Being Denied A Cup Of Tea Sparked A Movement For Dignity with Ronahi Zebari (USA)

Send us Fan MailA child at 12 is told she will not live to 30, then spends years hearing a steady drumbeat of “you can’t” at home.  Renahi Zabari turns that script on its head, sharing what it is really like to live with osteogenesis imperfecta, a brittle bone disease marked by fractures, surgeries, and long periods of forced stillness, while still building a confident identity that refuses to disappear behind a diagnosis. We talk about a kind of ableism that can hide inside good intentions: protection that quietly removes normality, independence, and self-belief. Renahi explains why doing things for yourself is not just about practicality, but about dignity and mental health, especially after trauma like a major car accident. We also dig into what inclusive education can look like when children are given permission to see, ask, and engage rather than look away or default to pity. A single moment of public exclusion, being passed over for a cup of tea while everyone else was served, becomes the catalyst for Light Upon Light, her charitable organisation in Washington State. Renahi breaks down the organisation’s programmes, including Enlighten, an in-school disability awareness and accessibility programme that teaches respectful language, introduces mobility aids in a hands-on way, and sends guidance home to parents and guardians so the conversation continues beyond the classroom. We end with a powerful reminder: we are remembered for how we make people feel, and disability inclusion starts with recognising the full humanity in front of us. If you find this meaningful, subscribe, share it with someone who works in schools or community spaces, and leave us a review. What’s one small change that would make your world more accessible?Music, lyrics, guitar and singing by Dr Ariel Rosita KingTeach me to live one day at a timewith courage love and a sense of pride.Giving me the ability to love and accept myselfso I can go and give it to someone else.Teach me to live one day at a time.....Support the showThe Business of LifeDr Ariella (Ariel) Rosita KingOriginal Song, "Teach Me to Live one Day At A Time"written, guitar and vocals by Dr. Ariel Rosita KingDr King Solutions (USA Office)1629 K St, NW #300, Washington, DC 20006, USA, +[email protected]