The Other Side of Inclusion

“I do not give a fig about simplicity on this side of complexity; but I would give my arm for simplicity on the other side of complexity” Oliver Wendell Holmes

I remember reading this quote years ago and pondering its impact. Justice Holmes wrote this in contemplation of the law. He relished the simple notion of the US legal system, innocent until proven guilty. Yet in the law today, as in Justice Holmes day, is decidedly complex. Many innocent person has been convicted of wrongdoing. Indeed, the “Innocence Project,” an effort using DNA evidence, has freed over 1,000 previously convicted people in the US who were thought to be guilty.

Justice Holmes knew that even an accusation, in many situations, was tantamount to being convicted. He knew how complex the law can be, and how difficult it is to get on the simple side of complexity.

With all due respect to Justice Holmes, I believe the same adage can apply in the field of human services. There are hundreds of thousands of people that are not active, engaged, or included in the general community. These people include folks with disabilities, elders, individuals encased in poverty, and people who have experience with mental illness. The simple notion for these people is that they would love to be involved, included, or active in community, yet, they are caught in a huge web of complexity. This complexity is tied to their condition, situation, eccentricity, or perceived problem. In essence, they are often excluded because they are thought to have a complex problem.

As I have pondered this phenomenon in my years as an advocate in the disability arena, I can’t help thinking about Justice Holmes admonition. How do we get to the simple notion of community inclusion, when we are confronted with these huge complexities of disability, age, or poverty? Then it hit me. Perhaps this challenge relates more to the complex harnesses put on people by the very system designed to help them.

Inclusion is a simple notion - you just accept people by finding our similarities rather than focusing on the differences - simplicity on the other side of complexity.