Patrick Bardsley, Co-Founder and CEO - Spectrum Designs

At age 18, I left my family and friends in the United Kingdom and worked at a special needs summer camp in the small town of High Falls in Upstate New York. The summer camp experience changed my life more than I could have imagined – not for anything I did, but because of the remarkable people I met. The campers, who society would consider “disabled,” demonstrated amazing capacities to learn, teach, grow, and love. They taught my 18-year-old self a lot more than I could ever teach them!

The most impactful moment came on the last day of camp. I asked one parent what was next on their agenda for the year. A trip? Get ready for school? “I don’t know,” the parent said, tearing up. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow.” Their son had graduated high school. The family had no services lined up and no hope of a life outside of their direct care. They told me their one wish, which still breaks my heart. They wished they could live one day longer than their son. That way, they could always support and care for him as he lived. Imagine wishing you’d be there to attend your child’s funeral. No one should hope their child goes before them, but that’s how many parents caring for offspring with disabilities feel.

Since that conversation almost 20 years ago, I have dedicated my life to promoting inclusion in the workforce. Not just to individuals and their families, but to companies and society. I have witnessed this firsthand at Spectrum Designs. Our company is successful, not in spite of, but because of our disability-inclusive workforce.

I sadly lost touch with the family in this story. I hope they found something. The world has changed since then and in many ways for the better. While we’ve made significant strides toward inclusion, there is still progress to be made. If you’re reading this, I’d guess you’ll feel the same.