can one word really effect
really effect
really effect over a billion people imagine a world
over a billion people imagine a world
over a billion people imagine a world where we only spoke about ability
where we only spoke about ability
where we only spoke about ability imagine a world where being disabled
imagine a world where being disabled
imagine a world where being disabled didn’t matter I have a personal war with
didn’t matter I have a personal war with
didn’t matter I have a personal war with the word disabled
the word disabled
the word disabled I find it limiting outdated and negative
I find it limiting outdated and negative
I find it limiting outdated and negative 15% of the world’s population experience
15% of the world’s population experience
15% of the world’s population experience some form of disability 15% that’s 1
some form of disability 15% that’s 1
some form of disability 15% that’s 1 billion people being held back by this
billion people being held back by this
billion people being held back by this one word disabled my idea is very simple
one word disabled my idea is very simple
one word disabled my idea is very simple let’s remove disabled from the equation
let’s remove disabled from the equation
let’s remove disabled from the equation I had cerebral palsy I was born with it
I had cerebral palsy I was born with it
I had cerebral palsy I was born with it it was caused by medical negligence the
it was caused by medical negligence the
it was caused by medical negligence the team of doctors that delivered me had
team of doctors that delivered me had
team of doctors that delivered me had never delivered a baby before and
never delivered a baby before and
never delivered a baby before and because of this I got brain damage we
because of this I got brain damage we
because of this I got brain damage we found out my diagnosis when I was 4
found out my diagnosis when I was 4
found out my diagnosis when I was 4 years old
years old
years old after a blur of discipline hospital
after a blur of discipline hospital
after a blur of discipline hospital appointments I saw every specialist in
appointments I saw every specialist in
appointments I saw every specialist in the country and then we found out this
the country and then we found out this
the country and then we found out this diagnosis server palsy and the words
diagnosis server palsy and the words
diagnosis server palsy and the words that followed it were a condemnation and
that followed it were a condemnation and
that followed it were a condemnation and it’s followed me ever since you’ll never
it’s followed me ever since you’ll never
it’s followed me ever since you’ll never walk they said you’d be lucky if you
walk they said you’d be lucky if you
walk they said you’d be lucky if you survived to the age of 10 this picture
survived to the age of 10 this picture
survived to the age of 10 this picture is the earliest picture we have of my
is the earliest picture we have of my
is the earliest picture we have of my existence and the first 40 hours of my
existence and the first 40 hours of my
existence and the first 40 hours of my life very uncertain my family came in
life very uncertain my family came in
life very uncertain my family came in from across the country to say goodbye I
from across the country to say goodbye I
from across the country to say goodbye I spent the first week of my life in
spent the first week of my life in
spent the first week of my life in special care
special care
special care and the second week and high dependency
and the second week and high dependency
and the second week and high dependency all my life I’ve had limits placed on me
all my life I’ve had limits placed on me
all my life I’ve had limits placed on me because of this word disabled then Todd
because of this word disabled then Todd
because of this word disabled then Todd I’ll never do this I’ll never do that I
I’ll never do this I’ll never do that I
I’ll never do this I’ll never do that I stand here today as a proud man in
stand here today as a proud man in
stand here today as a proud man in international athlete and a visionary
international athlete and a visionary
international athlete and a visionary with a passion to change the way we look
with a passion to change the way we look
with a passion to change the way we look at disability forever when I was younger
at disability forever when I was younger
at disability forever when I was younger I hated public speaking because it
I hated public speaking because it
I hated public speaking because it exposed one of the elements of my
exposed one of the elements of my
exposed one of the elements of my condition I shake there’s nothing I can
condition I shake there’s nothing I can
condition I shake there’s nothing I can do to change it there’s nothing I can do
do to change it there’s nothing I can do
do to change it there’s nothing I can do to control it and Here I am my arms
to control it and Here I am my arms
to control it and Here I am my arms revealed to show my limitations but this
revealed to show my limitations but this
revealed to show my limitations but this is never been an issue what I’d like to
is never been an issue what I’d like to
is never been an issue what I’d like to show you guys today is how removing the
show you guys today is how removing the
show you guys today is how removing the word disabled empowered me and how we
word disabled empowered me and how we
word disabled empowered me and how we can empower a billion people it’s not
can empower a billion people it’s not
can empower a billion people it’s not about the 15 percent it’s about the 85
about the 15 percent it’s about the 85
about the 15 percent it’s about the 85 percent yes 15 percent of the world’s
percent yes 15 percent of the world’s
percent yes 15 percent of the world’s population experience some form of
population experience some form of
population experience some form of disability
disability
disability they’ve got their conditions they’ve got
they’ve got their conditions they’ve got
they’ve got their conditions they’ve got their diagnosis they’ve got their
their diagnosis they’ve got their
their diagnosis they’ve got their limitations they’ve been placed on them
limitations they’ve been placed on them
limitations they’ve been placed on them by the other 85% I don’t need to change
by the other 85% I don’t need to change
by the other 85% I don’t need to change the way people with conditions think
the way people with conditions think
the way people with conditions think about themselves I need to change the
about themselves I need to change the
about themselves I need to change the way everyone else thinks about them the
way everyone else thinks about them the
way everyone else thinks about them the way everyone else interacts with them my
way everyone else interacts with them my
way everyone else interacts with them my mission is to change the collective
mission is to change the collective
mission is to change the collective consciousness how we think about people
consciousness how we think about people
consciousness how we think about people who are different so for the rest of my
who are different so for the rest of my
who are different so for the rest of my talk I’m going to make a conscious
talk I’m going to make a conscious
talk I’m going to make a conscious effort to use the word different instead
effort to use the word different instead
effort to use the word different instead of disabled I said at the start I have a
of disabled I said at the start I have a
of disabled I said at the start I have a war with the word disabled and everyone
war with the word disabled and everyone
war with the word disabled and everyone always goes it’s quite a powerful thing
always goes it’s quite a powerful thing
always goes it’s quite a powerful thing to say when did you decide you have a
to say when did you decide you have a
to say when did you decide you have a war with one word in 2050
war with one word in 2050
war with one word in 2050 I was sitting in the Athletes Village in
I was sitting in the Athletes Village in
I was sitting in the Athletes Village in Holland angry and frustrated are
Holland angry and frustrated are
Holland angry and frustrated are different things that gone on and I
different things that gone on and I
different things that gone on and I started to break down the word disabled
started to break down the word disabled
started to break down the word disabled I never fully know what it meant
I never fully know what it meant
I never fully know what it meant home we didn’t speak about it my family
home we didn’t speak about it my family
home we didn’t speak about it my family didn’t care that I had cerebral palsy I
didn’t care that I had cerebral palsy I
didn’t care that I had cerebral palsy I did everything my brothers did I did
did everything my brothers did I did
did everything my brothers did I did everything everybody else did and it
everything everybody else did and it
everything everybody else did and it wasn’t until I went out into the wider
wasn’t until I went out into the wider
wasn’t until I went out into the wider world this word was placed on me and all
world this word was placed on me and all
world this word was placed on me and all of a sudden it mattered you were
of a sudden it mattered you were
of a sudden it mattered you were disabled you’re not allowed to take part
disabled you’re not allowed to take part
disabled you’re not allowed to take part in sport you were disabled it’s very
in sport you were disabled it’s very
in sport you were disabled it’s very unlikely you’ll go to university you’re
unlikely you’ll go to university you’re
unlikely you’ll go to university you’re disabled it’s unlikely you’ll be
disabled it’s unlikely you’ll be
disabled it’s unlikely you’ll be anything alike so what does this word
anything alike so what does this word
anything alike so what does this word mean having a physical or mental
mean having a physical or mental
mean having a physical or mental condition that limits movements senses
condition that limits movements senses
condition that limits movements senses or activities there are so many things
or activities there are so many things
or activities there are so many things wrong with this definition and I
wrong with this definition and I
wrong with this definition and I honestly don’t know where to start but
honestly don’t know where to start but
honestly don’t know where to start but first of all let’s break down some of
first of all let’s break down some of
first of all let’s break down some of this disability is not limited to
this disability is not limited to
this disability is not limited to physical and mental there are millions
physical and mental there are millions
physical and mental there are millions of people worldwide to have learning and
of people worldwide to have learning and
of people worldwide to have learning and social disabilities to name a common few
social disabilities to name a common few
social disabilities to name a common few Asperger’s dyslexia these are all
Asperger’s dyslexia these are all
Asperger’s dyslexia these are all disabilities not include in this
disabilities not include in this
disabilities not include in this definition but my main issue with this
definition but my main issue with this
definition but my main issue with this word disabled if the emphasis on the
word disabled if the emphasis on the
word disabled if the emphasis on the word limits and this is why I have a war
word limits and this is why I have a war
word limits and this is why I have a war with the word disabled because when you
with the word disabled because when you
with the word disabled because when you break it down it breaks into two words
break it down it breaks into two words
break it down it breaks into two words this enabled let that sink in for a
this enabled let that sink in for a
this enabled let that sink in for a minute
minute
minute this
a wood we’re literally telling people
a wood we’re literally telling people they can’t do something before we even
they can’t do something before we even
they can’t do something before we even give him a chance to try
give him a chance to try
give him a chance to try we’re selling someone based on a medical
we’re selling someone based on a medical
we’re selling someone based on a medical condition that they shouldn’t bother I
condition that they shouldn’t bother I
condition that they shouldn’t bother I was told I’d never walk I’m standing
was told I’d never walk I’m standing
was told I’d never walk I’m standing here today so clearly someone made a
here today so clearly someone made a
here today so clearly someone made a mistake somewhere and I think we’re
mistake somewhere and I think we’re
mistake somewhere and I think we’re making a massive mistake by labeling
making a massive mistake by labeling
making a massive mistake by labeling people with this word disabled I’m pre
people with this word disabled I’m pre
people with this word disabled I’m pre determining their future I believe by
determining their future I believe by
determining their future I believe by removing the word disabled we can
removing the word disabled we can
removing the word disabled we can empower a billion people and I’m going
empower a billion people and I’m going
empower a billion people and I’m going to tell you how the first step is to
to tell you how the first step is to
to tell you how the first step is to rethink how we talk about this because
rethink how we talk about this because
rethink how we talk about this because it’s not talking about so the first step
it’s not talking about so the first step
it’s not talking about so the first step is education in schools we have to talk
is education in schools we have to talk
is education in schools we have to talk about difference not disability
about difference not disability
about difference not disability difference because young people
difference because young people
difference because young people understand difference they don’t
understand difference they don’t
understand difference they don’t understand disability when I explain
understand disability when I explain
understand disability when I explain what’s going under my body one of my
what’s going under my body one of my
what’s going under my body one of my legs don’t work properly why am i left
legs don’t work properly why am i left
legs don’t work properly why am i left arm shakes why I can’t do certain things
arm shakes why I can’t do certain things
arm shakes why I can’t do certain things I don’t talk about disability because
I don’t talk about disability because
I don’t talk about disability because it’s the wrong way to talk about it
it’s the wrong way to talk about it
it’s the wrong way to talk about it because they can’t relate to it I talk
because they can’t relate to it I talk
because they can’t relate to it I talk about difference because everybody can
about difference because everybody can
about difference because everybody can relate to being different people have
relate to being different people have
relate to being different people have different skin color different hair
different skin color different hair
different skin color different hair color they’re from different backgrounds
color they’re from different backgrounds
color they’re from different backgrounds different ages different genders
different ages different genders
different ages different genders different sexualities so difference is
different sexualities so difference is
different sexualities so difference is the way forward to explain it and the
the way forward to explain it and the
the way forward to explain it and the emphasis has to be on education in
emphasis has to be on education in
emphasis has to be on education in schools we have to break down previous
schools we have to break down previous
schools we have to break down previous periods toward this word disabled
periods toward this word disabled
periods toward this word disabled because that’s what it is
because that’s what it is
because that’s what it is it’s a barrier it’s labeled and we tell
it’s a barrier it’s labeled and we tell
it’s a barrier it’s labeled and we tell people you can’t do something because
people you can’t do something because
people you can’t do something because there’s something we don’t understand
there’s something we don’t understand
there’s something we don’t understand difference everyone can understand
difference everyone can understand
difference everyone can understand difference and by educating the next
difference and by educating the next
difference and by educating the next generation we remove intolerance and
generation we remove intolerance and
generation we remove intolerance and hatred but we need to go a step further
hatred but we need to go a step further
hatred but we need to go a step further we can’t just teach in schools we have
we can’t just teach in schools we have
we can’t just teach in schools we have to teach the teachers first because the
to teach the teachers first because the
to teach the teachers first because the majority of teachers and educators don’t
majority of teachers and educators don’t
majority of teachers and educators don’t fully understand disability and when I
fully understand disability and when I
fully understand disability and when I say teachers and educators
say teachers and educators
say teachers and educators I don’t mean just in school teachers
I don’t mean just in school teachers
I don’t mean just in school teachers coaches anybody that works with humans
coaches anybody that works with humans
coaches anybody that works with humans majority of people don’t understand what
majority of people don’t understand what
majority of people don’t understand what this means and if we talk about
this means and if we talk about
this means and if we talk about difference then we can empower people
difference then we can empower people
difference then we can empower people my big goal in life is put the emphasis
my big goal in life is put the emphasis
my big goal in life is put the emphasis on abled I started in able not disabled
on abled I started in able not disabled
on abled I started in able not disabled as angry young man and it’s blossomed
as angry young man and it’s blossomed
as angry young man and it’s blossomed into work has taken me across three
into work has taken me across three
into work has taken me across three continents speaking to 40,000 people
continents speaking to 40,000 people
continents speaking to 40,000 people worldwide and what has taught me in this
worldwide and what has taught me in this
worldwide and what has taught me in this time is when something isn’t talked
time is when something isn’t talked
time is when something isn’t talked about that’s when there’s intolerance
about that’s when there’s intolerance
about that’s when there’s intolerance about it so I think we need to have more
about it so I think we need to have more
about it so I think we need to have more open and honest conversations about
open and honest conversations about
open and honest conversations about difference but we also have to change
difference but we also have to change
difference but we also have to change certain things we have to change the
certain things we have to change the
certain things we have to change the representation of people that are
representation of people that are
representation of people that are different we need global role models we
different we need global role models we
different we need global role models we need people in the media in the public
need people in the media in the public
need people in the media in the public eye they’re representative of the world
eye they’re representative of the world
eye they’re representative of the world we live in people with different
we live in people with different
we live in people with different conditions whether they be physical
conditions whether they be physical
conditions whether they be physical mental social or learning did not come
mental social or learning did not come
mental social or learning did not come from one background yeah in the public
from one background yeah in the public
from one background yeah in the public eye and in the media we only ever see
eye and in the media we only ever see
eye and in the media we only ever see one type exposed when people hear the
one type exposed when people hear the
one type exposed when people hear the word disability they think of our users
word disability they think of our users
word disability they think of our users or amputees because it’s something they
or amputees because it’s something they
or amputees because it’s something they can see only 8% of the disabled
can see only 8% of the disabled
can see only 8% of the disabled population in UK are wheelchair users so
population in UK are wheelchair users so
population in UK are wheelchair users so what about the other 92% well if you
what about the other 92% well if you
what about the other 92% well if you look at disability campaigns that’s all
look at disability campaigns that’s all
look at disability campaigns that’s all you ever see wheelchair users or
you ever see wheelchair users or
you ever see wheelchair users or amputees and they’re always from the
amputees and they’re always from the
amputees and they’re always from the same background it’s as part of changing
same background it’s as part of changing
same background it’s as part of changing our understanding and changing our
our understanding and changing our
our understanding and changing our perceptions I propose that we need to
perceptions I propose that we need to
perceptions I propose that we need to change how we highlight this there are
change how we highlight this there are
change how we highlight this there are people with all kinds of different
people with all kinds of different
people with all kinds of different abilities in this room that you’re not
abilities in this room that you’re not
abilities in this room that you’re not even aware of but more in a solution
even aware of but more in a solution
even aware of but more in a solution what can you do in your daily lives well
what can you do in your daily lives well
what can you do in your daily lives well I have three very simple steps and I
I have three very simple steps and I
I have three very simple steps and I guarantee you if you follow these three
guarantee you if you follow these three
guarantee you if you follow these three steps not only will your communication
steps not only will your communication
steps not only will your communication be a hundred times better but you will
be a hundred times better but you will
be a hundred times better but you will learn things you didn’t even know the
learn things you didn’t even know the
learn things you didn’t even know the first step when you meet someone who’s
first step when you meet someone who’s
first step when you meet someone who’s different
different
different it’s to ask their 9 ask their name
it’s to ask their 9 ask their name
it’s to ask their 9 ask their name because all throughout my life people
because all throughout my life people
because all throughout my life people have spoken to me about my condition not
have spoken to me about my condition not
have spoken to me about my condition not about Who I am ask how they are and
about Who I am ask how they are and
about Who I am ask how they are and thirdly ask them what they can do ask
thirdly ask them what they can do ask
thirdly ask them what they can do ask them what they want to do put the
them what they want to do put the
them what they want to do put the emphasis on what they’re able to do for
emphasis on what they’re able to do for
emphasis on what they’re able to do for the emphasis and what they want to do I
the emphasis and what they want to do I
the emphasis and what they want to do I believe strongly as a society we should
believe strongly as a society we should
believe strongly as a society we should be empowering people and this is not
be empowering people and this is not
be empowering people and this is not about coming down to anyone’s level this
about coming down to anyone’s level this
about coming down to anyone’s level this is about creating a level playing field
is about creating a level playing field
is about creating a level playing field so that we can empower a billion people
so that we can empower a billion people
so that we can empower a billion people and a lot of people say why does this
and a lot of people say why does this
and a lot of people say why does this matter I haven’t got a disability
matter I haven’t got a disability
matter I haven’t got a disability there’s nothing wrong with me
there’s nothing wrong with me
there’s nothing wrong with me I’ll tell you why this matters everyone
I’ll tell you why this matters everyone
I’ll tell you why this matters everyone knows someone who’s got a condition even
knows someone who’s got a condition even
knows someone who’s got a condition even if you haven’t got one yourself and as I
if you haven’t got one yourself and as I
if you haven’t got one yourself and as I said 15% of the world’s population
said 15% of the world’s population
said 15% of the world’s population experience some form of difference so if
experience some form of difference so if
experience some form of difference so if these 15 percent of being left out we
these 15 percent of being left out we
these 15 percent of being left out we miss out on a whole wealth of knowledge
miss out on a whole wealth of knowledge
miss out on a whole wealth of knowledge we’re going to do the first social
we’re going to do the first social
we’re going to do the first social experiment on a TEDx can everybody on
experiment on a TEDx can everybody on
experiment on a TEDx can everybody on the ends of the rows stand up please
thank you yep that’s perfect I will let
thank you yep that’s perfect I will let you guys sit down in a minute and I’ll
you guys sit down in a minute and I’ll
you guys sit down in a minute and I’ll explain to you why as I continue to talk
explain to you why as I continue to talk
explain to you why as I continue to talk about the solution the solution is
about the solution the solution is
about the solution the solution is breaking down previous thoughts
breaking down previous thoughts
breaking down previous thoughts previously when we spoke about
previously when we spoke about
previously when we spoke about disability it was in a negative context
disability it was in a negative context
disability it was in a negative context it was about what someone can’t do I’m
it was about what someone can’t do I’m
it was about what someone can’t do I’m proposing we talk about what people can
proposing we talk about what people can
proposing we talk about what people can do and I’m going to go back to education
do and I’m going to go back to education
do and I’m going to go back to education because currently education is not
because currently education is not
because currently education is not accessible and that is one of the key
accessible and that is one of the key
accessible and that is one of the key problems with this world if you have a
problems with this world if you have a
problems with this world if you have a group of people that can’t access
group of people that can’t access
group of people that can’t access education they can’t self better they
education they can’t self better they
education they can’t self better they can’t become citizens of the world and
can’t become citizens of the world and
can’t become citizens of the world and you miss out on what they have to
you miss out on what they have to
you miss out on what they have to contribute if a group of people come
contribute if a group of people come
contribute if a group of people come access education then we’ve done
access education then we’ve done
access education then we’ve done something wrong as a society and if it’s
something wrong as a society and if it’s
something wrong as a society and if it’s simply just an issue of removing the
simply just an issue of removing the
simply just an issue of removing the physical barriers or putting in some
physical barriers or putting in some
physical barriers or putting in some aids to help them such as ramps and
aids to help them such as ramps and
aids to help them such as ramps and there’s no excuse not to okay you guys
there’s no excuse not to okay you guys
there’s no excuse not to okay you guys miss it down now so I made you guys
miss it down now so I made you guys
miss it down now so I made you guys stand up and I didn’t tell you why well
stand up and I didn’t tell you why well
stand up and I didn’t tell you why well this is what it’s been like all my life
this is what it’s been like all my life
this is what it’s been like all my life I’ve been told to do things or told I’m
I’ve been told to do things or told I’m
I’ve been told to do things or told I’m not allowed to do things with no other
not allowed to do things with no other
not allowed to do things with no other reason given I was excluded from support
reason given I was excluded from support
reason given I was excluded from support in school for five years and the only
in school for five years and the only
in school for five years and the only thing I was ever told was it’s because
thing I was ever told was it’s because
thing I was ever told was it’s because you’re disabled so this is a social
you’re disabled so this is a social
you’re disabled so this is a social experiment to teach you guys what it’s
experiment to teach you guys what it’s
experiment to teach you guys what it’s like living with this world over me
like living with this world over me
like living with this world over me disabled I like to finish with one final
disabled I like to finish with one final
disabled I like to finish with one final point and it’s a quote he’s just a man
point and it’s a quote he’s just a man
point and it’s a quote he’s just a man that moves differently Harry King this
that moves differently Harry King this
that moves differently Harry King this is the man that has coached Olympic
is the man that has coached Olympic
is the man that has coached Olympic athletes for the best part of 30 years
athletes for the best part of 30 years
athletes for the best part of 30 years and he coached me to become the first
and he coached me to become the first
and he coached me to become the first person ever to qualify for a Paralympic
person ever to qualify for a Paralympic
person ever to qualify for a Paralympic Games and my event and he didn’t know
Games and my event and he didn’t know
Games and my event and he didn’t know anything about CP and he still doesn’t
anything about CP and he still doesn’t
anything about CP and he still doesn’t really know that
really know that
really know that about CP now but to him it didn’t matter
about CP now but to him it didn’t matter
about CP now but to him it didn’t matter he never treated me any differently he
he never treated me any differently he
he never treated me any differently he never saw me any differently and it’s
never saw me any differently and it’s
never saw me any differently and it’s because of that that we have achieved
because of that that we have achieved
because of that that we have achieved phenomenal things I’m just the man that
phenomenal things I’m just the man that
phenomenal things I’m just the man that moves differently and now this man is
moves differently and now this man is
moves differently and now this man is asking you to join me on this journey
asking you to join me on this journey
asking you to join me on this journey join me together and let’s enable a
join me together and let’s enable a
join me together and let’s enable a billion people thank you very much
billion people thank you very much
billion people thank you very much [Applause]
”
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