4 ways to design a disability-friendly future
1,293,813 views | Meghan Hussey • TED Salon: Bezos Scholars
Nearly fifteen percent of the world's population lives with a disability, yet this massive chunk of humanity is still routinely excluded from opportunities. Sharing her experience growing up with an autistic sister, disability inclusion advocate Meghan Hussey illuminates the path towards an inclusive future in four steps, and it starts with an attitude check on assumptions and stereotypes. Designing a world built for everyone is not a "nice to have," Hussey says -- it's critical to the fabric of society.
Nearly fifteen percent of the world's population lives with a disability, yet this massive chunk of humanity is still routinely excluded from opportunities. Sharing her experience growing up with an autistic sister, disability inclusion advocate Meghan Hussey illuminates the path towards an inclusive future in four steps, and it starts with an attitude check on assumptions and stereotypes. Designing a world built for everyone is not a "nice to have," Hussey says -- it's critical to the fabric of society.
This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Bezos Scholars. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about TED Salons.About the speaker
Meghan Hussey is committed to disability inclusion in global development.
United Nations, 2018 | Article
"The UN Flagship Report on Disability and Sustainable Development"
Too often disability is overlooked as an issue within the global development agenda. This first-ever report on disability and sustainable development details why inclusion of persons with disabilities is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals' mission of "leave no one behind." It also profiles some promising inclusive development practices by, with and for persons with disabilities.
Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education, 2021 | Article
"Social Inclusion of Students with Intellectual Disabilities: Lessons from Special Olympics Unified Schools"
Incorporating evaluation findings from four countries, this research brief presents evidence that inclusive co-curricular programming has benefits for youth both with and without disabilities and provides recommendations for policy and practice.
Haseeb Abbasi | TEDxLahore, 2016 | Watch
"Biggest Challenge for Intellectually Disabled People is Social Attitude"
"The biggest challenge for intellectually disabled people is the social attitude," says Haseeb Abbasi. "Please don't pity us. We need moral and social support." In his TEDxLahore Talk, Abbasi uses his personal story to advocate for changing social mindsets towards persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities like him.
Special Olympics, 2022 | Article
"Changing the World One Crosswalk at a Time"
Ben Collins' story demonstrates an example of self-advocacy to increase accessibility at the local level.
Brina Maxino | CNN, 2020 | Article
"Millions of children with disabilities are missing out on education. Like me, they deserve to fulfill their potential"
Brina Maxino, an assistant pre-school teacher and UNESCO Global Champion for Inclusion in Education, writes about low expectations that were placed on her as a child with Down syndrome and the need for more educational opportunities for students with disabilities around the world.
Meghan Hussey et al. | International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2017 | Article
"Barriers to the Implementation of the Health and Rehabilitation Articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in South Africa"
My research in South Africa found that attitude barriers, including stigma and negative assumptions about persons with disabilities, were seen as an underlying cause and influence on all of the other barriers to implementing international disability rights law.
Emily Ladau | Ten Speed Press, 2021 | Book
Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally
A very approachable introduction to disability and information about how to be an ally.
About TED Salon
TED Salons welcome an intimate audience for an afternoon or evening of highly-curated TED Talks revolving around a globally relevant theme. A condensed version of a TED flagship conference, they are distinct in their brevity, opportunities for conversation, and heightened interaction between the speaker and audience.
This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Bezos Scholars. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about TED Salons.