Our Differences Are Our Strengths
Mickey Rowe shares his deeply personal story of growing up autistic and pushing beyond the restrictions of a special education classroom to shine on the Broadway stage. As an autistic and legally blind person, it was always made clear to Mickey the many things he was apparently incapable of doing. But Mickey did them all anyway, and he succeeded because of, not in spite of, his differences.
Rowe shows all of us that whether disabled or not, the things that make you different, or that you might even perceive as your weaknesses, actually make you unique and valuable and might even be your biggest strengths. And that sometimes just one small action can change the course of someone’s life.
How Disability-Informed Design Improves Education for Every Learner
In this high-energy, multimedia-driven workshop, Mickey Rowe challenges organizations to stop looking at disability as a “problem to be fixed” and start seeing it as a culture to be celebrated. Through a blend of candid storytelling and “laugh-until-you-cry” videos, Mickey bridges the gap between the classroom and the stage.
Educators will move past the awkwardness of “special needs” euphemisms and dive into the Social Model of Disability, learning that a student is rarely disabled by their diagnosis, they are disabled by an environment that wasn’t built for them. From the “Curb-Cut Effect” of Universal Design to the radical act of Assuming Competence, this session provides a toolkit for creating a classroom where every student’s difference is treated as a professional-grade strength.
Learning Outcomes
The Language of Pride: Why we’re ditching “handi-capable” for direct, identity-first language that promotes clarity over stigma.
The Social Model Shift: Learning to “fix” the environment instead of the individual.
Universal Design in Action: How accessibility for one person (like captions) creates a premium experience for everyone.
“Nothing About Us Without Us“: The golden rule of agency, why disabled voices must be the primary architects of their own accommodations.
Disability History & Legacy: Moving the narrative from “tragedy” to “triumph” by honoring the activists and artists who paved the way."
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