In that moment Rick's words made my eyes well up with tears and filled my heart with an increased amount of fire and passion to continue making our world a better world for all. Rick, Dick and Judy Hoyt fought to make monumental, everlasting changes in the world of inclusion, however, if there is one thing they taught us it was to always seek ways to make improvements.
“You can’t change the world.” “You have to stop caring so much.” “That’s just the way the world is.” These are just a few of the responses that I have received recently when discussing my visions for a more inclusive world for my students, campers, friends and family. When I first hear words like this I feel discouraged, frustrated and also amazed that people think caring has some type of on and off switch readily available. The feeling of discouragement and frustration often sticks around for a bit, but then my brain quickly flashes to my students, campers, the Hoyt family and one of my biggest inspirations who I was never able to meet, my Aunt Kathleen.
In 1950, my Aunt Kathleen was born alongside her twin sister Maureen. Due to birth complications Maureen passed soon after birth and Kathleen developed both physical and intellectual disabilities, leaving her unable to walk or talk. Although there was an extreme lack of resources and support at the time, my Grandparents did their best to keep her home with her family. However, despite their best efforts Kathleen was only getting bigger and my grandmother became unable to lift her on her own. When seeking assistance and guidance it led them to the name of one place, a place that required a Bishop to sign off on a recommendation, Willowbrook.
Many years later during the summer of 2008 my aunt and the disgraceful Willowbrook popped back into my mind. My Aunt Kathleen tragically passed away in the walls of Willowbrook, two years after entering at the age of 9. It was during that summer that I volunteered at a camp for children with disabilities and met some of my biggest inspirations. During that week, I instantly bonded with a camper named Marty who had a lot in common with my Aunt Kathleen. Throughout the week I couldn’t help but wish that my aunt could have experienced the love and magic that was going on around me at the Mid-Hudson Valley Camps, but it also left me wondering more about the journey it took to get to this wonderful place.
Running and volunteering at camp being my two greatest passions, quickly led to numerous friends sending me the famous video montage of Team Hoyt to the song ‘I Can Only Imagine’. I instantly felt connected to this incredible duo and before I knew it I had consumed every video and book that was available on them. While their athletic achievements were what initially inspired me, I was left completely in awe as I read through story after story about their dedication and hard fought battles in the area of inclusion. Despite meeting so much adversity and discouragement Team Hoyt never stopped showing up.
As a special educator I am extremely grateful for how far we have come in the last 60+ years, but I feel that many have become incredibly complacent. While I feel immense gratitude for all the schools, programs and inclusive spaces that we have, I continue to get many heartbreaking messages from families about how my students are treated out in the community. In recent years I have spoken up a lot about the urgency I feel to continue the work that needs to be done for a more inclusive world, often being left overly emotional if I’m not met with the same urgency and passion. A strategy I recently adopted has been to wear a Team Hoyt shirt on days where I feel I may encounter adversity or discouragement. So this week when I was upset and a coworker told me “You need to not care as much, you can’t change the world.” I rolled up my sweatshirt and asked her to read the words on the back of my shirt….”YES YOU CAN!”
May we continue the amazing work of Rick, Dick and Judy Hoyt and carry their spirit in all that we do. I am forever grateful for their never-ending supply of inspiration!
