• How diverse is your PLN?

As a person with a disability who was diagnosed with an aggressive, chronic condition when only seventeen, I would say my PLN is very diverse. Because of my diagnosis, I have made it my mission to help those who feel marginalized, and I find it extremely interesting to hear from other individuals with various abilities/conditions/life experiences on how they are feeling/coping mechanisms, etc. Additionally, Moore and Schnellert (2016) stated that inclusion pertains to everyone, actually everyone, and I think that my current PLN includes everyone, and I mean actually everyone. Finally, as an aspiring OT or health researcher, social media has become an excellent way to build connections and learn.

  • Are you learning from a variety of diverse voices, and are you expanding your understanding of the views of others?

I would say yes as I follow various accounts on my social media that have very diverse opinions. Although it can be frustrating to read something I personally disagree with, I think it is beneficial for me, specifically for building empathy and understanding.

  • What is the learning outcome of your PLN, and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

Learning outcomes of my PLN:

  1. Recognize that I am not alone
  2. Gain different perspectives
  3. Build empathy
  4. Solidify what I want to do after my Bachelor’s degree
  5. Learn from others!

My colleague’s blog:

Inclusion in our PLN’s

I absolutely loved the video that was shared in your post. What stood out to me the most was when Moore (2021) discussed that educators should not pull a student out of an area to work on a deficit. This stood out to me because when I was diagnosed with a chronic condition, educators seemed to think that I could not do something, and therefore I had to be treated differently; in reality, I just needed to be with my peers.

Reference

Moore, S., & Schnellert, L. (2016). One Without the Other: Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion. Portage & Main Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvic/reader.action?docID=4832579&ppg=11.