I have to admit there are days (usually Monday mornings before my coffee...) when, for a brief moment, I question whether it is possible to make our communities completely accessible and inclusive. I know I’m not alone. In the cynical and turbulent climate we live in, it’s easy to slip into being a “naysayer” and blame others for failing to lead the way to make the world a better place for everyone.

Most days create quite an adventure for me as I deal with places, things and sources of information that aren’t accessible, not to mention attitudes that aren’t respectful or inclusive. Some days go better than others.

The influential scientist and Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein once remarked, “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” Research leads to an expansion of our knowledge, which informs our future actions. Every aspect of our lives – social, economic, cultural and environmental – has been influenced by research.

In my world, emergency preparedness is a bit of a priority. Whatever I do, wherever I go, I usually have to give some thought to my safety. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not obsessed… just vigilant.

With all my heart, I believe that creating an accessible and inclusive community is rooted in the commitment of everyday ordinary people. By commitment, I’m not talking about a half-baked, politically correct buy-in. I’m talking about following through on a decision to bring about change that turns possibilities into reality.

We’ve all seen those enticing airline advertisements: Let’s Fly Together… Our People Set the Bar Pretty High. Sky High in Fact… Building a Better Airline, Not Just a Bigger One… Make Every Journey Count… Welcome to Our Sky...

Unfortunately our sky is not as accessible or inclusive as it could be.

A couple of months ago I received the following letter from a young student:

Dear John,

Thanks for coming to our school. I’ve been thinking about changing the world… not the whole world… just some of it.

Last year, after one of my presentations, an audience member came over to chat. He told me that once a year, he and the other members of his local service club go to the garden centre, pick out flowers and then head over on a Saturday morning to a home in his neighbourhood where several people with disabilities live, to plant the gardens for them…