when people meet me for the first time they automatically see three identities
they automatically see three identities
they automatically see three identities that I’m blind I’m Muslim and I’m a
that I’m blind I’m Muslim and I’m a
that I’m blind I’m Muslim and I’m a woman and when these three identities
woman and when these three identities
woman and when these three identities come assumptions
come assumptions
come assumptions there’s assumptions about my disability
there’s assumptions about my disability
there’s assumptions about my disability what I can or cannot do there’s
what I can or cannot do there’s
what I can or cannot do there’s assumption about my faith what I believe
assumption about my faith what I believe
assumption about my faith what I believe in or not believe in theirs assumptions
in or not believe in theirs assumptions
in or not believe in theirs assumptions about my gender my role as a woman in
about my gender my role as a woman in
about my gender my role as a woman in society that’s human nature we meet
society that’s human nature we meet
society that’s human nature we meet someone for the first time we size them
someone for the first time we size them
someone for the first time we size them up within the first seven seconds we
up within the first seven seconds we
up within the first seven seconds we attach labels and to those labels we
attach labels and to those labels we
attach labels and to those labels we attached assumptions and many times
attached assumptions and many times
attached assumptions and many times unfortunately these assumptions can be
unfortunately these assumptions can be
unfortunately these assumptions can be very disempowerment and also
very disempowerment and also
very disempowerment and also intimidating causing people to hide one
intimidating causing people to hide one
intimidating causing people to hide one or more of their identities that’s why
or more of their identities that’s why
or more of their identities that’s why you can see blind people in countries
you can see blind people in countries
you can see blind people in countries like Lebanon where my pants are usually
like Lebanon where my pants are usually
like Lebanon where my pants are usually from not using a white cane because they
from not using a white cane because they
from not using a white cane because they don’t want to be identified as having a
don’t want to be identified as having a
don’t want to be identified as having a disability that’s why you can see
disability that’s why you can see
disability that’s why you can see Muslims in America afraid to pray out in
Muslims in America afraid to pray out in
Muslims in America afraid to pray out in public spaces because they’re afraid to
public spaces because they’re afraid to
public spaces because they’re afraid to be identified as Muslim but it’s so
be identified as Muslim but it’s so
be identified as Muslim but it’s so important that we bring our whole
important that we bring our whole
important that we bring our whole authentic self and that we’re proud of
authentic self and that we’re proud of
authentic self and that we’re proud of all of our identities because only then
all of our identities because only then
all of our identities because only then we’re able to tap into our full
we’re able to tap into our full
we’re able to tap into our full potential I am proud to be blind I am
potential I am proud to be blind I am
potential I am proud to be blind I am proud to be Muslim and I’m proud to be a
proud to be Muslim and I’m proud to be a
proud to be Muslim and I’m proud to be a woman my blindness has given me the
woman my blindness has given me the
woman my blindness has given me the creativity the resilience and the
creativity the resilience and the
creativity the resilience and the perseverance in life Maya Slim has given
perseverance in life Maya Slim has given
perseverance in life Maya Slim has given me the strength to see the beauty in
me the strength to see the beauty in
me the strength to see the beauty in this world and to tackle any challenge
this world and to tackle any challenge
this world and to tackle any challenge that comes my way
that comes my way
that comes my way my gender has shown me the power the
my gender has shown me the power the
my gender has shown me the power the balance between strength and love
balance between strength and love
balance between strength and love I would not exchange any of my
I would not exchange any of my
I would not exchange any of my identities for anything because who
identities for anything because who
identities for anything because who because of this is because why I have
because of this is because why I have
because of this is because why I have been able to accomplish so far because
been able to accomplish so far because
been able to accomplish so far because who I am but how do we get every single
who I am but how do we get every single
who I am but how do we get every single one of us to be proud of our all-over
one of us to be proud of our all-over
one of us to be proud of our all-over identities we bring our authentic self
identities we bring our authentic self
identities we bring our authentic self to every space that we are in I’m gonna
to every space that we are in I’m gonna
to every space that we are in I’m gonna take you through my life’s journey I’m
take you through my life’s journey I’m
take you through my life’s journey I’m gonna dissect one of my identities my
gonna dissect one of my identities my
gonna dissect one of my identities my disability identity I’m gonna show you
disability identity I’m gonna show you
disability identity I’m gonna show you how I’ve been able to see the beauty
how I’ve been able to see the beauty
how I’ve been able to see the beauty behind my blindness how I’ve been able
behind my blindness how I’ve been able
behind my blindness how I’ve been able to let go of society’s expectations and
to let go of society’s expectations and
to let go of society’s expectations and assumptions surrounding disability and
assumptions surrounding disability and
assumptions surrounding disability and how I’ve been able to impact my life in
how I’ve been able to impact my life in
how I’ve been able to impact my life in the community around me when I was seven
the community around me when I was seven
the community around me when I was seven years old I woke up one day and my world
years old I woke up one day and my world
years old I woke up one day and my world was completely altered I had lost most
was completely altered I had lost most
was completely altered I had lost most my vision but it was a reaction of those
my vision but it was a reaction of those
my vision but it was a reaction of those around me that gave me the strength my
around me that gave me the strength my
around me that gave me the strength my parents did not allow society’s
parents did not allow society’s
parents did not allow society’s expectations and assumptions to impact
expectations and assumptions to impact
expectations and assumptions to impact the narrative that they created at home
the narrative that they created at home
the narrative that they created at home they never allowed me to utter the words
they never allowed me to utter the words
they never allowed me to utter the words I cannot do this because I cannot see
I cannot do this because I cannot see
I cannot do this because I cannot see they encouraged me to be proud of Who I
they encouraged me to be proud of Who I
they encouraged me to be proud of Who I am they pushed me to path tap into my
am they pushed me to path tap into my
am they pushed me to path tap into my potential and because of that I was
potential and because of that I was
potential and because of that I was empowered to pursue my own life and
empowered to pursue my own life and
empowered to pursue my own life and dreams because of that I was able to
dreams because of that I was able to
dreams because of that I was able to major in math and undergrad a very
major in math and undergrad a very
major in math and undergrad a very visible visible subject I was able to
visible visible subject I was able to
visible visible subject I was able to start a nonprofit organization and I was
start a nonprofit organization and I was
start a nonprofit organization and I was even able to hike and slide down a
even able to hike and slide down a
even able to hike and slide down a volcano in Nicaragua and this was all
volcano in Nicaragua and this was all
volcano in Nicaragua and this was all because I was given the space and
because I was given the space and
because I was given the space and support to believe in Who I am but
support to believe in Who I am but
support to believe in Who I am but that’s not the reality for most kids
that’s not the reality for most kids
that’s not the reality for most kids with disabilities out there during my
with disabilities out there during my
with disabilities out there during my annual summer trips to Lebanon growing
annual summer trips to Lebanon growing
annual summer trips to Lebanon growing up that’s what I felt like my blindness
up that’s what I felt like my blindness
up that’s what I felt like my blindness was a disability the intense pitying
was a disability the intense pitying
was a disability the intense pitying charity narrative that disempowers you
charity narrative that disempowers you
charity narrative that disempowers you that makes you believe that there’s
that makes you believe that there’s
that makes you believe that there’s something wrong with you
something wrong with you
something wrong with you that makes you feel like you have to
that makes you feel like you have to
that makes you feel like you have to hide something and that’s the narrative
hide something and that’s the narrative
hide something and that’s the narrative that most kids with disabilities are
that most kids with disabilities are
that most kids with disabilities are living let me tell you sorry
living let me tell you sorry
living let me tell you sorry I met a kid if years ago named Omar in
I met a kid if years ago named Omar in
I met a kid if years ago named Omar in Lebanon he was 12 years old at the time
Lebanon he was 12 years old at the time
Lebanon he was 12 years old at the time his mother abandoned him when he was a
his mother abandoned him when he was a
his mother abandoned him when he was a child when he was born because she found
child when he was born because she found
child when he was born because she found out he was blind his grandparents who
out he was blind his grandparents who
out he was blind his grandparents who are taking care of him are fine are
are taking care of him are fine are
are taking care of him are fine are trying to find a way to get rid of him
trying to find a way to get rid of him
trying to find a way to get rid of him he has never been to school he doesn’t
he has never been to school he doesn’t
he has never been to school he doesn’t leave his home he doesn’t talk to anyone
leave his home he doesn’t talk to anyone
leave his home he doesn’t talk to anyone and he’s literally sitting in a corning
and he’s literally sitting in a corning
and he’s literally sitting in a corning corner doing nothing and this is all
corner doing nothing and this is all
corner doing nothing and this is all because society projected its own
because society projected its own
because society projected its own expectations on what he can or cannot do
expectations on what he can or cannot do
expectations on what he can or cannot do and this is one of many stories across
and this is one of many stories across
and this is one of many stories across the globe there are 1 billion
the globe there are 1 billion
the globe there are 1 billion individuals in this world with a
individuals in this world with a
individuals in this world with a disability that’s 1/7 of the world’s
disability that’s 1/7 of the world’s
disability that’s 1/7 of the world’s population and that ratio does not even
population and that ratio does not even
population and that ratio does not even come close to being represented in any
come close to being represented in any
come close to being represented in any of our spaces including here why is that
of our spaces including here why is that
of our spaces including here why is that the reality why is that that we don’t
the reality why is that that we don’t
the reality why is that that we don’t think twice when we don’t see people
think twice when we don’t see people
think twice when we don’t see people disabilities out and about in our
disabilities out and about in our
disabilities out and about in our communities imagine how much potential
communities imagine how much potential
communities imagine how much potential is being lost much of that is because of
is being lost much of that is because of
is being lost much of that is because of the stigma associated to the label
the stigma associated to the label
the stigma associated to the label having a disability people with
having a disability people with
having a disability people with disabilities are easy either seen or
disabilities are easy either seen or
disabilities are easy either seen or either not seen they’re an invisible
either not seen they’re an invisible
either not seen they’re an invisible population or at best a charity case the
population or at best a charity case the
population or at best a charity case the lack of value the poor expectation this
lack of value the poor expectation this
lack of value the poor expectation this empowers the a big population
empowers the a big population
empowers the a big population marginalizes them in all sectors ranging
marginalizes them in all sectors ranging
marginalizes them in all sectors ranging from health to education to employment
from health to education to employment
from health to education to employment let me give you a small example the
let me give you a small example the
let me give you a small example the blind specialized schools in Lebanon
blind specialized schools in Lebanon
blind specialized schools in Lebanon remove most of the math and science
remove most of the math and science
remove most of the math and science curriculum from the high school classes
curriculum from the high school classes
curriculum from the high school classes because they assume you’re blind you
because they assume you’re blind you
because they assume you’re blind you cannot see math and science it’s very
cannot see math and science it’s very
cannot see math and science it’s very visual there’s no point you can’t do it
visual there’s no point you can’t do it
visual there’s no point you can’t do it if my sister who’s also visually
if my sister who’s also visually
if my sister who’s also visually impaired and I grew up in that narrative
impaired and I grew up in that narrative
impaired and I grew up in that narrative I wouldn’t have been able to measure in
I wouldn’t have been able to measure in
I wouldn’t have been able to measure in a subject that I loved dearly and my
a subject that I loved dearly and my
a subject that I loved dearly and my sister wouldn’t have been able to
sister wouldn’t have been able to
sister wouldn’t have been able to complete a PhD in computational
complete a PhD in computational
complete a PhD in computational chemistry so imagine imagine how much
chemistry so imagine imagine how much
chemistry so imagine imagine how much potential is being lost because of what
potential is being lost because of what
potential is being lost because of what society is expecting the lack of
society is expecting the lack of
society is expecting the lack of expectation of the disability population
expectation of the disability population
expectation of the disability population and unfortunately because these kids
and unfortunately because these kids
and unfortunately because these kids with disabilities are living in that
with disabilities are living in that
with disabilities are living in that narrative and this is the only narrative
narrative and this is the only narrative
narrative and this is the only narrative that they know they start embodying
that they know they start embodying
that they know they start embodying these poor expectations and they start
these poor expectations and they start
these poor expectations and they start believing what society thinks they can
believing what society thinks they can
believing what society thinks they can or cannot do and it becomes a vicious
or cannot do and it becomes a vicious
or cannot do and it becomes a vicious disempowering cycle and that’s why I
disempowering cycle and that’s why I
disempowering cycle and that’s why I founded empowerment to integration
founded empowerment to integration
founded empowerment to integration ETI a nonprofit that seeks to change the
ETI a nonprofit that seeks to change the
ETI a nonprofit that seeks to change the narrative surrounding disability to
narrative surrounding disability to
narrative surrounding disability to disrupt that vicious cycle doesn’t strap
disrupt that vicious cycle doesn’t strap
disrupt that vicious cycle doesn’t strap the poor expectation an old level from
the poor expectation an old level from
the poor expectation an old level from the societal level and the individual
the societal level and the individual
the societal level and the individual level and that’s why our programs start
level and that’s why our programs start
level and that’s why our programs start with a life skill training where we take
with a life skill training where we take
with a life skill training where we take kids blind and visual impaired kids who
kids blind and visual impaired kids who
kids blind and visual impaired kids who are expected not to be able to walk on
are expected not to be able to walk on
are expected not to be able to walk on their own not to be able to make their
their own not to be able to make their
their own not to be able to make their own sandwiches are in their own they’re
own sandwiches are in their own they’re
own sandwiches are in their own they’re not expected to do anything on their own
not expected to do anything on their own
not expected to do anything on their own and we come in and we provide them with
and we come in and we provide them with
and we come in and we provide them with simple tools like using a white cane so
simple tools like using a white cane so
simple tools like using a white cane so they can actually be able to walk on
they can actually be able to walk on
they can actually be able to walk on their own and navigate the world on
their own and navigate the world on
their own and navigate the world on their own through these simple tools
their own through these simple tools
their own through these simple tools they’re able to be independent they’re
they’re able to be independent they’re
they’re able to be independent they’re able to be proud of who they are and
able to be proud of who they are and
able to be proud of who they are and they’re confident enough to believe that
they’re confident enough to believe that
they’re confident enough to believe that they can impact their own life and they
they can impact their own life and they
they can impact their own life and they realize that the limitations that they
realize that the limitations that they
realize that the limitations that they have is not because of their disability
have is not because of their disability
have is not because of their disability and it’s because of society’s
and it’s because of society’s
and it’s because of society’s expectations but we take that a step
expectations but we take that a step
expectations but we take that a step further we don’t want them just to
further we don’t want them just to
further we don’t want them just to impact their own lives we want them to
impact their own lives we want them to
impact their own lives we want them to believe that they have the potential to
believe that they have the potential to
believe that they have the potential to also contribute to society
also contribute to society
also contribute to society so we have a social project program
so we have a social project program
so we have a social project program where we bring together blind and
where we bring together blind and
where we bring together blind and sighted kids kids without with and
sighted kids kids without with and
sighted kids kids without with and without disabilities in the participate
without disabilities in the participate
without disabilities in the participate in community service part
in community service part
in community service part in their own towns one of the
in their own towns one of the
in their own towns one of the participants serene she came up to us
participants serene she came up to us
participants serene she came up to us after completing the recycling project
after completing the recycling project
after completing the recycling project and she said I never thought in a
and she said I never thought in a
and she said I never thought in a million years that I would be able to
million years that I would be able to
million years that I would be able to contribute to my society I always felt
contribute to my society I always felt
contribute to my society I always felt that I had to be on the receiving end
that I had to be on the receiving end
that I had to be on the receiving end that was the only expectation I had
that was the only expectation I had
that was the only expectation I had because I was that’s that was all that
because I was that’s that was all that
because I was that’s that was all that was expected of me
was expected of me
was expected of me you changed my life because you believed
you changed my life because you believed
you changed my life because you believed that I had I can make a difference all
that I had I can make a difference all
that I had I can make a difference all it took is giving her the space and the
it took is giving her the space and the
it took is giving her the space and the support to believe in who she is that’s
support to believe in who she is that’s
support to believe in who she is that’s all that it takes so my message this
all that it takes so my message this
all that it takes so my message this message is not just for people with
message is not just for people with
message is not just for people with disability it’s for everyone every
disability it’s for everyone every
disability it’s for everyone every single one of us every single identity
single one of us every single identity
single one of us every single identity and all the people that we interact with
and all the people that we interact with
and all the people that we interact with on a daily basis we’ve all straddled
on a daily basis we’ve all straddled
on a daily basis we’ve all straddled both side of the experience we’ve all
both side of the experience we’ve all
both side of the experience we’ve all been disempowered at one point in time
been disempowered at one point in time
been disempowered at one point in time because of one of our identities but
because of one of our identities but
because of one of our identities but someone came along the way discredited
someone came along the way discredited
someone came along the way discredited that notion that we were less worthy and
that notion that we were less worthy and
that notion that we were less worthy and believed in who we are and help the see
believed in who we are and help the see
believed in who we are and help the see our potential but I also guarantee that
our potential but I also guarantee that
our potential but I also guarantee that every single one of us have disempowered
every single one of us have disempowered
every single one of us have disempowered someone unintentionally we all embody
someone unintentionally we all embody
someone unintentionally we all embody isms racism sexism ableism without even
isms racism sexism ableism without even
isms racism sexism ableism without even knowing and we project our own
knowing and we project our own
knowing and we project our own preconceived notions on someone without
preconceived notions on someone without
preconceived notions on someone without knowing them preventing the true
knowing them preventing the true
knowing them preventing the true potential to come out this is for
potential to come out this is for
potential to come out this is for everyone Intel did a survey at a high
everyone Intel did a survey at a high
everyone Intel did a survey at a high school in Oakland minutes away from
school in Oakland minutes away from
school in Oakland minutes away from Silicon Valley minutes away from
Silicon Valley minutes away from
Silicon Valley minutes away from Facebook and Google and they asked the
Facebook and Google and they asked the
Facebook and Google and they asked the teachers how many of them believe that
teachers how many of them believe that
teachers how many of them believe that their students can succeed and go off
their students can succeed and go off
their students can succeed and go off and work in a company like Google and
and work in a company like Google and
and work in a company like Google and Facebook guess how many said yes only
Facebook guess how many said yes only
Facebook guess how many said yes only 14% so imagine being a student and you
14% so imagine being a student and you
14% so imagine being a student and you have a teacher that does not believe in
have a teacher that does not believe in
have a teacher that does not believe in you does not believe in your potential
you does not believe in your potential
you does not believe in your potential does not believe that you can succeed
does not believe that you can succeed
does not believe that you can succeed you’re then disempowered to go down the
you’re then disempowered to go down the
you’re then disempowered to go down the wrong path under the potentials lost so
wrong path under the potentials lost so
wrong path under the potentials lost so imagine how much potential is being lost
imagine how much potential is being lost
imagine how much potential is being lost in our on a daily basis across the globe
in our on a daily basis across the globe
in our on a daily basis across the globe we are all in position of influence
we are all in position of influence
we are all in position of influence whether we are parents teachers
whether we are parents teachers
whether we are parents teachers neighbors employers and we all create
neighbors employers and we all create
neighbors employers and we all create impact on a daily basis whether positive
impact on a daily basis whether positive
impact on a daily basis whether positive or negative you don’t need to start a
or negative you don’t need to start a
or negative you don’t need to start a nonprofit organization to create
nonprofit organization to create
nonprofit organization to create positive impact it’s very simple start
positive impact it’s very simple start
positive impact it’s very simple start with the people you interact with on a
with the people you interact with on a
with the people you interact with on a daily basis give them the space to exist
daily basis give them the space to exist
daily basis give them the space to exist and expect something beautiful from them
and expect something beautiful from them
and expect something beautiful from them so my ask of you today is very simple be
so my ask of you today is very simple be
so my ask of you today is very simple be blind to the labels of society expect
blind to the labels of society expect
blind to the labels of society expect something beautiful from yourself and
something beautiful from yourself and
something beautiful from yourself and expect something beautiful from everyone
expect something beautiful from everyone
expect something beautiful from everyone around you thank you
around you thank you
around you thank you [Applause]
”
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