The System Never Starts with Inclusion and It’s Time for Change | Michael Thomas | TEDxPlano [Video]

Can the ADA bathroom stall be the first instead of the last? This simple request from a student sparked a thought for Michael Thomas: Why shouldn’t our entire system – from healthcare to the workforce – start with a view to inclusion? He’s now on a mission to change the system and is finding partners to make it happen. Michael serves as the CEO and Founder of ConnectIDD, LLC, an agency focused on supporting children and adults with disabilities by empowering the organizations and cities which support them. ConnectIDD serves as a growth agent for disability organizations, supporting their needs in organizational structure, strategic planning, finance structure, development strategy, innovation, and staff training, among other support areas. From 2010 to 2023, Michael served in the capacity of Executive Director of My Possibilities and was responsible for the overall function and performance of the organization and its partner/subsidiary businesses. Since 2006, his entire career has been spent serving in the non-profit industry, specifically supporting children and adults with disabilities. He speaks regularly on the non-profit/social impact space, serving as a voice for other executives striving to do things in a new way that better equips each organization to serve and hopefully complete its mission. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx