In this episode, Christine Brunsden shares her innovative approach to creating an integrated system she calls an Ability Ecosystem that connects policy, technology, finance, and social services to empower individuals with disabilities. Her platform called Benefits2 aims to transform fragmented systems into seamless, accessible support networks, ultimately fostering a society where ability diversity drives innovation and inclusion.

If today’s conversation resonated with you, Christine is building the infrastructure the disability community was never given. Join the waiting list here.

Takeaways:
🪴Personal and professional experiences shaping a vision for an ability ecosystem
🧬The fragmentation of disability support systems in healthcare, finance, and government
🪴Challenges families face navigating complex bureaucratic processes
🧬The importance of early data collection and medical record management
🪴How AI can revolutionize understanding and access to benefits
🧬The staggering $15 billion unclaimed Disability Tax Credit (DTC) annually
🪴Barriers created by misconceptions and gatekeeping within medical systems
🧬The potential of the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) for long-term financial stability
🪴The role of advocacy, community, and technology in closing gaps for disabled populations

Quotes:
“We all feel like we’re in a camouflage maze, hunting for hidden doors and keys.”
“Chance is not going to fix this. It’s not just inclusion. It’s system redesign.”
“Experience intelligence is lived experience plus professional experience plus contextual understanding.”
“Why are we leaving it up to chance to connect the dots?”
“We need to start taking agency over our own medical records from day one.”
“There are 200+ benefits, and no one is guiding people to them.”
“Fifteen billion dollars a year is left unclaimed - just from one credit.”
“Gatekeepers, often unintentionally, keep people away from the support they need.”
“I don’t feel like this is work I chose - I feel like it chose me.”

Chapters:
00:00 - Introducing the need to rethink system design for disability inclusion
02:16 - Christine’s background and motivation rooted in personal experience
03:04 - Signals indicating systems weren't designed for people with disabilities
04:31 - Navigating fragmentation: The maze of benefits, forms, and programs
10:40 - The challenge of uncoordinated EMR systems and need for early agency
12:26 - The transition from childhood to adulthood and medical record continuity
15:23 - How CRA’s medical record requests complicate benefit access
16:51 - The importance of medical record management from day one
19:13 - The enormous unclaimed benefits: $15 billion in DTC alone
20:23 - The gap in healthcare professional knowledge about disability benefits
21:17 - The negligible training hours on disability criteria for medical professionals
22:40 - The impact of barriers on everyday expenses and quality of life
23:50 - Economic multiplier effects of unlocking unclaimed benefits
24:34 - The societal benefits of enabling access and reducing gatekeeping
26:04 - Misconceptions among doctors about disability and eligibility
27:14 - The critical role of early diagnosis, records, advocacy in financial planning
30:48 - The untapped potential of AI in identifying eligibility through medical data
32:39 - Harnessing AI for clarity, access, and advocacy in medical records
34:48 - Addressing the we

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