Another Dimension of Inclusion: Seeing the World Through the Lens of Ableism
12 p.m. PT / 1 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. ET
45 minutes
As the mortgage industry embraces a more inclusive environment, many of us are unsure of how to execute that commitment in everyday life.
Discover what you can do to make people with disabilities feel welcome, wanted and comfortable as guest speaker Damian Buchman of The Ability Center draws on his experience as a cancer survivor and shares the importance of focusing on people’s abilities
rather than their disabilities.
Damian will offer tangible, real-life examples of things you can do to become an advocate and ally for people impacted by disabilities in both your professional and personal life.
Listen and learn from Damian's insights and then ask questions during an engaging and thought-provoking discussion moderated by Margaret Crowley, MGIC’s VP of Marketing.
Key takeaways from this live conversation include: Damian Buchman Just three days before his 13th birthday, Damian was diagnosed with osteosarcoma—an aggressive, rare and deadly bone cancer—in his right leg.
Just seven months into remission, he was diagnosed again, this time in his left leg.
Against steep odds, Damian became a one-in-a-billion survivor (today only a handful of people worldwide have survived his diagnosis), and while his battle remains never-ending, his power of positivity, passion and perseverance are at an all-time high. In the years since his “recovery,” he has undergone 28 major knee surgeries, including a variety of replacements and revisions.
His resulting disability gives him unique insights and passion into his quest to help and inspire others who face physical challenges in their lives. His vision for The Ability Center and Universal Park is only his latest effort.
For a guy with two really bad knees, Damian is very hard to slow down.
Whether he’s playing and competing in a variety of adaptive sports (wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, mono-skiing and wakeboarding, to name just a few); working with kids at various camps; or founding organizations such as The Opportunity Center, The Ability Center and the Wisconsin
Adaptive Sports Association, Damian always goes all-out. “Within reason, I’ve never said, ‘I can't.’ I’ve always tried, and I’ve always given it my all.
And it’s encouraged me to push [others] as a counselor, and say, ‘Failure’s not an option, don’t give up.
Always try it”. After all Damian has been through and overcome, can you think of a reason to doubt him? Didn’t think so. Moderated by Margaret Crowley
Founder & CEO, The Ability Center
Damian's story: As a two-time, 29-year, one-in-a-billion survivor of childhood
cancer, Damian was an active teenager whose bone cancer diagnosis left him with an ambulatory disability at the age of 13.
He quickly learned how to adapt to his “new normal” and today is an adaptive athlete, an adoptive father and a successful social entrepreneur.
VP of Marketing, MGIC
About Margaret: MGIC's Vice President of Marketing Margaret Crowley is passionate about the company’s commitment to DEI in the workplace.
She and her team are responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies to support the field sales team and business partners nationwide.
Margaret has been with MGIC for over 35 years and has held a variety of technology and marketing positions.
