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This week on TED.com
June 14, 2014
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Stella Young: I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much
09:16 minutes ·
Filmed Apr 2014 ·
Posted Jun 2014 ·
TEDxSydney
Stella Young is a comedian and journalist who happens to go about her day in a wheelchair — a fact that doesn’t, she’d like to make clear, automatically turn her into a noble inspiration to all humanity. In this very funny talk, Young breaks down society's habit of turning disabled people into “inspiration porn.”
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Total run time 1:39:50
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Santosh Limaye on
Stella Young: I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much
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Hi Stella
You opened my eyes! Thank you for providing a genuine view of our - rather specifically - my - human condition. When you talk about how our views are formed about disability by "thanking our luck" for not being disabled, it truly resonated with my conditioned response, and in that "aa-ha" moment, I recognized the gift you offered.
I do not know about inspiration, but you certainly provided a deep insight into how I look at others - be they disabled, or different in any way. It changed everything and brought in a deep compassion and empathy for all the life, including mine, right in front of me. I want to thank you for the precious gift."
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voices from the brink
Inspired by Sgt. Kevin Briggs' powerful TED Talk about suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge, bloggers on the Huffington Post explore survival ... in the latest TEDWeekends »
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