THE INVISIBLE CHAIR PROJECT

A SET OF STORIES ABOUT WHAT WE CHOOSE TO SEE

Human beings are so conditioned to see one another with existing prejudice, that our minds form opinions before we are even aware of them. From our first GOTTA DIG It program, we noticed a common response by participants.  When shown a picture of a person in a wheelchair, the vast majority of subjects admitted the chair was the first and most notable or memorable part of the image.  We wanted to tackle the issue of WHY the wheelchair stood out more than the individual.  Human brains are predictive machines, designed to take objective information and process it subjectively and map out how that info fits into our stories. Yet, we can change our inner stories. We can relearn how our brains process information. We can become aware of bias and diminish it. This process is called neuroplasticity; the ability we have to rewire our brains creating new reflexes, thoughts, and stories. In doing so, we as a society, can make that chair (the disability) less visible… even invisible!    

TO MAKE THE CHAIR DISAPPEAR, WE EXPLORE:  

• SCIENTIFIC FACTS: Experts address how the brain creates bias, and how to counteract it
• PERSONAL STORIES: People with disabilities share how social discrimination affects their lives and those of their loved ones 
• PRACTICE OF MINDFULNESS: Mindfulness experts and neuroscientists share how we can actually change the structure and function of our brains (neuroplasticity)
• EMPATHY & COMPASSION: Ideas from the GOTTA DIG IT program help us access the feeling of others and reduce the suffering
• HUMAN CONNECTION: Together we build stronger bonds when we know we’re not alone in our common human experiences