Taking Diversity to the Next Level
Written by Corinne Garcia Friday, May 27 2011
Snapshot: Patty Watson
Spend a day in Patty Watson’s shoes and there’s no doubt you will be worn out only halfway through. With a career that began in the Air Force, she has risen to the role of treasury and credit technology executive, senior vice president, at the Bank of America in Dallas, Texas. And throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly for people with disabilities, infusing her passion for helping into the workplace.
She’s one of the first ambassadors of Research Down Syndrome (RDS), a nonprofit organization that focuses on Down syndrome cognitive research; an executive sponsor of Bank of America's North Texas Disability Affinity Group; on the Texas Governor’s Committee for People with Disabilities; and a member of the Lime Connect board of directors, a company that places people with disabilities in quality jobs throughout the country. She’s also the mother of five and a volunteer soccer coach. And although her days are jam packed, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Womenetics: What prompted you to get involved in RDS?
Patty Watson: My passion for people with disabilities started when my third child, Nathan, was born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect. I actually did not start RDS, but have been an ambassador for the organization since it was founded a few years ago.
Womenetics: What have been your main role and tasks as an RDS ambassador and working with other organizations involving people with disabilities?
Watson: Last year, I started an annual fundraiser in Dallas to support Down syndrome cognitive research. I am very active in the organization and advocate on behalf of people with disabilities. Lime Connect is leading the way as the premier resource for top talent in the disability space by attracting, preparing, and connecting highly accomplished individuals with disabilities for careers with the world’s leading corporations.
Womenetics: How will the research and treatments for increased memory and learning make a difference for people with Down syndrome?
Watson: We are very close to being able to start FDA clinical trials to mitigate some of the cognitive issues associated with Down syndrome. The research being done has close ties to Alzheimer’s as well. We already know most of what causes the issues in the brain, have reversed some of the issues in a mouse with Down syndrome, and identified some potential medications. Now it’s just getting to and through clinical trials. This work gives me hope for Nathan and all individuals with Down syndrome. I want Nathan to live independently, attend college, and have meaningful employment. This research and the treatments that come out of it will help him have a life more like my other four kids. I believe anything is possible, and I hope that through my family, my work at Bank of America, and the community involvement that I am able to continue to make a difference.
Womenetics: Can you explain your approach to diversity and inclusion?
Watson: For me inclusion has been a personal focus since mid 2001 when, 16 weeks into my pregnancy, I found out that Nathan had Down syndrome. Nothing changes your world more than having a family member who is different. My family and extended family are extremely diverse, but Nathan added something very different. He was actually the impetus for me to really take inclusion seriously, because there is nothing more that I could ever want than acceptance and inclusion for him.
Nathan is now 9 years old and in the second grade. He was the first child in our school district to be fully included in kindergarten. It took hiring an attorney, spending $6,000, and taking our school district to due process, but we broke the mold in our district. Nathan is part of his class and his school because he is with his typical peers all day.
Now there are other kids with Down syndrome who enjoy full inclusion with their typical peers because of Nathan. It hasn’t been an easy road, but then again when you are the first, you must overcome the barriers to inclusion. We’ve had to listen to teachers say “He can’t” more times than I can count. Thankfully this year, God put three very special teachers in our school. We also have administrators who are willing to try and make it work. Nathan’s teachers, principal, and administrators believe in what he can accomplish. That has made all the difference. Thanks to Nathan’s teachers he is learning and enjoying a childhood that is no different than his friends and siblings.
Womenetics: How does this differ from diversity?
Watson: Diversity means we have “different” people in the room. Inclusion is a quantum leap up. It’s a transformation that occurs when we no longer see differences, but instead see the commonalities and unique gifts that each person brings to the table. Successful diversity efforts end in inclusion when the culture has changed to the point where we don’t hear or say things like, “That guy with Down syndrome,” or “That female manager,” or “That man in the wheelchair” had a good idea in the meeting. Instead we just hear, “He or she had a good idea.” While there may need to be some accommodations made for a person’s unique needs, inclusion means that that person is fully part of the community, socially and functionally, with the tools and support needed for success both in personal relationships and job performance.
Womenetics: How does inclusion come into play in the workplace at Bank of America?
Watson: I think my approach to inclusion has had a profound effect on the people on my teams. Most of them have never known someone who had a family member with a disability. I feel like my team is part of my family, and so I share a lot of personal things about Nathan that they might not have ever been exposed to. I know I am a much better person, mother, wife, associate, friend, and leader because of the way I view inclusion. Nathan really changed my life for the better.
Womenetics: How are you working with Bank of America to step up their support of people with disabilities?
Watson: I have been behind a grassroots effort to step up our disability recruiting to include hiring people with intellectual disabilities and wounded warriors. I am passionate about making a difference for people with disabilities and am very fortunate to be in a company that supports the same goals.
I am most proud of Bank of America’s Support Services organization, which, primarily based out of the Northeast, has approximately 300 teammates with intellectual disabilities. I have never been more proud to be part of this company as I was during my visit to Support Services a few years ago. They are one of the happiest hard-working teams I have ever spent time with. During my tour, each associate shared with me what he or she does for our company. They were so excited to tell me about their accomplishments. Over the last few years I have worked to expand awareness of this group and find more opportunities for associates in Support Services in other bank cities like Charlotte and Dallas. One of the key things to do is identify what jobs a person with intellectual disabilities could likely succeed at when supports and accommodations are put in place.
Womenetics: How do you fit it all in?
Watson: I am very fortunate to have a husband who is supportive of my career and has a career that gives him flexibility to adjust his schedule (He’s a Southwest Airlines pilot). We partner in every aspect of our lives: in support of our family, our careers, and our community. We are also both very active in our community and state. We take a divide-and-conquer approach with most everything in our lives to include our roles in influencing diversity and inclusion.
Womenetics: What do you do when you have a free moment to unwind?
Watson: I spend time with my husband, Paul, and our five kids – Brandon, Lizzie, Nathan, Jason, and Jenna. We enjoy playing soccer, tennis, and swimming together. I love Sundays because we spend the whole day together playing, attending church, and then going out to dinner. I especially love our family vacations and weekend get-aways! It’s our time to completely unplug from work and our community commitments. We love to go skiing, to the beach, and to Disney World. Our vacations remind me why I work so hard and of the many blessings in my life. To see each of my kids with a smile on their face enjoying time with our family is priceless.
Corinne Garcia is a freelance writer and editor living with her husband and two young boys in Bozeman, Mont. She has also written for Women’s Adventure, Christian Science Monitor, Northwest Travel, Pregnancy, Fit Pregnancy, and Fit Parent.
