🧩  

Real inclusion is in the messy, beautiful web of connection - between blind and sighted, creator and user, barrier and breakthrough. Let’s ask ourselves, are we brave enough to reach across what’s different, and curious enough to learn from it? 

4. L – Listen  

Are we really listening, or just waiting for our turn to talk? At #BlindSmartAccess, listening isn’t passive - it’s active, intentional, and necessary. Why? Without listening, inclusion becomes a performance instead of a promise. 

5. U – Understand 🧠  

Understanding asks more of us. It says: “Don’t just sympathize - stand in their shoes.” But here’s the kicker: Are we willing to redesign things that work for us but exclude others? 

6. S – Support 🤗  

Saying “you’re welcome here” is cute - until someone actually comes through the door. Support means showing up, speaking out, adapting, adjusting. Because inclusion that vanishes under pressure was never real to begin with. 

7. I – Innovate 💡  

Now here’s where it gets exciting. Inclusion calls for innovation. It challenges us to rethink everything: How we build, communicate, design, hire. Are we only innovating for convenience - or for impact? 

8. O – Open 🚪  

Open minds. Open tools. Open spaces. Open feedback loops. If your systems are locked tight, how many people are left knocking? And who decided what “the standard” looks like in the first place? 

9. N – Normalize 🔄  

Here’s the truth: Inclusion isn’t a “bonus.” It’s not a feature. It’s not charity. It’s basic humanity. Why do we treat equity like it’s something to applaud, instead of something to expect? 

So, here is a question worth sitting with: 

What would change if inclusion became the default - not the afterthought? 

We invite. We notice. We connect. We listen. We understand. We support. We innovate. We open. We normalize. 

That is the kind of inclusion that doesn’t just feel good… it does good. 

Let’s live that — boldly, humbly, and together. Not just at the design table, or the workplace, but everywhere. 

At #BlindSmartAccess, that’s what we’re about. Letter by letter. Moment by moment. Let’s stop making people fight to be seen. Let’s build a world where belonging isn’t a favour — it’s a fact. 

#InclusionInAction 

#AccessibilityMatters 

#InclusiveDesign 

#BlindSmartAccess 

#TogetherWeInnovate