good afternoon my name is Adam Pearson some of you may recognize me from the TV
some of you may recognize me from the TV
some of you may recognize me from the TV I’ve got one of those faces seem to just
I’ve got one of those faces seem to just
I’ve got one of those faces seem to just feel that but just feel the auto
feel that but just feel the auto
feel that but just feel the auto attention just still disrobe for some
attention just still disrobe for some
attention just still disrobe for some reason when disability is mentioned it
reason when disability is mentioned it
reason when disability is mentioned it turns us all into morons like case in
turns us all into morons like case in
turns us all into morons like case in point I used to live here and Brighton I
point I used to live here and Brighton I
point I used to live here and Brighton I studied at Brighton uni just up the road
studied at Brighton uni just up the road
studied at Brighton uni just up the road in wall scone and I was in my house one
in wall scone and I was in my house one
in wall scone and I was in my house one day used to live on the Avenue and the
day used to live on the Avenue and the
day used to live on the Avenue and the gas man came round or was he only going
gas man came round or was he only going
gas man came round or was he only going in and I let him in he did his job when
in and I let him in he did his job when
in and I let him in he did his job when it was great but the entire time he was
it was great but the entire time he was
it was great but the entire time he was looking at me really really awkwardly
looking at me really really awkwardly
looking at me really really awkwardly and I was just thinking either he’s
and I was just thinking either he’s
and I was just thinking either he’s worked out I’m disabled or I’m getting
worked out I’m disabled or I’m getting
worked out I’m disabled or I’m getting laid
laid
laid [Laughter]
either way mondays just got brilliance
either way mondays just got brilliance and as he’s leaving he turns to me and
and as he’s leaving he turns to me and
and as he’s leaving he turns to me and just as you like says my friend Paul has
just as you like says my friend Paul has
just as you like says my friend Paul has a distinct event do you know him well no
a distinct event do you know him well no
a distinct event do you know him well no however my friend bill is a bitter
however my friend bill is a bitter
however my friend bill is a bitter that’s what do you got me thinking why
that’s what do you got me thinking why
that’s what do you got me thinking why why does this happen why when there are
why does this happen why when there are
why does this happen why when there are 10 million disabled people in the UK
10 million disabled people in the UK
10 million disabled people in the UK right that’s why we aren’t numbered
right that’s why we aren’t numbered
right that’s why we aren’t numbered Dom’s by 1.8 million and we all know how
Dom’s by 1.8 million and we all know how
Dom’s by 1.8 million and we all know how to handle a dog why is it like that and
to handle a dog why is it like that and
to handle a dog why is it like that and it’s because it’s almost invisible when
it’s because it’s almost invisible when
it’s because it’s almost invisible when you look at things like the mainstream
you look at things like the mainstream
you look at things like the mainstream media you very rarely see it and when
media you very rarely see it and when
media you very rarely see it and when when we as children and we look the
when we as children and we look the
when we as children and we look the heroes when we look for role models we
heroes when we look for role models we
heroes when we look for role models we look at people we identify with people
look at people we identify with people
look at people we identify with people from other similar backgrounds with the
from other similar backgrounds with the
from other similar backgrounds with the same interests that do what we want to
same interests that do what we want to
same interests that do what we want to do or excel that we want to excel at the
do or excel that we want to excel at the
do or excel that we want to excel at the the title the the name on the marquee
the title the the name on the marquee
the title the the name on the marquee the TEDx Brighton we can be heroes it’s
the TEDx Brighton we can be heroes it’s
the TEDx Brighton we can be heroes it’s a real – it doesn’t as a business brand
a real – it doesn’t as a business brand
a real – it doesn’t as a business brand to me this is like perfect marketing I
to me this is like perfect marketing I
to me this is like perfect marketing I imagine meet the ambience the ceiling in
imagine meet the ambience the ceiling in
imagine meet the ambience the ceiling in the room would have been a lot less so
the room would have been a lot less so
the room would have been a lot less so had they called it and they kind of
had they called it and they kind of
had they called it and they kind of half-ass the brainstorming meeting
half-ass the brainstorming meeting
half-ass the brainstorming meeting Toby had a rough night out comes and
Toby had a rough night out comes and
Toby had a rough night out comes and goes we can be average or no and it’s
goes we can be average or no and it’s
goes we can be average or no and it’s also my travel to sell it to the
also my travel to sell it to the
also my travel to sell it to the speakers as well I imagine I don’t know
speakers as well I imagine I don’t know
speakers as well I imagine I don’t know a lot that excite a lot less excited
a lot that excite a lot less excited
a lot that excite a lot less excited have had the call come in hi is that
have had the call come in hi is that
have had the call come in hi is that Adam Pearson yeah see I don’t Pearson
Adam Pearson yeah see I don’t Pearson
Adam Pearson yeah see I don’t Pearson yeah I’m fine why don’t OB what I’m
yeah I’m fine why don’t OB what I’m
yeah I’m fine why don’t OB what I’m calling from TEDx Brighton okay we’re
calling from TEDx Brighton okay we’re
calling from TEDx Brighton okay we’re having an event called we can be average
having an event called we can be average
having an event called we can be average and we thought you’d be perfect
and we thought you’d be perfect
and we thought you’d be perfect to talk at listen and so I when I got
to talk at listen and so I when I got
to talk at listen and so I when I got into TV this still still not me whenever
into TV this still still not me whenever
into TV this still still not me whenever you see disability or disfigurement on
you see disability or disfigurement on
you see disability or disfigurement on TV as I said there were ten million
TV as I said there were ten million
TV as I said there were ten million people with disabilities in the UK
people with disabilities in the UK
people with disabilities in the UK cycles in the forty thousands of which
cycles in the forty thousands of which
cycles in the forty thousands of which are people who have some kind of facial
are people who have some kind of facial
are people who have some kind of facial disfigurement which is a ballpark
disfigurement which is a ballpark
disfigurement which is a ballpark average of one in every 144 people where
average of one in every 144 people where
average of one in every 144 people where are they when you hear the word hero I
are they when you hear the word hero I
are they when you hear the word hero I don’t know who who your heroes are some
don’t know who who your heroes are some
don’t know who who your heroes are some people will jump to the great athletes
people will jump to the great athletes
people will jump to the great athletes of our time 1966 World Cup final in 1974
of our time 1966 World Cup final in 1974
of our time 1966 World Cup final in 1974 George Foreman Muhammad Ali the rumble
George Foreman Muhammad Ali the rumble
George Foreman Muhammad Ali the rumble in the jungle some you might be looking
in the jungle some you might be looking
in the jungle some you might be looking forward to USD to Gregor any average
forward to USD to Gregor any average
forward to USD to Gregor any average some of you may think of the great
some of you may think of the great
some of you may think of the great humanitarians at that time Martin Luther
humanitarians at that time Martin Luther
humanitarians at that time Martin Luther King
King
King mother Teresa Bob is not your kind of
mother Teresa Bob is not your kind of
mother Teresa Bob is not your kind of thing but give me a song with it with a
thing but give me a song with it with a
thing but give me a song with it with a disability I didn’t have that and that
disability I didn’t have that and that
disability I didn’t have that and that left me a confused as to where I could
left me a confused as to where I could
left me a confused as to where I could sit in general and also it made me
sit in general and also it made me
sit in general and also it made me wanted to become a broadcast or a
wanted to become a broadcast or a
wanted to become a broadcast or a journalist incredibly unlikely and I’ve
journalist incredibly unlikely and I’ve
journalist incredibly unlikely and I’ve always been a campaigning type I
always been a campaigning type I
always been a campaigning type I campaigned for several charities and all
campaigned for several charities and all
campaigned for several charities and all my work in TV has been a very fortunate
my work in TV has been a very fortunate
my work in TV has been a very fortunate byproduct of being very very good at
byproduct of being very very good at
byproduct of being very very good at that and a lot of the documentaries on
that and a lot of the documentaries on
that and a lot of the documentaries on me look at the world of disability but
me look at the world of disability but
me look at the world of disability but through a very different lens disability
through a very different lens disability
through a very different lens disability in documentaries historically it has not
in documentaries historically it has not
in documentaries historically it has not been done well um if you look at channel
been done well um if you look at channel
been done well um if you look at channel 5 they have these ridiculously since h
5 they have these ridiculously since h
5 they have these ridiculously since h they named programs and it starts off
they named programs and it starts off
they named programs and it starts off with this heinous voice Jimmy was born
with this heinous voice Jimmy was born
with this heinous voice Jimmy was born and then Cole played six you start
and then Cole played six you start
and then Cole played six you start playing in the body background with a
playing in the body background with a
playing in the body background with a shark through an arm and in the parent
shark through an arm and in the parent
shark through an arm and in the parent sit there and go oh that’s that’s not
sit there and go oh that’s that’s not
sit there and go oh that’s that’s not how we want to be portrayed on
how we want to be portrayed on
how we want to be portrayed on and it dawns on me from walking around
and it dawns on me from walking around
and it dawns on me from walking around the hallowed halls of BBC Television
the hallowed halls of BBC Television
the hallowed halls of BBC Television Centre long way at rest in peace a lot
Centre long way at rest in peace a lot
Centre long way at rest in peace a lot of the decisions about disability were
of the decisions about disability were
of the decisions about disability were being made by what were mainly white
being made by what were mainly white
being made by what were mainly white middle-aged middle-class men who weren’t
middle-aged middle-class men who weren’t
middle-aged middle-class men who weren’t disabled and I started asking the right
disabled and I started asking the right
disabled and I started asking the right questions to the right people and
questions to the right people and
questions to the right people and eventually caught the attention of the
eventually caught the attention of the
eventually caught the attention of the head of TV Danny Cohen who when my
head of TV Danny Cohen who when my
head of TV Danny Cohen who when my contract ends at BBC I originally worked
contract ends at BBC I originally worked
contract ends at BBC I originally worked in diversity in commissioning on I then
in diversity in commissioning on I then
in diversity in commissioning on I then got into the more production side of
got into the more production side of
got into the more production side of things and BBC 3 ran this season on
things and BBC 3 ran this season on
things and BBC 3 ran this season on about two years ago now called defy and
about two years ago now called defy and
about two years ago now called defy and label they wanted to put out a whole
label they wanted to put out a whole
label they wanted to put out a whole season of programmes looking at
season of programmes looking at
season of programmes looking at disability from different angles and in
disability from different angles and in
disability from different angles and in order to get a very good steer on it
order to get a very good steer on it
order to get a very good steer on it they had this crazy focus and one of my
they had this crazy focus and one of my
they had this crazy focus and one of my friends who I was organizing it said hey
friends who I was organizing it said hey
friends who I was organizing it said hey are you ok and then the next day of this
are you ok and then the next day of this
are you ok and then the next day of this focus groups you call me in tears saying
focus groups you call me in tears saying
focus groups you call me in tears saying oh well I mean you doing that really
oh well I mean you doing that really
oh well I mean you doing that really fine
fine
fine number one you owe me dinner number
number one you owe me dinner number
number one you owe me dinner number number two it’s at any point I have to
number two it’s at any point I have to
number two it’s at any point I have to say my name and a fact about myself
and so I’m in this room and then I’m far
and so I’m in this room and then I’m far away from the door which in retrospect
away from the door which in retrospect
away from the door which in retrospect was stick and I’m shouldn’t exert my now
was stick and I’m shouldn’t exert my now
was stick and I’m shouldn’t exert my now commissioner Elliot Reid and did lady
commissioner Elliot Reid and did lady
commissioner Elliot Reid and did lady start the session and lo and behold
start the session and lo and behold
start the session and lo and behold names and this girl stood up and said hi
names and this girl stood up and said hi
names and this girl stood up and said hi my name’s Ellen and we all had to go hi
my name’s Ellen and we all had to go hi
my name’s Ellen and we all had to go hi Ellen and then she she said my interest
Ellen and then she she said my interest
Ellen and then she she said my interest in science is I have 10 different
in science is I have 10 different
in science is I have 10 different disabilities and I said in what was a
disabilities and I said in what was a
disabilities and I said in what was a very quiet voice burst out laughing so
very quiet voice burst out laughing so
very quiet voice burst out laughing so I’m trying to be really soft about this
I’m trying to be really soft about this
I’m trying to be really soft about this what we both look like idiots anyway um
what we both look like idiots anyway um
what we both look like idiots anyway um Annie and hyung approached me and the
Annie and hyung approached me and the
Annie and hyung approached me and the independent TV companies I work with to
independent TV companies I work with to
independent TV companies I work with to make a program looking at disability
make a program looking at disability
make a program looking at disability hate crime which is quite a diluted
hate crime which is quite a diluted
hate crime which is quite a diluted eroded issue within law there were five
eroded issue within law there were five
eroded issue within law there were five protected groups under hate crime
protected groups under hate crime
protected groups under hate crime legislation then being based upon race
legislation then being based upon race
legislation then being based upon race religion sexuality disability and gender
religion sexuality disability and gender
religion sexuality disability and gender identity and I wanted to really
identity and I wanted to really
identity and I wanted to really highlight the massive disparities in the
highlight the massive disparities in the
highlight the massive disparities in the law as being Criminal Justice Act
law as being Criminal Justice Act
law as being Criminal Justice Act section 163 if a crime is committed it’s
section 163 if a crime is committed it’s
section 163 if a crime is committed it’s motivated by race or religion there is a
motivated by race or religion there is a
motivated by race or religion there is a kind of 2-year place where is that the
kind of 2-year place where is that the
kind of 2-year place where is that the same crime can we get the song with a
same crime can we get the song with a
same crime can we get the song with a disability yup there’s only six months
disability yup there’s only six months
disability yup there’s only six months and then all these really interesting on
and then all these really interesting on
and then all these really interesting on discrepancies that exist when you have a
discrepancies that exist when you have a
discrepancies that exist when you have a disability and I don’t want to stand
disability and I don’t want to stand
disability and I don’t want to stand here and Salman Khan I’m moaning or so
here and Salman Khan I’m moaning or so
here and Salman Khan I’m moaning or so I’m not I’m not grateful for the
I’m not I’m not grateful for the
I’m not I’m not grateful for the provisions for disabled people that
provisions for disabled people that
provisions for disabled people that exist in the UK as far as the rest of
exist in the UK as far as the rest of
exist in the UK as far as the rest of the world goes we have it pretty good
the world goes we have it pretty good
the world goes we have it pretty good over here all 10-minute of us dare I say
over here all 10-minute of us dare I say
over here all 10-minute of us dare I say we have it better than the 8.2 million
we have it better than the 8.2 million
we have it better than the 8.2 million dogs that are or anything okay and then
dogs that are or anything okay and then
dogs that are or anything okay and then after afters that ran out that did
after afters that ran out that did
after afters that ran out that did rather well and then between that I’ve
rather well and then between that I’ve
rather well and then between that I’ve got to do the
got to do the
got to do the do earlier mention some ways when
do earlier mention some ways when
do earlier mention some ways when Scarlett Johansson which is good work if
Scarlett Johansson which is good work if
Scarlett Johansson which is good work if you can get it I suppose I didn’t tell I
you can get it I suppose I didn’t tell I
you can get it I suppose I didn’t tell I didn’t tell my parents what had happened
didn’t tell my parents what had happened
didn’t tell my parents what had happened in the film I thought that’d be that’d
in the film I thought that’d be that’d
in the film I thought that’d be that’d be a nice surprise then going to the
be a nice surprise then going to the
be a nice surprise then going to the cinema expecting a jolly old romp
cinema expecting a jolly old romp
cinema expecting a jolly old romp through Scotland then they see their
through Scotland then they see their
through Scotland then they see their songs on the screen how you doing
songs on the screen how you doing
songs on the screen how you doing and then after that film came out I took
and then after that film came out I took
and then after that film came out I took a bit of a break and did what my mom
a bit of a break and did what my mom
a bit of a break and did what my mom calls a proper job and then I got this
calls a proper job and then I got this
calls a proper job and then I got this random Facebook message shown Los
random Facebook message shown Los
random Facebook message shown Los Angeles and it just jazzy slightly and
Angeles and it just jazzy slightly and
Angeles and it just jazzy slightly and it’s like hello Adam my name is Todd ray
it’s like hello Adam my name is Todd ray
it’s like hello Adam my name is Todd ray Sarah no we saw you in under the skin
Sarah no we saw you in under the skin
Sarah no we saw you in under the skin and we thought you were great I was
and we thought you were great I was
and we thought you were great I was great old man I own and operate the
great old man I own and operate the
great old man I own and operate the Venice Beach freakshow in California
Venice Beach freakshow in California
Venice Beach freakshow in California this is and I wrote back going all that
this is and I wrote back going all that
this is and I wrote back going all that jazz um dear Todd thank you for your
jazz um dear Todd thank you for your
jazz um dear Todd thank you for your email James you like the film
email James you like the film
email James you like the film unfortunately I have no real skills
unfortunately I have no real skills
unfortunately I have no real skills carries my mother’s email she will
carries my mother’s email she will
carries my mother’s email she will verify I have no active skills that
verify I have no active skills that
verify I have no active skills that could benefit your establishment um and
could benefit your establishment um and
could benefit your establishment um and then I told my boss about this in the
then I told my boss about this in the
then I told my boss about this in the pub one night after work and he just
pub one night after work and he just
pub one night after work and he just flipped to me when would you do it and I
flipped to me when would you do it and I
flipped to me when would you do it and I was like and then we ended up making a
was like and then we ended up making a
was like and then we ended up making a whole documentary about freak shows so
whole documentary about freak shows so
whole documentary about freak shows so what started off this really a drunken
what started off this really a drunken
what started off this really a drunken conversation in a pub turned into this
conversation in a pub turned into this
conversation in a pub turned into this three-week whirlwind tour of America and
three-week whirlwind tour of America and
three-week whirlwind tour of America and Mexico visiting various freak shows
Mexico visiting various freak shows
Mexico visiting various freak shows which is not something doing previously
which is not something doing previously
which is not something doing previously seen on TV with everything it’s all
seen on TV with everything it’s all
seen on TV with everything it’s all about taking what is quite a soaring
about taking what is quite a soaring
about taking what is quite a soaring subject disability and doing it in a
subject disability and doing it in a
subject disability and doing it in a different way that’s that’s engaging
different way that’s that’s engaging
different way that’s that’s engaging with the public the worst thing that we
with the public the worst thing that we
with the public the worst thing that we can do
can do
can do in theory with disability just make it
in theory with disability just make it
in theory with disability just make it all medical we need to start appealing
all medical we need to start appealing
all medical we need to start appealing about human spin on disability whether
about human spin on disability whether
about human spin on disability whether that is kind of taking people out to
that is kind of taking people out to
that is kind of taking people out to concerts or or just doing the right
concerts or or just doing the right
concerts or or just doing the right thing just saying hello that’s that’s
thing just saying hello that’s that’s
thing just saying hello that’s that’s all it is and people may be sitting here
all it is and people may be sitting here
all it is and people may be sitting here thinking that sort when I’m great for me
thinking that sort when I’m great for me
thinking that sort when I’m great for me but what can what can we do and I think
but what can what can we do and I think
but what can what can we do and I think we all have it in us to be to be heroes
we all have it in us to be to be heroes
we all have it in us to be to be heroes we all have it in us to tell great
we all have it in us to tell great
we all have it in us to tell great stories and make a real impact in our
stories and make a real impact in our
stories and make a real impact in our lives and there are three simple
lives and there are three simple
lives and there are three simple questions I believe we can ask ourselves
questions I believe we can ask ourselves
questions I believe we can ask ourselves done enabled us to make a great
done enabled us to make a great
done enabled us to make a great difference not only in our lives but in
difference not only in our lives but in
difference not only in our lives but in those of the people around us
those of the people around us
those of the people around us number one what do we like and number
number one what do we like and number
number one what do we like and number two what are we good at it’s at this
two what are we good at it’s at this
two what are we good at it’s at this point I’ve already stopped and have to
point I’ve already stopped and have to
point I’ve already stopped and have to clarify so if what you and I come what
clarify so if what you and I come what
clarify so if what you and I come what you’re good at aren’t legal then please
you’re good at aren’t legal then please
you’re good at aren’t legal then please please sign other things like so often I
please sign other things like so often I
please sign other things like so often I I say that to young people and they
I say that to young people and they
I say that to young people and they cannot see others go I can do that no
cannot see others go I can do that no
cannot see others go I can do that no [Music]
[Music]
[Music] put the pool away and think of a
put the pool away and think of a
put the pool away and think of a different idea and then come back to me
different idea and then come back to me
different idea and then come back to me but number number three what pisses you
but number number three what pisses you
but number number three what pisses you off quite often if we can find what our
off quite often if we can find what our
off quite often if we can find what our misery is we can find what our
misery is we can find what our
misery is we can find what our quote-unquote ministry is I’m from
quote-unquote ministry is I’m from
quote-unquote ministry is I’m from working around know you as I said
working around know you as I said
working around know you as I said hallowed halls of BBC TV see so I didn’t
hallowed halls of BBC TV see so I didn’t
hallowed halls of BBC TV see so I didn’t like about our industry saw how badly
like about our industry saw how badly
like about our industry saw how badly were handling disability and decided to
were handling disability and decided to
were handling disability and decided to be that irritating voice of reason that
be that irritating voice of reason that
be that irritating voice of reason that made was part of making a change and we
made was part of making a change and we
made was part of making a change and we are now 66 years so when I first started
are now 66 years so when I first started
are now 66 years so when I first started in TV and we’re making very good strides
in TV and we’re making very good strides
in TV and we’re making very good strides channel 4 and the Paralympics have done
channel 4 and the Paralympics have done
channel 4 and the Paralympics have done wonders Alex and Josh on the last leg
wonders Alex and Josh on the last leg
wonders Alex and Josh on the last leg I’m amazing and that’s really helped to
I’m amazing and that’s really helped to
I’m amazing and that’s really helped to normalize disability so I would
normalize disability so I would
normalize disability so I would encourage all of you find what different
encourage all of you find what different
encourage all of you find what different to make in this world decides what you
to make in this world decides what you
to make in this world decides what you want to be and go and be it no excuses
want to be and go and be it no excuses
want to be and go and be it no excuses full throttle I’ve been havin Pearson
full throttle I’ve been havin Pearson
full throttle I’ve been havin Pearson thank you so your time
thank you so your time
thank you so your time [Applause]
”
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