Do not judge the experiences of others without walking in their shoes. – Dr. ir Johannes Drooghaag
It is easy to judge from a distance, maybe even tempting to do so. And many of us do so more often than we realize. It is basically normal to do so. We form opinions, change our mind, and create new opinions. Judging is a significant part of opinion building, and in most cases there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
There is however a field in which judging the experiences of others without “walking in their shoes” is unacceptable. When it comes to inclusions (and accessibility), we have to stop judging experiences and decision making processes without people with living experiences. How can anyone who does not depend on some sort of inclusion and accessibility, and does not suffers under the lack thereof, judge the experiences of people who do depend on it and suffer under the same lack thereof?
Doesn’t make sense, does it? But when we look at the policy makes and decision makers, the executives and boardrooms, where the policies for the next decades are decides behind closed doors, we see that there is a group missing. Those with living experience of depending on inclusion and accessibility! That has to change, and it has to change fast! As our partner Billion Strong puts it: “Nothing about us without us!”
Dr. ir Johannes Drooghaag – CEO Spearhead Management