Conversations with the Inspiring Julie Aird

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Aird.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Advocating has always been a big part of my life. From the beginning of my life, I’ve had challenges to tackle. I was born with a physical disability that affects my balance, coordination and speech. In elementary school, I tried hard to make friends but often felt excluded. I spent my childhood figuring out how to respond appropriately to negativity I encountered because I am different. One such example in which I felt ostracized happened in fifth grade on the playground during recess. I was unable to defend myself when a group of my classmates kicked snow in my boots, laughed and called me names. I use a walker and could not run away. I had many other occasions in which I was mistreated and felt I didn’t have the tools to defend myself. Trying to fit in and hoping to be included was my chief concern. I am the oldest of five siblings and we all played together with a pack of neighborhood kids. I had a lot of practice and competition to keep up as I am from a large family and attended regular school. Even though it was hard, I believe it was good training that gave me skills to stand up for myself and others. My parents taught me how to be independent and modeled a positive attitude which I have embraced in my adulthood.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? What are some words that you would give to young women starting a career?
I believe that through learning from the trials and tribulations of my life I have become a positive voice for those who may need encouragement. The path to self-sufficiency is like a road. The road is often full of twists and turns. Bumpy roads can turn into smooth roads. Go after your dreams even when the road is bumpy. Change negative perspectives into positive ones by surrounding yourself with positive people who believe in you and stand up for you. This will give you courage and strength. Change your strategies when you come against roadblocks. Eventually, your path will smooth out if you are determined to move forward.

Get out of your comfort zone. Failure and risk is part of the learning process. The key is to never give up. Tell yourself that you are good enough no matter what others may say. It is also important to do things that make you happy.

Dreams can come true if your work hard, are patient, and most of all believe in yourself.
Differences are beautiful! I celebrate my uniqueness and I learn from the uniqueness of others!

What else should we know about you and your career?
I have my bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and spent my career advocating for the rights of people with disabilities in several non-profit agencies such as at the Center for People With Disabilities in Boulder. Not only have I counseled people individually, but I have also advocated to affect change on a broader scale. The first example of my work includes advocating for a ramp in the public pool at the North Boulder Recreation Center. I was the only person who spoke up in an effort to get a ramp installed in the pool so people with disabilities could enter the pool independently. The pool ramp was installed. Another time I was on the committee to make the Sunrise Amphitheatre accessible. Three of us advocated for a south accessible ramp to the theater which the historical society vehemently opposed because they believed the historical preservation would be destroyed. They were willing to make the north side of the Amphitheater accessible but this would not offer the same breathtaking views as the south side. I brought a group of fellow disability rights activists to help advocate. With more negotiations, the south side was chosen because it was the best side to have the ramp without hurting the historic integrity of the Amphitheater. Finally, in my neighborhood at a county commissioners’ meeting, I spoke up and explained that our neighborhood needed curb cuts to be accessible to people with disabilities. To make this happen I organized a group of disability advocates to survey the neighborhood. We took photos and created a powerpoint presentation that we sent to the commissioners. Within a year we had curb cuts installed.

Apart from my jobs, I have joined rallies and protests that have been meaningful and have promoted justice of minorities Including people with disabilities who have been unjustly treated. In particular, I aligned myself most often with the goals of national and local ADAPT; (a grassroots disability rights organization). I helped advocate in Washington DC for accessible over the road buses like Greyhound to make them accessible by having a lift for people with disabilities. Through our actions, all buses had to be made accessible throughout the country by 2012.

I also became a part of ADAPT when ADAPT started to change the government’s institutional bias to home and community-based services for people disabilities.

I volunteer where I can to change society’s perceptions of people with disabilities. I love to travel and I was excited when Lowell Aird, my husband and I were two out of seven professionals chosen by The Inclusion Collective to do a service project in Armenia this past summer. The service project was at the invitation of the non-governmental organization called Warm Hearth. We shared our philosophy of inclusion of people with disabilities and participated in the first-ever advocacy conference in that country. Years ago Lowell and I also traveled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to do a service project at the first Independent Living Center in Mexico.

Two years ago Lowell and I started a dog care business called Dog God Dog Care. I write promotional ads and coordinate the schedule. I was inspired to start this business after we took care of a friend’s dog and witnessed the joy of caring for this little creature. This is a home-based business taking care of one dog or sibling dogs at a time. Dog sitting in other people’s homes is an option. Lowell also walks individual dogs on a daily basis.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
Laura Hershey was a friend who was very comfortable in her own skin. She inspired me with her creative words of wisdom. Laura was very passionate about speaking out against the injustices faced by people with disabilities and all minorities. She promoted Disability Pride which I embrace!

Laura Ann Hershey was a poet, journalist, popular speaker, feminist, and a disability rights activist and consultant. Wikipedia
Born: August 11, 1962, United States
Died: November 26, 2010, Denver, CO
Books: Survival Strategies for Going Abroad: A Guide for People with Disabilities.

Harriet Tubman put her life on the line to be freed from slavery and became a driving force to free others using the underground railroad. I am inspired by her determination to speak truth in the midst of slavery.

Michelle Obama is an inspiration to me because she can rise above negativity and stays positive in her life. She seems approachable and unassuming even though she is a very powerful woman doing good in the world. I shook her hand on the campaign trail at CU in Boulder.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://dog-god-dog-care.business.site
• Email: julrio08@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Lowell Aird

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