A Monday Moment with Dr. Mal

Inclusion is often presented as the goal—but what does it actually require?

In this episode, I explore the difference between inclusion and assimilation through the lens of my experience navigating spaces that claim to support non-speaking individuals and those with unique spiritual gifts.

While access and support may exist, there is often an unspoken expectation that individuals align with a dominant framework in order to fully belong.

This episode challenges the idea that inclusion alone is enough and asks a deeper question:

Are individuals truly being supported in their authentic expression…
or are they being guided—consciously or unconsciously—toward becoming something more acceptable to the system?

Through this exploration, I reflect on identity, representation, and what it means to create spaces that are expansive enough to hold difference—without requiring it to change.

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