The power of solidarity and silence | Aria Mia Loberti | TEDxURI

it is my firm belief that our world

it is my firm belief that our world suffers equally from the vocalization of

suffers equally from the vocalization of

suffers equally from the vocalization of violence ignorant and hate as it does

violence ignorant and hate as it does

violence ignorant and hate as it does from the silence of steadfast wise and

from the silence of steadfast wise and

from the silence of steadfast wise and good people silence

good people silence

good people silence serves the oppressor and never the

serves the oppressor and never the

serves the oppressor and never the oppressed in the words of activist

oppressed in the words of activist

oppressed in the words of activist Malala yousufzai I raise up my voice not

Malala yousufzai I raise up my voice not

Malala yousufzai I raise up my voice not so that I can shout but so that those

so that I can shout but so that those

so that I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard this is

without a voice can be heard this is

without a voice can be heard this is what I hope to achieve today as an

what I hope to achieve today as an

what I hope to achieve today as an advocate for the blind and

advocate for the blind and

advocate for the blind and visually-impaired like myself I’ve aimed

visually-impaired like myself I’ve aimed

visually-impaired like myself I’ve aimed to spread awareness throughout my life

to spread awareness throughout my life

to spread awareness throughout my life for people with disabilities

for people with disabilities

for people with disabilities growing up with the disability was of

growing up with the disability was of

growing up with the disability was of course understandably challenging

course understandably challenging

course understandably challenging sometimes but those challenges brought

sometimes but those challenges brought

sometimes but those challenges brought me many vital lessons one of which I

me many vital lessons one of which I

me many vital lessons one of which I would like to share with all of you

would like to share with all of you

would like to share with all of you today I was born with a very rare

today I was born with a very rare

today I was born with a very rare genetic eye condition called

genetic eye condition called

genetic eye condition called achromatopsia this basically means that

achromatopsia this basically means that

achromatopsia this basically means that I am completely color blind and very

I am completely color blind and very

I am completely color blind and very nearsighted and I’m quite

nearsighted and I’m quite

nearsighted and I’m quite light-sensitive so that in bright lights

light-sensitive so that in bright lights

light-sensitive so that in bright lights like these or an outdoor lighting

like these or an outdoor lighting

like these or an outdoor lighting without my dark glasses

without my dark glasses

without my dark glasses I am completely blinded and sometimes

I am completely blinded and sometimes

I am completely blinded and sometimes this can be excruciating what am i Tolls

this can be excruciating what am i Tolls

this can be excruciating what am i Tolls for getting around is Ingrid here my

for getting around is Ingrid here my

for getting around is Ingrid here my guide dog for the blind hi Ingrid she’s

guide dog for the blind hi Ingrid she’s

guide dog for the blind hi Ingrid she’s doing great if I may backtrack for a

doing great if I may backtrack for a

doing great if I may backtrack for a moment to a point before I had angered

moment to a point before I had angered

moment to a point before I had angered by my side when I was a elementary

by my side when I was a elementary

by my side when I was a elementary school student my early years of

school student my early years of

school student my early years of elementary school were challenging my

elementary school were challenging my

elementary school were challenging my needs were not met in the classroom even

needs were not met in the classroom even

needs were not met in the classroom even though they were protected by the

though they were protected by the

though they were protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and by

Americans with Disabilities Act and by

Americans with Disabilities Act and by my individualized education plan as a

my individualized education plan as a

my individualized education plan as a result I would experience debilitating

result I would experience debilitating

result I would experience debilitating fatigue and frustration even though

fatigue and frustration even though

fatigue and frustration even though these services were actually really

these services were actually really

these services were actually really simple like a seat at the front of the

simple like a seat at the front of the

simple like a seat at the front of the classroom enlarged handouts on

classroom enlarged handouts on

classroom enlarged handouts on anti-glare paper use of a white cane it

anti-glare paper use of a white cane it

anti-glare paper use of a white cane it was a rarity that I ever received them

was a rarity that I ever received them

was a rarity that I ever received them even though my parents were power

even though my parents were power

even though my parents were power advocates for my case to make matters

advocates for my case to make matters

advocates for my case to make matters worse teachers and administrators often

worse teachers and administrators often

worse teachers and administrators often misunderstood the idea of disability

misunderstood the idea of disability

misunderstood the idea of disability I remember one administrator saying to

I remember one administrator saying to

I remember one administrator saying to me that she was surprised that I could

me that she was surprised that I could

me that she was surprised that I could be both legally blind and intelligent

be both legally blind and intelligent

be both legally blind and intelligent another said to me with my mom in the

another said to me with my mom in the

another said to me with my mom in the room that it was not worth the school

room that it was not worth the school

room that it was not worth the school department’s investment to enlarge or

department’s investment to enlarge or

department’s investment to enlarge or modify my mathematics materials because

modify my mathematics materials because

modify my mathematics materials because I’m a girl girls aren’t supposed to be

I’m a girl girls aren’t supposed to be

I’m a girl girls aren’t supposed to be good at math and I’m blind so what would

good at math and I’m blind so what would

good at math and I’m blind so what would I be doing with math anyway one of the

I be doing with math anyway one of the

I be doing with math anyway one of the more dramatic turns was in 2nd and 3rd

more dramatic turns was in 2nd and 3rd

more dramatic turns was in 2nd and 3rd grade when I would be shut alone and

grade when I would be shut alone and

grade when I would be shut alone and isolated in a room during recess I was

isolated in a room during recess I was

isolated in a room during recess I was not allowed to go outside on the

not allowed to go outside on the

not allowed to go outside on the playground with the other children

playground with the other children

playground with the other children because I was considered a liability so

because I was considered a liability so

because I was considered a liability so this was challenging but as you can

this was challenging but as you can

this was challenging but as you can imagine I couldn’t say silence neither

imagine I couldn’t say silence neither

imagine I couldn’t say silence neither could my parents so they formulated a

could my parents so they formulated a

could my parents so they formulated a plan so that I could receive my legally

plan so that I could receive my legally

plan so that I could receive my legally obligated free and appropriate public

obligated free and appropriate public

obligated free and appropriate public education under the law I was

education under the law I was

education under the law I was home-schooled from the middle of third

home-schooled from the middle of third

home-schooled from the middle of third grade onward through my senior year of

grade onward through my senior year of

grade onward through my senior year of high school through online curriculums

high school through online curriculums

high school through online curriculums and it was amazing to top it all off I

and it was amazing to top it all off I

and it was amazing to top it all off I received a 98% average at the end of

received a 98% average at the end of

received a 98% average at the end of high school and all my mathematics

high school and all my mathematics

high school and all my mathematics courses proving that even for blind

courses proving that even for blind

courses proving that even for blind girls math is really cool and really

girls math is really cool and really

girls math is really cool and really helpful but I realized I was one of the

helpful but I realized I was one of the

helpful but I realized I was one of the lucky ones and the moral of the story is

lucky ones and the moral of the story is

lucky ones and the moral of the story is that I learned from a very young age

that I learned from a very young age

that I learned from a very young age that our society sees disability in

that our society sees disability in

that our society sees disability in somewhat negative light and that young

somewhat negative light and that young

somewhat negative light and that young people especially with disabilities

people especially with disabilities

people especially with disabilities especially young people and women are

especially young people and women are

especially young people and women are often not taught or encouraged to use

often not taught or encouraged to use

often not taught or encouraged to use their voice I was my parents taught me

their voice I was my parents taught me

their voice I was my parents taught me how to advocate for myself they taught

how to advocate for myself they taught

how to advocate for myself they taught me the laws that protected me and that

me the laws that protected me and that

me the laws that protected me and that is my power but there are so many people

is my power but there are so many people

is my power but there are so many people especially in the adult developing world

especially in the adult developing world

especially in the adult developing world who are not nearly as lucky from a young

who are not nearly as lucky from a young

who are not nearly as lucky from a young age I was an advocate first for myself

age I was an advocate first for myself

age I was an advocate first for myself and then locally and statewide and more

and then locally and statewide and more

and then locally and statewide and more recently I became an intern

recently I became an intern

recently I became an intern national advocate which was always a

national advocate which was always a

national advocate which was always a dream of mine now I get to speak before

dream of mine now I get to speak before

dream of mine now I get to speak before the United Nations I get to speak with

the United Nations I get to speak with

the United Nations I get to speak with you and women it’s so cool because I get

you and women it’s so cool because I get

you and women it’s so cool because I get to intersect disability and gender

to intersect disability and gender

to intersect disability and gender equality together to show that this

equality together to show that this

equality together to show that this issue of gender and disability

issue of gender and disability

issue of gender and disability intersectionality is quite a challenging

intersectionality is quite a challenging

intersectionality is quite a challenging one

one

one a unique population feast facing unique

a unique population feast facing unique

a unique population feast facing unique threats and unique challenges but it

threats and unique challenges but it

threats and unique challenges but it rarely ever gets pressed the UN predicts

rarely ever gets pressed the UN predicts

rarely ever gets pressed the UN predicts that seventy-five percent of women with

that seventy-five percent of women with

that seventy-five percent of women with disabilities are unemployed 83 percent

disabilities are unemployed 83 percent

disabilities are unemployed 83 percent of women with developmental disabilities

of women with developmental disabilities

of women with developmental disabilities could be sexually assaulted during their

could be sexually assaulted during their

could be sexually assaulted during their lifetime there is a 1% literacy rate and

lifetime there is a 1% literacy rate and

lifetime there is a 1% literacy rate and I cannot stay silent in the face of

I cannot stay silent in the face of

I cannot stay silent in the face of those statistics but USAID US aid

those statistics but USAID US aid

those statistics but USAID US aid predicts that women with disabilities

predicts that women with disabilities

predicts that women with disabilities are the most powerful potential

are the most powerful potential

are the most powerful potential community leaders perhaps because of the

community leaders perhaps because of the

community leaders perhaps because of the challenges that we have to face just to

challenges that we have to face just to

challenges that we have to face just to go about our day to day life just to be

go about our day to day life just to be

go about our day to day life just to be taken seriously

taken seriously

taken seriously it’s predicted that if women with

it’s predicted that if women with

it’s predicted that if women with disabilities were educated and employed

disabilities were educated and employed

disabilities were educated and employed similar to that of their male or

similar to that of their male or

similar to that of their male or non-disabled peers the economies

non-disabled peers the economies

non-disabled peers the economies especially in the developing world would

especially in the developing world would

especially in the developing world would increase women with disabilities may

increase women with disabilities may

increase women with disabilities may well be the world’s least tapped

well be the world’s least tapped

well be the world’s least tapped resource but these statistics are not

resource but these statistics are not

resource but these statistics are not mainstream too many people stay silent

mainstream too many people stay silent

mainstream too many people stay silent in addition to our silence there is of

in addition to our silence there is of

in addition to our silence there is of course the word disability which is

course the word disability which is

course the word disability which is coupled with countless negative

coupled with countless negative

coupled with countless negative connotations now I cannot stand up here

connotations now I cannot stand up here

connotations now I cannot stand up here today and offer us all I don’t think

today and offer us all I don’t think

today and offer us all I don’t think anyone can a solution word that can

anyone can a solution word that can

anyone can a solution word that can simultaneously encompass an umbrella of

simultaneously encompass an umbrella of

simultaneously encompass an umbrella of abilities and have positive connotations

abilities and have positive connotations

abilities and have positive connotations the way that disability could have but

the way that disability could have but

the way that disability could have but what I can offer you all is to reclaim

what I can offer you all is to reclaim

what I can offer you all is to reclaim the word the discourse we use shapes the

the word the discourse we use shapes the

the word the discourse we use shapes the reality in which we live so if we

reality in which we live so if we

reality in which we live so if we continue to formulate a world where

continue to formulate a world where

continue to formulate a world where disability is

disability is

disability is seen as a weakness as a stereotype or as

seen as a weakness as a stereotype or as

seen as a weakness as a stereotype or as a fault of the body we’re formulating a

a fault of the body we’re formulating a

a fault of the body we’re formulating a world in which that is indeed the case I

world in which that is indeed the case I

world in which that is indeed the case I encourage you instead to formulate a

encourage you instead to formulate a

encourage you instead to formulate a vision for the future pun intended in

vision for the future pun intended in

vision for the future pun intended in which disability equality is seen as

which disability equality is seen as

which disability equality is seen as part of cultural diversity it’s not an

part of cultural diversity it’s not an

part of cultural diversity it’s not an issue of Main Street of charity or pity

issue of Main Street of charity or pity

issue of Main Street of charity or pity but it’s mainstream it’s relevant to all

but it’s mainstream it’s relevant to all

but it’s mainstream it’s relevant to all of us so let’s stand in solidarity with

of us so let’s stand in solidarity with

of us so let’s stand in solidarity with that mission let’s make that our view

that mission let’s make that our view

that mission let’s make that our view for the future I am absolutely honored

for the future I am absolutely honored

for the future I am absolutely honored to be standing before all of you today I

to be standing before all of you today I

to be standing before all of you today I will become the prejudice sometimes the

will become the prejudice sometimes the

will become the prejudice sometimes the oppression that I face with a disability

oppression that I face with a disability

oppression that I face with a disability back in my elementary school years I was

back in my elementary school years I was

back in my elementary school years I was pretty much made to feel as if my voice

pretty much made to feel as if my voice

pretty much made to feel as if my voice did not matter by those people in that

did not matter by those people in that

did not matter by those people in that school department I was made to feel as

school department I was made to feel as

school department I was made to feel as though my voice my mission was worthless

though my voice my mission was worthless

though my voice my mission was worthless outside of my family and then I faced an

outside of my family and then I faced an

outside of my family and then I faced an illness as a young team that should have

illness as a young team that should have

illness as a young team that should have claimed my life but I’m standing here

claimed my life but I’m standing here

claimed my life but I’m standing here today before you and I am living my

today before you and I am living my

today before you and I am living my dream I am a triple major that’s crazy

dream I am a triple major that’s crazy

dream I am a triple major that’s crazy I’m in political science communication

I’m in political science communication

I’m in political science communication studies and philosophy here at the

studies and philosophy here at the

studies and philosophy here at the University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island I am absolutely honored to get to work

I am absolutely honored to get to work

I am absolutely honored to get to work with people professors especially who

with people professors especially who

with people professors especially who are so enthusiastic about sharing their

are so enthusiastic about sharing their

are so enthusiastic about sharing their wisdom with someone like me and I am

wisdom with someone like me and I am

wisdom with someone like me and I am ready to soak that up like a sponge I

ready to soak that up like a sponge I

ready to soak that up like a sponge I used to dream about my current reality

used to dream about my current reality

used to dream about my current reality of a place where I could be accepted as

of a place where I could be accepted as

of a place where I could be accepted as a whole person as someone with hopes and

a whole person as someone with hopes and

a whole person as someone with hopes and dreams not just as that token disabled

dreams not just as that token disabled

dreams not just as that token disabled person or as the person with eyes that

person or as the person with eyes that

person or as the person with eyes that just work a little bit differently

just work a little bit differently

just work a little bit differently and I know that I wouldn’t be standing

and I know that I wouldn’t be standing

and I know that I wouldn’t be standing here today if I didn’t have grits and

here today if I didn’t have grits and

here today if I didn’t have grits and perseverance and all those things those

perseverance and all those things those

perseverance and all those things those are great but I know I would most

are great but I know I would most

are great but I know I would most definitely 100% never be standing here

definitely 100% never be standing here

definitely 100% never be standing here literally and figuratively if it was not

literally and figuratively if it was not

literally and figuratively if it was not for people like my parents my professors

for people like my parents my professors

for people like my parents my professors here at URI and the people who saw

here at URI and the people who saw

here at URI and the people who saw something in me and have allowed me to

something in me and have allowed me to

something in me and have allowed me to pursue my personal definition of success

pursue my personal definition of success

pursue my personal definition of success who did not stay

who did not stay

who did not stay silent close your eyes for a moment now

silent close your eyes for a moment now

silent close your eyes for a moment now I can’t see you because I’m blinded by

I can’t see you because I’m blinded by

I can’t see you because I’m blinded by the light and all that but ingrid here

the light and all that but ingrid here

the light and all that but ingrid here she can’t she’s going to watch you so

she can’t she’s going to watch you so

she can’t she’s going to watch you so don’t open your eyes until I tell you to

don’t open your eyes until I tell you to

don’t open your eyes until I tell you to Ingrid are you watching them I hope so

Ingrid are you watching them I hope so

Ingrid are you watching them I hope so think of someone in your life it can be

think of someone in your life it can be

think of someone in your life it can be anyone someone who is perhaps facing a

anyone someone who is perhaps facing a

anyone someone who is perhaps facing a challenge maybe their voice is oppressed

challenge maybe their voice is oppressed

challenge maybe their voice is oppressed maybe they’re facing some level of

maybe they’re facing some level of

maybe they’re facing some level of discrimination maybe they’re to use a

discrimination maybe they’re to use a

discrimination maybe they’re to use a little bit of love and encouragement and

little bit of love and encouragement and

little bit of love and encouragement and support coming in to part of their

support coming in to part of their

support coming in to part of their identity what can you do to help them it

identity what can you do to help them it

identity what can you do to help them it doesn’t have to cost you any money it

doesn’t have to cost you any money it

doesn’t have to cost you any money it doesn’t even have to take a lot of time

doesn’t even have to take a lot of time

doesn’t even have to take a lot of time it can be a simple act of support

it can be a simple act of support

it can be a simple act of support empathy showing them that you see them

empathy showing them that you see them

empathy showing them that you see them as a whole person open your eyes

as a whole person open your eyes

as a whole person open your eyes are they good Ingrid okay I challenge

are they good Ingrid okay I challenge

are they good Ingrid okay I challenge you to take that action within one week

you to take that action within one week

you to take that action within one week of leaving this room

of leaving this room

of leaving this room it might seem insignificant maybe even a

it might seem insignificant maybe even a

it might seem insignificant maybe even a little bit silly to you but that tiny

little bit silly to you but that tiny

little bit silly to you but that tiny ounce of support can be enough to change

ounce of support can be enough to change

ounce of support can be enough to change someone’s world it was for me remember

someone’s world it was for me remember

someone’s world it was for me remember that the world needs all of us not just

that the world needs all of us not just

that the world needs all of us not just me and not just you watching this video

me and not just you watching this video

me and not just you watching this video or sitting in this room but the whole

or sitting in this room but the whole

or sitting in this room but the whole world to stand up for those who do not

world to stand up for those who do not

world to stand up for those who do not have a voice keep this in mind when you

have a voice keep this in mind when you

have a voice keep this in mind when you leave today or when you click off this

leave today or when you click off this

leave today or when you click off this video it’s up to all of us to make this

video it’s up to all of us to make this

video it’s up to all of us to make this change it’s up to each and every one of

change it’s up to each and every one of

change it’s up to each and every one of us to raise up our voices in solidarity

us to raise up our voices in solidarity

us to raise up our voices in solidarity with confidence with peace do not stay

with confidence with peace do not stay

with confidence with peace do not stay silent one voice can make an incredible

silent one voice can make an incredible

silent one voice can make an incredible impact but no one can achieve anything

impact but no one can achieve anything

impact but no one can achieve anything alone

alone

alone I am living proof of that thank you