brettapproved

01/26/2022

Excited to have a fun, open, honest dialogue tomorrow during my Disability Inclusion in the Workplace presentation with the awesome team members, candidates and clients who are .

We’re gonna have a blast!

10/01/2021

I had a blast this week in Vancouver, Washington presenting at DMA West’s annual conference.

We discussed ways destinations can be accessible, open and welcoming to travelers with disabilities. After all, we spend more than $55B annually on travel. So we’re anything but a niche market.

It’s always fun presenting with Alison Brooks (right) from . Tracy Farhad (center) was an excellent moderator.

I’d like to thank everyone at DMA West for the opportunity to share my perspective on accessible travel. I look forward to presenting again next year!

— Brett

08/26/2021

With the Paralympic Games underway in Tokyo, I wanted to share the article below. Did you know that there are approximately 1.2B people in the world living with a disability?

Too often society is seen as an “us” vs. “them” type of zero-sum game. I prefer the pronoun, WE. It’s much more powerful. For example, consider this sentence: As a society, WE can no longer ignore and push to the margins, people with disabilities. WE, can, and must do better. — Brett

https://bit.ly/3znGJ0S

TOKYO (AP) — The opening next week of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo is being used as a stage to launch a human-rights movement aimed at the world’s 1.2 billion people with disabilities. The campaign is called “WeThe15”and gets its name from World Health Organization estimates that persons wi...

05/20/2021

The article below is a great read. We’ve come a long way, but we must continue fighting for our rights. I hope that the COVID norms discussed in the piece are here to stay.

Many of them are at least starting, in a very small way, to level the playing field in terms of people w/ disabilities in the workplace.

I am extremely passionate about employment for people w/ disabilities. I will continue to do everything in my power to help us succeed!

Happy

— Brett

https://cnet.co/341mPe9

As more people get vaccinated and the world reopens, experts say remote work, virtual events and e-commerce sites should still cater to people with disabilities.

03/24/2021

I really enjoy teaching and working with young people. I admire their collective energy, enthusiasm and passion as it relates to truly making a difference in our world.

I’m currently working with students from Arizona State University who are tackling the challenges associated with creating a truly accessible, universally designed hotel room.

Please take and share their survey.

— Brett

https://bit.ly/31dAEoz

So far, the design of hotel room has seen a lack of consideration towards those with disabilities. Around 26% of adults in the United States live with some type of disability. POTHOS Project is a student led project through Arizona State University, seeking to update the hotel by combining two innov...

02/11/2021

I thought this was pretty cool of my alma mater to do. Heck, I might even take the course. I think it’s important to challenge ourselves and learn new things. Go Bucks!

https://bit.ly/2Z5JNyg

Ohio State University is making a certificate program that teaches students to code and build App Store apps available to the public.

01/18/2021

Today we pause to reflect and remember a true hero. Thank you, Dr. King.

01/02/2021

I realize I’m a day late here but in my defense, I’m still basking in my Buckeyes’ victory over Clemson last night in the College Football Playoff semifinal. 😊

Like it has for so many, 2020 nearly broke me. But despite its best efforts, I’m still here; still fighting for equality and justice not only for people with disabilities but for anyone society is intent on pushing to the margins.

I believe 2021 will still present lots of challenges but I also believe that things will get better for those of us who are hurting. After all, without optimism, what do we have? Nothing I suspect.

With that said, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe 2021 full of experiences that with the passage of time become treasured memories. Happy New Year!
— Brett

12/25/2020

Wishing everyone who celebrates Christmas a happy and healthy holiday. And don’t forget to get to bed early ... the big guy’s en route!

Merry Christmas!
— Brett

12/11/2020

I wish everyone who celebrates Hanukkah a safe season of happinesses, love and light. Three essential elements of life that for far too many of us, have been missing in 2020.
— Brett

12/03/2020

The United Nations has declared today, December 3, 2020 “International Day of Persons with Disabilities.”

As a younger man, I would have glossed over this without much thought. Today, thanks to a maturity that only the passage of time provides, I am proud to celebrate with members of my community.

For too long having a disability has been synonymous with invisibility. I’m committed to doing whatever I can to help my community move forward and put the saying “Nothing about us, without us” into practice from a public policy and employment standpoint.

I certainly wish my body moved and functioned differently but it doesn’t and that’s okay.

My existence doesn’t require explanation or justification. I’m here, living my life to the best of my ability, physical circumstances be damned.

Am I perfect? Absolutely not. Do I handle every situation with the grace it requires? Nope. But like all of us, I believe my flaws and mistakes make me, well, me.

In fact, my flaws and mistakes make me just like my able bodied friends, family members and colleagues ... a perfectly, imperfect work in progress.

While my physical disability and the challenges that come with it, must be acknowledged and never minimized, my situation, does not, and will never, define me.

I leave you with a moment of levity ... a picture of my favorite person with a disability. 😂
— Brett

11/26/2020

I think this picture sums it up. Have a fantastic long weekend and be safe. — Brett

11/03/2020

Please mask-up, keep your distance and vote today if you haven’t done so yet. Speaking of voting, I thought this was a fantastic story worth sharing. This young woman and her community make me proud to call Arizona home. — Brett

https://yhoo.it/386MPbl

“We saddled up our horses and rode 10 miles to the early voting polls to make our voices heard by casting our ballots," shared organizer Allie Young on Instagram.

10/15/2020

COVID-19 has changed the way many of us do business. But I believe we will eventually resume our regular travel schedules and when that day comes, companies large and small, need to be ready.

That’s why I’m so excited to be talking about the subject of accessibility within the business traveler segment at an upcoming Global Business Travel Association - GBTA webinar.

If you’re free on Friday, Oct. 16 at 8a.m. Pacific, please join me for an open, honest friendly discussion about why accessibility is so important when it comes to business travel. It will be worth your time. — Brett

https://bit.ly/2GZpPzN

GBTA is the world’s premier business travel and meetings organization.

09/23/2020

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Curb Free with Cory Lee for everything he does to shatter stereotypes and shine a spotlight on what it’s like for him to travel. Keep up the great work Cory and congratulations on this outstanding media coverage.

With respect and gratitude,
— Brett

https://cnn.it/2RSvGsB

Going to Antarctica is a bucket list goal for many, but for Cory Lee, it was that and much more.

09/02/2020

I thought this article was extremely thought provoking. I’ve not traveled anywhere during the pandemic. Not because I don’t want to but someone extremely close to me tested positive for COVI-19 in July and I can say this, the virus is no joke. I wear a mask everywhere I go because, I care about everyone and I hate the thought of someone becoming ill because of me. I hope you find this article as thought-provoking as I did. When will you feel safe traveling again? 😊 — Brett

https://wapo.st/34U5rtx

People are getting backlash for their trips during the pandemic. But it's not stopping them anyway.

07/27/2020

As the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 30, it’s given many of us time to reflect on what’s been accomplished and of course, how much remains to be done. I thought this piece by Claire Forrest was very well written. Please give it a read. It’s worth your time. — Brett

https://bit.ly/305GOHo

On the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, "disabled people are still holding their breath."

07/24/2020

Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month? Need less to say, the entire brettapproved team supports this effort wholeheartedly. Too often, people with disabilities exist only in the margins of our society and that’s not acceptable. We are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, moms, dads, friends, colleagues and so much more! — Brett

https://bit.ly/30CmYTc

July is Disability Pride Month.