What might make you different from what other people perceive as normal?

Hi!

We are The ALAN Project, a new startup company devoted to helping people better understand inclusion.

We strive to use the power of education and different perspectives to nurture a deeper understanding of inclusion and the simple steps needed to promote it in our daily interactions and relationships with others.

At The ALAN Project, we believe that inclusion is quite a simple concept.

But sometimes, even people with the best intentions can overlook the best way to practice inclusion in their own lives.

Inclusion is often mistaken as a complex concept that people must instantly master.

In reality, it is an ongoing process of acknowledging your biases, learning new information about the people you are interacting with, asking questions, and normalising what you have learnt about them.

We want to create a space where people can deepen their understanding of inclusion and the fundamental ways they can promote inclusion in their everyday interactions and relationships.

Understanding ‘difference’ is a great first step towards better understanding inclusion.

We are all different, and we all have our own ideas about what we perceive as ‘different’ and what we perceive as ‘normal’.

Whether it is our beliefs, abilities, race, gender, sexuality, where we live, or how we prefer to spend Sunday, difference is all around us, and it is arguably what makes the world so amazing.

So, as we make our way into the world, we are encouraging you to reflect on what might make you different from what other people perceive as normal.

If you feel comfortable, we would love to hear your response in the comments below. However, there is no obligation to share your answer publicly, as we are aware that this can often be a sensitive topic for many people.

If you have a set of characteristics or identities that aren’t typically marginalised in this world, this might be a new way of thinking for you, but we are challenging you to really consider this question.

Understanding difference within the context of yourself may feel a bit weird at first, but we believe it is key to building a deeper awareness of inclusion and how it applies to your own life.