Limb difference, disability and workplace diversity – with Ruth Rathblott

Limb difference, disability and workplace diversity – with Ruth Rathblott

Author: Carolyn Kiel February 28, 2022 Duration: 37:56

For 25 years, Ruth Rathblott hid her limb difference.

She doesn't hide it anymore. As she explained in her recent TEDx Talk: when she stopped hiding, she found freedom.

Ruth has been a leader in nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years, with 15 years at Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, and more than eight years as CEO of the Harlem Educational Activities Fund. She currently serves as a Board Member of The Lucky Fin Project. She speaks about inclusion and diversity, the gifts of being unique and the freedom that comes with accepting your differences.

During this episode, you will hear Ruth talk about:

  • Her decision to start hiding her limb difference as a teenager, and how it impacted her mental and physical health for decades
  • The people in her life who encouraged her to stop hiding and start sharing her personal experience with disability
  • The chance encounter in a store where she first learned about the wider community of people with limb differences
  • How people have reacted to seeing her limb difference – and how kids react differently than adults
  • Her mission to convince companies to include disability in their definitions of workplace diversity 

For more about Ruth and her work, follow her on LinkedIn and check out her website www.ruthrathblott.com.

Watch Ruth's TEDx Talk: When I stopped hiding, I found freedom

 

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Click here for the episode transcript.

 

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not represent those of my employer or other organizations.*


Hosted by Carolyn Kiel, Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people moves past the snap judgments that so often define how neurodivergent people are perceived. Each conversation here is an invitation to listen deeply, exploring the nuanced realities of entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and other neurodivergent individuals as they share their own experiences in their own words. You’ll hear personal accounts that challenge stereotypes, not through abstract arguments, but through the vivid details of lived experience-the unique pathways to creativity, the challenges navigated in work and relationships, and the personal definitions of success and well-being. This podcast creates a space where identity is explored with authenticity, highlighting the strengths and perspectives that arise from thinking differently. Tuning in means connecting with stories that are as diverse and dynamic as the neurodivergent community itself, offering genuine insight into mental health, societal norms, and the richness of human cognition. Carolyn guides these discussions with a focus on depth and connection, ensuring every episode goes far beneath the surface to celebrate the vibrance of neurodiversity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Podcast Episodes
Celebrating 200 episodes and looking ahead to 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:20
In this year-end episode for 2023, host Carolyn Kiel reflects on the big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2023 and some of her goals for the show in 2024. Below are links to the resources mentioned in this ep…
Neurodivergent stories from India - with Aditi Gangrade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:11
Aditi Gangrade is a film director and writer based in India. She is autistic and has ADHD and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). She is the co-founder of Much Much Spectrum, an inclusive storytelling content and ins…
Neurodivergence and gender identity – with Charlie Ocean [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:02
Charlie Ocean is an award-winning LGBTQ+ speaker, trainer, and consultant who is neuroqueer and nonbinary. They have a background in social work and over 15 years of experience with LGBTQ+ community organizing. To date,…
Creating an inclusive world through dance – with Marisa Hamamoto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:24
Content note: This episode contains mentions of sexual assault, describes a stroke and recovery, and has occasional swearing. Marisa Hamamoto is the first professional dancer to be named as one of People Magazine's "Wome…
Tourette Syndrome advocacy – with Jhonelle Bean [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:01
Jhonelle Bean is a 28-year-old disability advocate living with Tourette Syndrome and PTSD. Jhonelle shares her experience with Tourette Syndrome through social media to educate others and help destigmatize the condition,…
Autistic and dyspraxic actor Ross K. Foad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:12
Ross K. Foad is a professional actor and voice artist in the United Kingdom. A second generation actor, he was just 18 months old when he made his acting debut, but would get his proper start in acting on the London come…
Dissociative Identity Disorder - Amber Louise Ainsworth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:37
CW: Mentions of drinking, drug use, suicidal thoughts, depression, trauma, and occasional swearing Amber Louise Ainsworth is a dissociative identity disorder (DID) system from the UK. Since realizing they are a DID syste…
Trans and autistic inclusion at work – with Nate Shalev [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:12
Nate Shalev is a leading expert and advisor on inclusivity helping to create workplace cultures where both businesses and people thrive. They were named a LinkedIn Top Voice and have been highlighted in the Harvard Busin…
Autistic music therapist and singer Swara Swami [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:10
As a young autistic girl, Swara Swami could sing before she could speak. Now Swara is a music therapist and singer who advocates for mental health and autism awareness on her social media. Swara has her Bachelors in Musi…