We Need To Stop Seeing Disability as a Deficit with Jennifer Chassman Browne

What if the way we talk about disability is the very thing keeping people out? Jennifer Chassman Browne breaks open the assumptions, awkwardness, and “helpful” habits that often do more harm than good, and shows what real inclusion actually looks like in everyday life.Living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since age six, Jennifer has spent her life navigating both visible and invisible barriers - first as an active athlete and educator, and later as someone whose disability became more visible in public. That shift changed how the world treated her, and it also sharpened her understanding of self-worth, community, and belonging.You’ll hear how her years as an English teacher and school leader shaped her approach to empathy, especially with teenagers and students navigating identity, migration, and systems that weren’t built for them. She also shares why allyship has to go beyond individual kindness, why “deficit thinking” is so damaging, and why the best support starts with simple human respect.We break down:- Why people with disabilities are so often misread as “less than”- The small everyday behaviors that can feel intrusive or dehumanizing- How to be an ally without making disability the first or only thing you notice- Why storytelling and poetry create connection in ways statistics never can- What Jennifer learned from documenting 30 lived experiences in *See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability*Jennifer also explains how her book, consulting work, and advocacy are all rooted in one idea: inclusion is not a special favor, it is a shared responsibility. When systems, spaces, and relationships are designed with more humanity, everyone benefits.Essential listening if you care about disability justice, inclusive leadership, education, or simply becoming a more thoughtful friend, coworker, or community member.Jennifer Chassman Browne is a disability advocate, speaker, writer, former educator, and founder of Newground Educational Consulting. She lives with rheumatoid arthritis and uses her platform to help create a world where disabled people are seen, valued, and fully included.Connect with Jennifer Chassman Browne via https://newground.us/index.htmlLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-chassman-browne-97768b24a/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.chassman