Deputy Director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, Sarah Sampson offered deep insights into equity and inclusion—particularly within the disability community.
Sarah Sampson has a passion for creating an equitable society stemming from both her personal experiences and her professional journey. Sarah joins Robert Wilson to offer her insights into equity and inclusion—particularly within the disability community.
As Sarah noted, equity is not a new concept for people with disabilities; it’s been integral to their fight for rights and recognition long before mainstream discussions.
“People with disabilities want what everybody else wants. We want to live happy, healthy, engaged civic lives in our own homes, in our own communities, but need a little extra support to do so,” Sarah shared, quoting Abraham Lincoln. “And that's the role of government —to do for all what one cannot do alone.”
When it comes to individual identities within the equity movement, Sarah offered a reminder that disability can affect anyone, at any time. “The disability identity is the one where you might come to work one day and not identify as a person with a disability, and then on your way home something may happen to you, and the next day you do.”
This stark truth underscores the importance of inclusive environments for everyone, as disability doesn’t discriminate. “The deeper that you get into this world, the more that you look around and realize that everybody knows somebody with a disability.”
“We’re the largest minority group,” Sarah continued. “We’re about one in five Americans and in Tennessee, about one in four” — that’s roughly “1.7 million Tennesseeans with disabilities.”
As Deputy Director, Sarah is proud of the programs and networks their non-profit offers, focusing on ensuring that people with disabilities can live healthy, engaged, and meaningful lives in their own communities.
Despite being the largest group in terms of numbers, Sarah acknowledged that, all too often, disability is left out of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversations. She emphasized the intersectionality of the work.
“Folks who identify as black are two and a half times as likely to also experience disability,” she shared. “Folks who identify as LGBTQIA+ are one in three who also identify as having a disability.”
For Sarah, it’s also personal. “Not only do I have this experience, but I have kids with a different experience with disability and friends with a different experience of disability,” she explained. “As our slogan says, the many wings flying together can achieve twice the distance of flying alone.”
“I do believe in equity, and I think a rising tide lifts all boats.”
A recurring theme in the conversation was the pervasive issue of ableism and the systemic barriers people with disabilities face. "The systems that have been our infrastructure in place are with an ignorance towards people with disabilities,” she explained. This ableism, she argued, often stems from fear or ignorance. “It's those attitudes that are really the biggest barrier for improvement, for equity, for progress.”
Sarah also stressed the need for workplaces and organizations to not only include people with disabilities but also ensure they are part of decision-making processes. Employee resource groups (ERGs) and fostering peer support among employees with disabilities can greatly enhance workplace culture, profitability, and inclusivity.
In fact, Sarah pointed out that companies that engage in disability inclusion efforts tend to have “20% higher profit margins” compared to their peers. And beyond the financial benefit in one company, accommodations made for people with disabilities often end up benefiting a much larger group.
It’s called the Curb Effect. As an example, removing curbs from sidewalks, initially designed for wheelchair users, was later found helpful by people with strollers or delivery workers.
“Everybody benefits because you have someone with a disability who is present, and if they have the capacity, if they have the interest to advocate for themselves, it turns out they're advocating for their peers as well. So it's beneficial for everyone.”
Looking ahead, Sarah offered inspiration for those working in equity, acknowledging the challenges of the work while encouraging persistence. “Advocacy is a long game,” she said. “And it can be lonely,” but finding community and allies is key. Her advice is to “celebrate each inch of progress, and know that you’re not alone in this journey.”
Sarah’s words are a timely reminder that true equity means creating spaces where everyone—regardless of their ability—can thrive. As she beautifully put it, "The more we can work together, the farther we can go."
To learn more about the ways you can get involved with the Tennessee Diversity Consortium, visit tennesseediversityconsortium.org/join-tdc. And be sure to follow Speak Up for Equity wherever you listen to podcasts.
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