An Unconventional Look at Inspiration [VIDEO]

Stella Young’s riveting TED talk about disability will open your mind.

Feb 8, 2015
Special Collections: THE ABILITY IN DISABILITY
An Unconventional Look at Inspiration [VIDEO] | Stella Young’s riveting TED talk about disability will open your mind.

Stella Young had a typical childhood in Victoria, Australia. She would go to school, hang out with her friends, fight with her sisters and work part-time at her mother’s hair dressing salon. At the age of 15, Young was nominated for a community achievement award. Her parents’ reaction?  "Hm, that's really nice, but there's kind of one glaring problem with that. She hasn't actually achieved anything."
Stella Young, an activist, comedian and journalist, was born with a congenital bone disorder -  osteogenesis imperfecta - which placed her in a wheelchair most of her life. Her humorous and feisty TED talk takes a different look at disabilities. She disputes the fact she should be a noble inspiration to others just because she is in a wheelchair. Young doesn’t view being disabled as exceptional or extraordinary. Rather, she sees herself like anyone else - functioning in the body that she was born with and using it to the best of her capacity.
Young sadly passed away earlier this year. Her work and advocacy on behalf of disabled people was one of empowerment - her dream was to, “live in a world where we value genuine achievement for disabled people.” This riveting TED talk will open your minds and perhaps give you a new perspective on what disability means.

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