I love those moments when work, volunteering, and life experiences come together. I had one of those moments during a conversation with these teens. The group, from across Canada, was in Winnipeg for Rotary International’s program, Rotary Adventures in Human Rights.

We talked about accessibility, removing barriers, and ableism. I shared my experiences and gave examples from our work at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The students identified barriers in their communities and came up with creative solutions to remove them.

Best of all, we had a great discussion around the question, “What is normal?” It was inspiring to watch the group realize that if disabilities, both visible and invisible, were seen as a normal part of our communities, accessibility barriers would disappear. Working with creative young people gives me hope on the tough days.