Have you ever faced a moment that completely altered the course of your life? Thea Kurdi has, and she's here to share her journey through grief and her metamorphosis into a passionate critic of accessibility. We're honored to welcome back Thea to our show, as she candidly discusses the devastating loss of her husband to COVID-19 and how it has reshaped her perspective on the world of accessibility consulting. Our conversation traverses the raw edges of personal tragedy, the disillusionment with inclusion efforts that often miss the mark, and the systemic barriers that impede genuine progress. As an accessibility critic, Thea is on a mission to dissect the status quo and advocate for authentic change, a challenge she's more than ready to tackle.

Throughout the episode, Thea, alongside Antonio and myself, scrutinizes the pitfalls of organizations that merely check the accessibility box instead of weaving it into their core values. We dive into the complexities of advocacy, spotlighting the lack of substantive actions in policy and education that could truly bridge the gap for those with disabilities. We also uncover the invisible struggles faced by the majority of individuals with disabilities that often go unrecognized, and how ignorance and apathy contribute to systemic inaccessibility. Thea's insights serve as a wake-up call for the collective power of community advocacy, urging a shift from token gestures to a culture that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in every facet of society. Join us for this profound exploration into the heart of what it takes to cultivate a world where accessibility is not an afterthought, but a fundamental right.

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