How Telling My Story Taught Me the Meaning of Inclusion
I just came back from Hawaii and (once the TSA patted down every square inch of my ostomy bags) I had an amazing experience. Sure, I enjoyed the gorgeous sunsets and the crystal blue waters…but I was most honored to take my story, “Gutless & Grateful” to Hawaii as the keynote presentation for the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability.
I went there expecting to meet strong, empowered health advocates with a story to tell and a message to share — and I definitely did! But I didn’t expect to come away with a whole new appreciation of the word “inclusion” and what it means to me.
What does inclusion mean, anyway?
in·clu·sion
in?klo?oZH?n/
noun
- the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure.
The Pacific Rim Conference was all about inclusion.
“The Pacific Rim International Conference, considered one of the most “diverse gatherings” in the world, encourages and respects voices from “diverse” perspective across numerous areas, including: voices from persons representing all disability areas; experiences of family members and supporters across all disability and diversity areas; responsiveness to diverse cultural and language differences; evidence of researchers and academics studying diversity and disability; stories of persons providing powerful lessons; examples of program providers, and; action plans to meet human and social needs in a globalized world.”
Sharing and Overcoming Adversity
My one-woman musical, “Gutless & Grateful,” empowers others to move forward and sparks a sense of rejuvenation, renewal, and hope. As we enter the new millennium, the world is faced with massive challenges as well as opportunities to solve them. Let’s share dynamic, creative ideas and sustainable solutions which can be adopted in our world.
“More Than Able” Advocates
This conference was filled with extraordinary individuals who were so proud to stand up for their own personal truths. Just like the passionate “ABLE Club” run by the students at Fulton Montgomery Community College, performing my show here introduced me to people who are beautiful inside and out, striving for inclusion. I think “inclusion” might be my new favorite word. The “differences” that make us unique are precisely what bring us together in solidarity.
Together, we’re stronger. All of us.
I was so fortunate to meet so many inspiring people who attended my presentation. It means the world to me that my story can affect others.
That’s why we all need to tell our stories. With every obstacle, stories help us find a new opportunity. Stories saved my life. Sure, I have wounds, scars, and some medical issues that still haven’t been resolved. But if I took away all of the setbacks, hurdles, frustrations and detours, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Telling my story made me feel “included” back into the human race.
Let’s help everyone of all abilities, ages, demographics, circumstances and lifestyles reclaim their voices. A simple story can change our lives.
Now it’s your turn…
- How do we create a community that supports every individual in their own process of healing?
- How can we reach out to others and what is the benefit for them, as well as for us?
- What are the effects of stigma? How can we de-stigmatize “detour,” illness, or struggles that many people don’t share?
- How do we heal when we start sharing?
Together we can make a difference by showing others that we can make things happen for a reason in our lives. With creativity, passion, and that little spark, anything is possible. Stories are unstoppable, and have the power to be something even greater than what we anticipate.
Thank you, Pacific Rim, thank you, Hawaii, and thank you to the amazing Disability and Diversity Advocates who heard my story, shared their stories with me, and have put their whole hearts into creating a compassionate world to live in for all of us, simply by speaking their truth.
That’s what inclusion means to me – speaking your truth and allowing yourself to hear and to be affected by the truths of others.
What does inclusion mean to you?
Learn more about how everyone can be included in life’s detours and participate in #LoveMyDetour here.
The Mighty is asking the following: How would you describe your disability, disease or mental illness to a child? If you’ve done this before, tell us about that moment and the child’s reaction. If you’d like to participate, please send a blog post to community@themighty.com. Please include a photo for the piece, a photo of yourself and 1-2 sentence bio. Check out our Submit a Story page for more about our submission guidelines.
Amy Oestreicher is a PTSD peer-to-peer specialist, artist, author, writer for The Huffington Post, speaker for TEDx and RAINN, health advocate, award-winning actress, and playwright. As a survivor and “thriver” of nearly 30 surgeries, a coma, sexual abuse, organ failure, and a decade of medical trauma, Amy has been challenged with moments of extreme difficulty. But, as an artist, actress, college student, and overall lover of life, Amy eagerly shares the lessons learned from trauma and has brought out the stories that unite us all through her writing, mixed media art, performance and inspirational speaking. Amy has headlined international conferences on women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, mental health, disability, creativity, art therapy, and domestic violence prevention. She is a regular lifestyle, wellness, and arts contributor for over 70 notable online and print publications, and and her story has appeared on NBC’s TODAY, CBS, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen Magazine, Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, MSNBC, among others. She has devised workshops for the Transformative Language Arts Network National Conference, the Eating Recovery Foundation, the 40th Anniversary New England Educational Opportunity Association Milestones Conference, the Annual National Mental Health America Conference, and others, and was this year’s keynote speaker for the Hawaii Pacific Rim International Conference on Diversity and Disability. To celebrate her own “beautiful detour”, Amy created the #LoveMyDetour campaign, to help others cope in the face of unexpected events. To creatively engage others in improving mental health , Amy developed a program combining mental health advocacy, sexual assault awareness, PTSD education and Broadway Theatre for college campuses, organizations and conferences, launching a Detourist Network, and Detourist Workshops to creatively fight stigma in society. “Detourism” is also the subject of her TEDx Talk and upcoming book, My Beautiful Detour, available December 2017. As the 2014 Eastern Regional Recipient of Convatec’s Great Comebacks Award and WEGO Health 2016 “Health Activist Hero,” Amy is a passionate voice in the ostomy community, founding the online community Fearless Ostomates, speaking for National and Regional WOCN conferences, and writing for the official print publication of the UOAA. Her presentations on alternative medicine, and patient advocacy and healthcare have also been accepted to international conferences on patient care, internal medicine, medical trauma and therapeutic humor in healthcare. As a playwright, Amy has received awards and accolades for engaging her audiences in dynamic conversation on trauma’s effects on society, including Women Around Town’s “Women to Celebrate 2014, BroadwayWorld Best Theatre Debut, and Bistro Awards New York Top Pick. Amy has written, directed and starred in a one-woman musical about her life, Gutless & Grateful, touring theatres, schools, festivals, conventions and organizations since it’s 2012 New York debut. Her original, full-length drama, Imprints, exploring the effects of trauma on the family and the healing power of creativity, was a finalist at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, and is currently in development for a full New York production. Amy’s collaboration with Beechwood Arts on “Resilience and the Power of the Human Spirit”, has traveled around the world, using her monologues, art, writing and recipes to express the life-altering detours and ultimately the invaluable gifts of her resilient journey. She is also a passionate arts advocate, a successful mixed media visual artist, a continuing education studio arts teacher, and an active member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, League for Advancement of New England Storytellers, Fairfield County Cultural Alliance, Theatre Artist Workshop, and several art guilds throughout Connecticut and New York. Amy is currently touring the country with her one-woman musical, Gutless & Grateful, her keynote presentations, workshops and signature talkbacks, which she has devised specialized versions for corporations, college campuses, survivors, healthcare professionals, and artists. She is leading mixed media creativity workshops to promote creativity as a mindset, an essential survival skill. Amy also offers creative coaching and consulting services help others navigate their own “life detours,” and prides herself most on ending each night with a gratitude list. Together, we’re stronger.
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