Tocquinn Cordice, Inclusion Champion

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Tocquinn Cordice, Inclusion Champion

Inclusion advocate, author, mom. Celebrating differences, one story at a time. ✨ Be Daring. Be Different. Be Cool. 💫

At Tocquinn Cordice - Author & Inclusion Champion, my mission is simple yet powerful: to inspire, empower, and celebrate young people with disabilities. We're here to break down barriers, challenge misconceptions, and promote the importance of inclusion in every corner of our lives. Through insightful storytelling and practical guidance, our books aim to educate parents, teachers, and young minds

about the beauty of diversity and the significance of inclusive environments. We're all about fostering self-confidence, spreading positivity, and encouraging everyone, regardless of diagnosis, to boldly pursue their dreams and aspirations. Join our community of champions who believe in the power of inclusion. Let's amplify each other's voices, share stories, and learn how to create a world where being different is truly celebrated. Together, we're changing perceptions, one cool kid at a time. Stay connected for uplifting content, engaging conversations, and resources that empower us all to make a positive impact.

07/18/2025

July is Disability Pride Month!!!

Disability Pride Month is deeply personal for me. Because when Dale received his ADHD diagnosis, I didn’t just become a mom with a plan. I became an advocate with a mission.

That mission became Different Is The New Cool. It became our book, Stop The Stare, Start The Conversation; A Guide To Inclusion. And it became a movement we’re proud to lead — not just this month, but every day.

💡 Here are 3 ways YOU can celebrate Disability Pride Month:

Educate: Read inclusive books and share them with your community.

Advocate: Use your voice to push for more accessible, inclusive spaces.

Celebrate: Uplift and honor the voices and victories of people with disabilities.

Inclusion is not a trend — it’s a lifestyle. Let’s be proud. Let’s be loud. Let’s keep moving forward.

However you celebrate disability pride this month…Go out…Be Daring. Be Different. Be Cool.

08/28/2024

Hey! Hey! Beautiful People! It’s Tocquinn Cordice, Inclusion Champion, COO of Different is the New Cool! and author of Stop The Stare, Start The Conversation: A Guide To Inclusion.It’s back to school time! As the parent of a child with a different ability, it’s my job to be Dale’s biggest advocate. I set the tone early by emailing all of his teachers. I introduce myself and I introduce Dale. I inform them that he has ADHD and has a 504 Plan on file. You will be surprised how many teachers aren’t aware of your child’s different ability and accommodations required. I inform them that math and science are his favorite subjects. ELA is a challenge because he’s very literal and operates in black in white. He can struggle with critical thinking. He loves people but can be socially awkward. He’s his on worst critic. He hates to get answers wrong. He may require additional time on assignments. He’s easily distracted and can be forgetful so may require some redirection. I also let them know that besides being a scholar he’s the CEO of Different Is The New Cool which is a movement that inspires, empowers and celebrates young people with different abilities. He also acts and models. I end by letting them know that my goal is to partner with them to ensure Dale has an amazing academic year.Let’s set our babies up for success by advocating early. Make it their best academic year yet.Whatever you do today…Be Daring. Be Different. Be Cool.

07/31/2024

Hey! Hey! Beautiful People! It’s Tocquinn Cordice, Inclusion Champion, COO of Different is the New Cool! and author of Stop The Stare, Start The Conversation: A Guide To Inclusion. My Dorian is an old, sensitive soul. Some say he has been here before. He asked me if life was hard. My response was that life is filled with hard moments. Those moments force us to rely on God and build our character. Since we trust in God, He will give us the peace to endure the hard moments. Christ experienced hard moments and if we are to be like Him we will too. One thing we know is that at the end of the day Christ had the ultimate victory and we will too. The hard moments make us appreciate the good moments even more.Just wondering how would you respond if asked if life is hard?Whatever you do…Go out…Be Daring. Be Different. Be Cool.

07/16/2024

Hey! Hey! Beautiful People! It’s Tocquinn Cordice, Inclusion Champion, COO of Different is the New Cool! and author of Stop The Stare, Start The Conversation: A Guide To Inclusion.

A question I’m often asked is what advice would you give the parent of a child with a disability. One piece of advice I would give is to give yourself grace. We’re not always going to get it right and that’s ok. Along with grace is the ability to be vulnerable. When you realize that you’ve missed the mark, it’s important to apologize to your child. And if you are able to, turn it into a learning opportunity, ask them how you could’ve handled it differently. It’s key for our children to see our human side.

I recall one day I asked Dale to go study for his social studies test. As he was reviewing his notes, I was working on a report, finishing dinner and preparing for a conference call. He asked if he could tell me all he knew about World War II. I told him I was too busy trying to get everything finished before my call. About 5 minutes later he asked again and again I dismissed him. After a few minutes it dawned on me that him telling me everything he knows about World War II was his way of studying. That’s how he remembers things. I immediately apologized and asked him to tell me everything he knew about World War II. The way he rattled off those facts was crazy. He told me things I didn’t recall from social studies class. My boy ended up getting 90% on his test.

I don’t even want to imagine what his grade would’ve been had I not stopped and studied with him. Moral of the story…give yourself grace and be vulnerable. That situation forced me to pause and really see what’s important. Nothing was more important in that moment than helping Dale study.

So whatever you do today…go out…Be Daring. Be Different. Be Cool.

06/29/2024

Hey! Hey! Beautiful People! I’m Tocquinn Cordice, Inclusion Champion, COO of Different is the New Cool! and author of Stop The Stare, Start The Conversation: A Guide To Inclusion…

June is Men’s Mental Heath and PTSD Awareness Month. Truth be told we’ve all experienced something that has caused us some sort of trauma and we were hesitant to ask for help. I saw a poll this morning that asked what is harder to say: 1) I’m sorry 2) I need help or 3) I love you. Out of 5,000 people polled, 77% said that it’s harder to say I need help. I must admit I was part of the 77%.

Let’s normalize being a safe space for people. Let’s normalize active listening. Don’t ask how you’re doing out of obligation, but genuinely want to know how they’re doing. Be prepared for their response and be prepared to offer help if need be. Let’s do our part in creating inclusive environments by being safe spaces for others.

Whatever you do today…Be Daring. Be Different. Be Cool.

06/10/2024

June is PTSD Awareness Month, and it's crucial to understand how post-traumatic stress disorder affects our children. PTSD in kids can arise from various traumatic experiences such as bullying, accidents, natural disasters, or witnessing violence. These events can leave lasting scars that affect their emotional and psychological well-being. It's not just an adult issue; our little ones can suffer too.

"Children are strong, but they are also vulnerable. Understanding their struggles is the first step in helping them heal."

As parents, educators, and community members, it's our responsibility to recognize the signs and provide the necessary support. If you suspect a child might be dealing with PTSD, seek professional help immediately. Early intervention can make a world of difference in their recovery. Let’s create a supportive environment where every child feels safe and heard. Together, we can make a significant impact.

05/15/2024

As we honor Mental Health Awareness Month, let's reflect on the importance of self-care. In a world that often glorifies productivity and busyness, it's crucial to carve out time for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Self-care looks different for everyone, so find what works best for you. Whether it's journaling, practicing mindfulness, or indulging in a favorite hobby, prioritize activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Remember, self-care isn't selfish—it's an essential part of maintaining overall well-being. Let's commit to showing ourselves the same kindness and compassion that we extend to others.

04/09/2024

Hey! Hey! Beautiful people! It’s Tocquinn Cordice, Inclusion Champion, COO of Different Is The New Cool and author of Stop The Stare, Start The Conversation: A Guide To Inclusion. I wanted to hop in to remind you to not allow fear to cause you to miss out on opportunities. I’m a member of the Christian Interfaith Resource Group at my job. I typically just listen in on the calls and don’t participate, but this particular day something told me to tell them about my book and I’m so glad I did! Unbeknownst to me the leader of the Interfaith group was in talks with the neurodiversity group about doing a collaboration for Autism Awareness Month. My lead mentioned my book and they chose me to do an Author Talk. Last Friday I did the Author Talk and it was absolutely amazing! I was able to share our journey and how our faith has sustained us through it. After my talk we broke out into groups and sparked some inclusion conversations, then we had Q&A where they raised some very thought provoking questions for me. We ended with me raffling off some books. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!! I received such positive feedback. One of the leads even blessed with me a love offering to cover the books I raffled off. Had I stayed silent none of this would’ve happened.

Fear will paralyze you, but faith will propel you. Let’s choose to step out on faith.

Whatever you do…Be Different. Be Daring. Be Cool.

03/15/2024

The success of every woman should be an inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you're courageous, be strong, be extremely kind and above all, be humble...Serena Len Williams

May you find a tribe that will support, encourage, inspire and challenge you!

We are all trailblazers in our own right!

We are Women's History!

Happy Women's History Month!

03/14/2024

Today Is The Day!!!

I'm so excited to announce that I will be one of the presenters for the Black Speakers Network Equity & Leadership Summit being help virtually March 12th to 14th. I will be presenting on March 14th. My presentation is titled In My Shoes: Discovering Your Inclusion Journey. I will be walking you through my journey with Dale and showing you how you can discover your own inclusion journey. Presentations start a 6 pm. Presentations are 10 minutes or less. I will be the last presenter on March 14th. Please register here https://bit.ly/bsnels24attend. Registration is free, but you must register to watch the presentations. This is a virtual event.
Hope you attend and are blessed by these dynamic speakers.

03/13/2024

Wisdom Wednesday!!!

"Inclusion is not a destination; it's a journey we embark on every day. It's about actively seeking out opportunities to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. It's about recognizing that we are all part of the same human family, and that together, we can create a world where everyone thrives." - Unknown

What have you done to spark inclusion today?

03/11/2024

Hey! Hey! Beautiful People! It's Cordice, Inclusion Champion, COO of Different is the New Cool! and author of Stop The Stare, Start The Conversation, A Guide To Inclusion!!!

So as I continue to step out of my comfort zone, here's the next step in my journey...Public Speaking.

I'm so excited to announce that I will be one of the presenters for the Black Speakers Network Equity & Leadership Summit being help virtually March 12th to 14th. I will be presenting on March 14th. My presentation is titled In My Shoes: Discovering Your Inclusion Journey. I will be walking you through my journey with Dale and showing you how you can discover your own inclusion journey. Presentations start a 6 pm. Presentations are 10 minutes or less. I will be the last presenter on March 14th. Please register here https://bit.ly/bsnels24attend. Registration is free, but you must register to watch the presentations.

Hope you attend and are blessed by these dynamic speakers.

Address

Charlotte, NC

Telephone

+17046494750

Website

https://differentisthenewcool.com/

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