Shippensburg University celebrated Diversity Week from Sept. 26-Oct. 1, and to kick off the events, guest speaker and advocate for persons with disabilities, Theo Braddy, shared his story and advice on how students can combat racist and ableist stereotypes.

Braddy brought awareness to how stereotypical worldviews shape people’s perspectives. Whether through social media, what we read, what we experience or even through our education, it can hinder one’s view on how others treat people. “Racist ideas are based on misconceptions, misinformation, falsehood myths, stereotypes and biases which produces a social construct,” Braddy said. He emphasized how social constructs can lead to discrimination and how oppression becomes a way of life and factors in on the mistreatment of people.

He brought attention to how non-disabled people can project ableist views on people with disabilities and said, “being judged as less intelligent because you have a disability, I’ve went through that one many times and still go through it.” At age fifteen, Braddy became disabled due to a high school football accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down, and he is now a wheelchair user. “Waitresses would talk to my wife in a second, and I’m sitting right there. I can even pay the bill with my credit card; they still will talk to her,” Braddy said. After he shared those words, the room became silent.

Braddy encouraged Shippensburg students to interact with people with disabilities because their disability does not define them. Disabled people have interests, hobbies and personalities many overlook because of social construct or one’s flawed worldview. “A missing limb is just a missing limb; a wheelchair is just something that we use just like you use laptops and vehicles,” Braddy said. He explained to the students how the equipment disabled people use is “stuff to make life more efficient, that’s all this is.”

Braddy engaged with students and asked hard-hitting questions to see if they were “stinking up the place.” He calls it “Stinking Thinking,” a term he uses for students to check their behaviors concerning these issues. Braddy believes education is key to combating and changing stereotypes: “We can’t be uncomfortable around certain people. We become less effective.”

He showed slides of marginalized groups and asked students to describe stereotypes that people who are not as aware of might label them.

After Braddy concluded his event, Shippensburg University senior Tyler Hill remarked how meaningful Braddy’s words were and that his biggest takeaway was “to re-word things, have to be mindful, have to feel the emotions, can’t be blind to things.”

For over 40 years, Theo Braddy has advocated for people with diverse disabilities. He has served on several boards and committees over his career. Three different governors appointed him as commissioner for the Pennsylvania Human Relation Commission. Senator Robert Casey selected him in 2022 as one of four black leaders in Pennsylvania who have demonstrated power and persistency in overcoming challenges and creating meaningful change in Pennsylvania. 

Braddy attended Edinboro University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in social work, and is a Temple University graduate, where he received his master’s in social work in 1988. Braddy is now a retiree, works in private consulting, and is president of Theo Braddy Consulting.

Share