We met more than 20 years ago.
She used to love wheelchair dancing then. It was hard not to catch her spirit.
Muscular dystrophy is a disease in which one’s muscles progressively weaken.
Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at 15, she was told she may die by the time she was 25. She became one of Singapore’s pioneer disability advocates. The work of her and her colleagues has resulted in Singapore being a more accessible place for people with disabilities.
She co-founded a charity for people with muscular dystrophy which restores a connection to life and dignity in people who have given up hope. She is also the author of “Shaped for a Purpose: Finding Beauty in Brokenness”. She has received the Goh Chok Tong Enable Award (UBS Achievement), 2020.
Her name is Sherena Loh. She is my friend and collaborator.
I love her gentleness, deep compassion, wisdom, vulnerability and commitment to continual learning (she takes notes even during regular conversations). Here are some quotes from her book that illustrate the wisdom I have come to experience in her:
“All of life can be a kneading process..No matter how old we are, if we are prepared to be moulded, if we are teachable and don’t despise hard work, we can become stronger and more resilient…The final “me” will be an exquisite piece of art.”
She expands on this idea of us becoming works of art for those of us who cannot see it as such yet:
“You are a lovely and distinctive work of art. If you have not seen the pattern in your life yet, now is a time to reflect upon your past. If you see a pattern, but you feel it’s been more of a tragedy than art, you could be in the middle of the process. And there are further revelations to unfold.”
And she celebrates a different kind of beauty:
“Society celebrates Olympian achievements, superhuman efforts and breathtaking beauty. This is well and proper. However, the downside of such focus is that it leads some people to compare…I was intrigued by a Japanese concept called Mingei, where inexpensive ceramic, wood and textile items made for common functions and crafted by anonymous craftsmen are elevated to the status of art. Mingei was explained in a book called The Unknown Craftsmen by Yanagi Soetsu. This book describes a different way of looking at ordinariness – there is beauty in ordinary everyday objects, if we know how to look.”
I have invited her to share her story at events I’ve organised, including for clients who are always positively affected by contact with her. We are so happy to now collaborate with Sherena to bring a two-hour remote session for up to 20 people (usually on Wednesday afternoons Singapore time) facilitated by one of us on the team.
“You’re so inspiring” – this is what people usually say when they attend such talks with people who have overcome the odds. While that is wonderful, we do not seek for it to stop there.
What does Sherena’s story mean for YOU, your journey, growth and service?
This is why we have a facilitation component after Sherena’s sharing so participants get to process what they heard and connect it to their lives. This is where the meaningful wisdom nuggets from participants emerge and they connect with their colleagues in new, deeper ways. We’ve seen profound insights emerge. One participant said: “We all have disabilities…” (What might yours be? What is your relationship with it?)
How does this fit into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts?
One participant from an international organisation who had never had contact with someone with a disability said it was meaningful for him to have this experience. If we are seeking inclusive organisations, such contact where they are listening to stories is important.
In “Diversity Management that Works: An evidence-based view: (Jonny G, Mel G and Jake Y, 2019, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, United Kingdom), what was found was:
“…emerging evidence suggests that a perspective-taking approach, which promises to raise awareness and empathy, has the potential to create buy-in for D&I strategy. Employers may do well to focus L&D interventions on perspective-taking rather than on unconscious bias.”
And what is “perspective taking”?
The authors share:
“Perspective-taking is an approach used in learning interventions or campaigns that involves getting people to reflect hard on what it might be like for other people facing prejudice or disadvantage. This can be done by exercises in which people are asked to imagine being in certain scenarios, as other people, focusing on their emotions and interests. Similar approaches are used in awareness-raising and learning events through sharing stories and hearing first-hand the experiences of people who have faced disadvantage and prejudice…The perspective-taking approach is based on the idea that through ‘walking in someone else’s shoes’ to understand their viewpoint, one can lessen bias through contact between groups.”
In our programme, Sherena teaches through her example of transforming her pain into higher purpose and service to society. This means when participants have contact with her, they are not only learning to empathise with her but also to be inspired and learn from her for their own lives.
We have heard of some employees clicking through the mandatory Diversity and Inclusion online self-paced courses their organisations have purchased while doing other work. Some show enough attention to just get through the questions they need to answer to show they have completed the course. If you care about making a meaningful difference and want an offering that has humans, heart, and meaningful connection, then you may like to consider our work.
How does this DEI workshop help your Wellbeing and Resilience efforts?
Your staff may go through all kinds of difficulties you may never hear of. Sherena’s story is about growing through high-level obstacles and coming out not only stronger but wiser, more compassionate and more serving of others.
In the PERMAH Wellbeing framework (by Professor Martin Seligman, adapted by The Wellbeing Lab), “Meaning” and “Accomplishment” pillars are being activated.
This programme benefits your organisation by
- enabling your leaders/staff to have direct contact with a leading pioneer in disability advocacy and enhance mindsets towards people with disabilities and others who appear different
- tapping on perspective taking, which has been to have beneficial effects in your diversity and inclusion learning and development programming by those who have studied the evidence
- providing an alternative to unconscious bias training delivered in an interactive, inspiring way by someone who has lived through bias and whose storytelling itself can be transformational
- enhancing the participants’ possibilities to grow and be of greater service through adversity
- enabling an interactive experience where participants are supported to discuss key points for their own life and not only be passive audience in a talk, and also bond with their colleagues in a meaningful way
If you’d like to explore this programme for your organisation, book a clarity call with us.
How much does this DEI workshop cost?
The cost is SGD 3200 (total for up to 20 people, paid for by organisation).
This can be run virtually or in-person in Singapore if preferred.
Please be advised that it is best that such brief sessions are part of a more coherent inclusion/wellbeing strategy.
Vadivu Govind