Isn't it a pity? The real problem with special needs | Torrie Dunlap | TEDxAmericasFinestCity

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences.
Kids with special needs are marginalized in our communities, and we are doing it with the best of intentions. Inclusion expert Torrie Dunlap shares why we need to change our thinking when it comes to special needs.

[@kewlbns69]

it's so great to see someone without a disability that actually just "gets it"

[@honeybnoir824]

Right? Non-disabled people will never truly understand what's it like to the same degree that physically, mentally and/or learning disabled people go through, but she still gets that all we want, despite what obsticles we face, to be accepted and included for who we are as people. We don't want to be treated as "special," we want to be treated with the same kind of respect like everyone else does. There may be just more than one solution that would solve this depending on the situation rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, but with an attitude like hers, it's a start to figuring it out.

[@jonny377]

This woman speaks truth ! Thank god for these special kids ! They are not the problem.... we are .....

[@ElianaTardioHurtado]

Wonderful talk. It's all about changing our personal perception, first, as parents, in order to educate others.

[@SudhirKumar-cu5qp]

Eliana Tardio मन

[@anthonykerr3509]

Not even parents of disabled kids really get this right. It is one of the most frustrating things out there.

[@ItsRealyReall]

This is how I felt when my city held a "Job fair for Autism." I was surprised/upset that I didn't know about it before, and happy at first. But the combination of life happening and me not being ready to go to it I took a look at it again and realized that it's so weird that it's separated like that. I see the benefits, and the downsides of having an event like that. :/ I really love your video, thank you for very much Torrie!!

[@suecj8770]

What a brilliant talk, the speaker really hit the provial nail on head. I like the idea of the biopsychosocial model this is a new model to me and it sums up disability really well.

[@aceatkinson2312]

Thank you, Torrie. I was the Executive Director of Developmental Disabilities Area Board 12 for the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono Counties for 35 years. The Board's advocacy on behalf of people with Developmental Disabilities started with advocacy for community services. In the last twenty five years the Board's advocacy was for people with disabilities to be a part of the real world as compared with being apart from the real world. Being a part of the real world has to start the day the child is born. Please help families make the choice for their child to be a part of the real world. Otherwise most professionals in the child's life will advocate for the child to be a part from the real world so they can be safe, and receive the greatest professional interventions (provided in segregated settings), My mentor was Jeff Strully. With Peace and Love.

[@MEAFoundation]

Excellent TEDx Talk by Torrie Dunlap of Kids Included Together, which brilliantly captures the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation's philosophy on inclusion of youth with disabilities in society.

[@kcrossing14]

I have high functioning autism and I really agree with this!!

[@cherishrake9562]

I really wish they audio on this was better. It's scare jump worthy when it cuts to advertisements on how loud I must make this to hear it. I love this talk as a momma to several SPED kids.

[@Coolscarykid]

It is a pity. I have epilepsy and yes it’s not noticeable but i have a disability. But we’re picked on more than others. We’re treated differently and we feel like people don’t want us around. People who don’t understand us need to learn and kids need to learn from their parents.

[@itsvenombro3058]

Mysticofshadowyhearts special education is a joke

[@waynemcfarlane9175]

Mysticofshddowhearts thank for sharing. The ways students are treated by other often comes from attitude brought from home

[@gridiron8870]

i know how u feel i have a disability too

[@tiaeshanicole6735]

Although I don't agree with everything she said I think there needs to be a shift in how we treat and view special needs people. I live in a town where they host a special needs prom every spring and let me tall you, it is a huge event.

[@LisaLightner]

I love this, but it's a conundrum. My son is in a "special" school....but I know that is where his needs will be met, not in his community school. The regular educational model and curriculum did not work with him...so what I am to do? I have him placed where he is learning and work on social inclusion outside of school. Everyone has to buy into this, not just special needs parents.

[@tatianarauch3406]

i agree with you. It's a hard topic because we, as a medical staff and community, don't want these kids to be isolated and question why they can't play with all of the kids without disabilities, however, we have these "special schools" and what not set up for kids because the staff there can spend more time with each child as well as provide an ideal, safe and comforting environment for them learn and grow in. Once a kid with disabilities has finished their PT/OT needs, from my understanding then they can transition into a normal classroom setting. Also if a child has sensitivity issues, their possible outbursts not only leave them as a subject for bullying, it can also be distracting to the other students which would cause the parents of those students to have some push-back about allowing kids with special needs to be normal classroom settings.

[@AwsomeITALIAN94]

agree wit everything this woman had to offer during her presentation. I for one have a learning disabilities and ADHD, OCD, and Working Memory; along with studying to become an educator. With society and the world talking down to everybody whom is unlike the "norm," of course we get stigmatized and develop "Learned Helplessness," which is a big reason as to why I myself want to become a teacher. I was forced to develop learned helplessness. As teachers we focus on all types of students and wit this the LRE (or Least Restrictive Environment) may be a general education class with Special Education student within it, what you teach to a Special Education student and even some methods are taught to General education student- equality. Seriously, the world need to do some research and focus their attention at facts to try and get a sliver of what people like us experience. LD (Learning Disabilities) only affects how we learn not that we are incapable of learning.

[@okayokayiapologizedang]

So long as we all know that these very things you’re speaking against to end, at one point someone spoke to make it possible!

[@MaryHall-v3t]

my son has an autsim spectrum disorder and the way he was treated in special education classrooms was criminal. the staff were woefully undertrained and cruel. the schools in our district used to have classrooms that they refer to as SLP structured learning programs. they had lockable padded cells in them. when kids struggled typically due to unexpected change and unclear expectations. they would toss them in the cell and lock the door. once many years ago i was observing in his middle school classroom. he was sitting quietly at his desk reading a book. one of the staff came by and demanded that he put he book down. he dropped it gently on the floor in front of his desk. they then locked him in the cell and called the police. a policewoman arrived and started nudging him roughly with her foot. he gently moved his leg in her direction. he did not kick or act aggressively. she then threatened to arrest him and take him to jail. I was appalled at her actions and that of the classroom staff. at the time we had a special education director who was literally a hero to me and to many staff i told him about it and he apologized and said that he would never let that happen again. and he kept his word. years later he told me at a PTA Meeting in my home. we had one of the first disability based PTAs in the country. that there was school on the other side of town that had one of those rooms in it. the cell had a camera in it. staff locked a child in the cell. the superintendent told the special education administrator not to show the parent the video because she'd get the wrong idea. he told me that he showed the parent the video because she'd get the right idea. he passed away a couple of years ago leaving behind many heartbroken staff and parents like myself.

[@kingpanda1]

Thank you for your mentoring and great words. It affects so many people in a positive direction! God bless you and to all!

[@Hayley123454]

This is extremely idealistic. People do not learn the same way. And that is a GOOD thing! She is making this extremely complex issue very simple and the reality is, it's just not. Not when you're dealing with the needs of all types of different people. That Santa event is a good thing. The whole point is to have less kids so kids with sensory issues don't feel so overwhelmed. Having children with those issues attend the "regular" Santa visits just puts a bunch of children who yes, absolutely have special needs, in an uncomfortable situation. This is not an intelligent argument at all. She is still the self-righteous person she was when she "othered" the girl in the wheelchair. She hasn't learned anything. I have ADD and learned very differently than a lot of children in my class. I cannot learn something by someone just speaking at me---I need to be shown. Other kids do not learn that way. They need verbal instructions. Forcing me to learn like the other kids, or forcing other kids to learn like me, is a pretty bad idea.

[@onettaviator5396]

I don't think she's saying that, though. I think she's saying that the mainstream needs to account FOR kids like you and change how they do things so that everyone, you included, can succeed. There needs to be more flexibility in classrooms, more accessibility, and more care shown towards how disabled kids feel. But our education system lacks these things, and it isn't right that our only access to them often entails segregation.

[@alisonloughlin9470]

I love this, it definitely informs my views on how disabled and non disabled kids should be in the same activities with no problems. I started noticing this new trend of "Unified Sports" where disabled kids and non disabled kids as their partners play sports together. They play six to either regular season games, where two partners and three disabled athletes play at a time, partners are limited to scoring no more than 25% of a team's points. I wanted to know what you guys thought of the idea of Unified Sports, because I just came across it.

[@alx3541]

I'm in special ed and It feels like I'm branded and i feel I'm not looked at as a student as much as others

[@mexicanreformist1522]

We truly need to integrate special needs students into regular classroom environment. These students really do feel left out or left behind because they feel they're less. Since they're always treated differently, they themselves feel differently and they internalize that strongly. We need schools to accommodate their learning disabilities, and help them learn with their peers at their own pace. I personally seen other students wanting to join "regular" classroom settings.

[@yourunclejohn]

They could be distractions and that could out them in bad mental situations. Not the best thing to do now is it?

[@joshuapedro3780]

My daughter is 8 yrs old in second grade, non verbal, in a wheelchair, in a general education class and is an honor roll student. She was only a " distraction" for about 3 days time. Since her enrollment in a general education class her grades have been consistently As and Bs. Not only have her grades increased but so have her peers within her classroom. So no they won't be a "distraction" and to assume so is sheer ignorance.

[@Bozewani]

I was autistic yet I have a masters in international human rights law published 21 books speak 13 languages won the state of nj in geography please no sad miserable pity case here

[@Bozewani]

every thing that constitutes autism I can not do I cannot communicate I can speak 13 languages I cannot exhibit empathy I am very empathetic my personal life's mission is to end genocide that's empathy on the international level I cannot understand abstract concepts a lot of international humanitarian law(Law of armed conflict) is abstract google responsibility to protect and jus ad bellum I cannot build relationships with people my current girlfriend is Malawian and her culture is a extreme relationship oriented culture I even learned Chichewa Ndiaphunzira Chichewa

[@Empathiclady]

LEGEND! =D

[@yourunclejohn]

I doubt the language thing since it's a communication disorder but good on you

[@Karma-zx8qe]

This makes no sense ^^^ you either can do it or you dont...

[@anoncommentor2531]

Curious if you were placed in special education classes separate for the traditional classroom or if you were matriculated into the inclusive model?

[@elmo4032]

God Bless This woman!!

[@ufggxdyxcrhc]

Yeah people say special without really thinking about it I felt isolated as a child I still do

[@kerryclark4516]

You can so called main stream someone, and have it be reversed segregation which isn’t good either it creates this concept of the people with disabilities that are exceptional, versus the people with disabilities that are in special ed and then when they get older in special programs or group homes with very strict policies.

[@CorpseCallosum]

I agree with this talk as long as there is no attempt made to try and make us all the same. I've seen this concept of forced integration fail spectacularly in a different context. Look up "Schools White Privilege Training" and see how it screwed up the schools in a major city. The moral of the story is this is a good talk until action is taken to force integration. Volunteerism is the key.

[@parryyotter]

Teachers rarely volunteer to have students with different needs in their class because we’re not adequately educated on how to differentiate our instruction and the pressure for students to test well means many teachers want to keep students out who may bring down the score average. It’s by accident that I, as a gen ed teacher, have taken two special education classes. It’s not by design. We are minimally educated and so the only way most have students with special needs is when it’s required by law through IEPs, etc. Teacher Ed programs have to do more but it’s unlikely.

[@elmo4032]

THANK YOU!!!! 👏🏻🙏🏻

[@robertacurry9948]

This is what Bridge Builders of Diversity is all about!

[@stphinkle]

Great Talk! I think this is why we need beneficial extracurricular inclusion. You hit the nail on the head with this one, Torrie!

[@mdpublicist6924]

Brilliant! Excellent presentation.- autism mom!

[@ChristinaOstil115]

The employment community need to include people with disabilities in the workplace.

[@onettaviator5396]

Christina Ostil And in school

[@kewlbns69]

amen to that!

[@godzilla-girl4298]

Love you lady thank you :( I have ADHD and wanted to die coz of it. I feel so sad and I'm 24.

[@anniefarmer2410]

My whole family has it. I have a hard time constrating for long periods of time and my brothers are always hyper. Never give up. If you need to talk I am here.

[@nielspemberton59]

I have a mild disability and I was placed after college in a supported employment position as a staffer for a US Government contractor @ the EPA and DOT mailrooms. Most people had a professional attitude but @ both mailrooms there were people with mental challenges who displayed inappropriate behavior. This is due to their being segregated from the first time in formal education so that they never had the chance to learn correct behaviors by being around "normal" people. Eventually I gave up, quitting my job in disgust that no one was doing anything about these people.

[@WhosJJustTy]

I agree with this I have been in special education since the 4th grade and I have been onaroll 7 times and they still won't take me out i don't know what's wrong

[@noor.fatimafatima5230]

I agree your conversation advice

[@KateFollot]

One of the core problems can come down to the fact that everyone's needs are so different. People with spd wouldn't do well in a class with someone with tourettes. Autistic people who stim a certain way probably wouldn't be an ideal classmate for someone with adhd. Certain individuals natural/normal behaviors can send someone else into meltdown. It's complicated, and especially in a learning environment with people processing stimuli so differently, integration isn't something that can always be accomplished.

[@waynemcfarlane9175]

Kate you have never been in a special education class? You have students th who have Autism, students who have Tourettes, students who have ADHD and then there are the students with dyslexia all in one class. The people who have meltdown of having these students in so called regular classes are parents of straight A students. They feel that these students will take away from their straight A child's learning.

[@psychedelicpython]

Wow. I never realized that kids are so separated. I've worked with al, kinds of kids. I've worked at Shriners Hospital and other places where kids needed extra help because one thing or another. To separate kids (and adults) due to certain disabilities is really bad and effects these kids in a negative way.

[@Isochest]

It affects the other kids who learn the so called expert adults' prejudices

[@onettaviator5396]

I've had issues with depression since I was real young because of it.

[@danahslaunwhite1423]

people with disabilities do have a voice and a opinionated views on life

[@beraudmusic]

"is it the lack of someone to be a date?" Nope...that's a problem everyone faces!

[@myJustin222]

So true.

[@neospectrus]

Awesome job Torrie!!

[@saritamehaffey2736]

I have a disability myself and think that events such as proms and events for children need to work on making their events accessible for all. I am wondering about classrooms including people with intellectual disabilities. In elementary school it would be easier to include these students because of smaller class sizes and the curriculum, but when the kids reach middle school age, they have several different teachers and it would be hard to put the kids with intellectual disabilities in the academic classes that the other kids were in because some of them would be learning a different topic than what the rest of the kids were learning and that might be distracting to the other kids in the class. Also the kids with intellectual disabilities might need to learn how to functional things.

[@jillrussell195]

I had several different teachers starting in 4th grade (in 1981-82) is that unusual? I also have Asperger syndrome, though I didn't know it yet back then.

[@i-just-threw-it-away]

Pity is an assumption of superiority

[@kailygeorgen-schwartz5219]

If you believe it is important to include people with disabilities, then please join my Facebook group called The Magic of Inclusion!

[@jbredice1]

I'm interested in this I have a son which is considered with mental health emotional disability and we have gone through horrific experiences with school from k -10 he decided to do ged and scored high

[@ElPasoJoe1]

Oh. This is good. Thank you...

[@fannyandreariverarestrepo814]

Okkkccjiv

[@loliqueenloco6495]

Remember my school had the special Olympics and I didn't want to join because I didn't want to labeled. Instead I just did cross country

[@jenrandle9661]

All means ALL.

[@FlameJackstar]

The volume of the videos on this channel are to damn low! They're fantastic and insightful but I have to crack my speakers to the max to even understand that woman.

[@amyhanreddy357]

This is great! Is there a captioned version?

[@torriedunlap]

Hi Amy, The TED people don't do captioning :-( but here is link to the written transcript ollibean.com/2015/01/13/isnt-it-a-pity-the-real-problem-with-special-needs/. Thank you!

[@maxrbmc]

Torrie Dunlap For a while I volunteered as a caption-writer and subtitle translator. I think any volunteer can do it through Amara (amara.org/en/).

[@MarkWestscoutingmaniac]

Torrie Dunlap TED does close captioning on the majority of talks posted directly to their website. Additionally youtube has an option to include captions however the problem is it is not an option automatically set to add during the upload process. This video hasn't been posted directly to TED so therefore captions/ interactive transcript options are not available. Many but not all videos posted to KZbin do have captions. In fact their is now an option to include captions in another language has been added. However, this feature is not available until you meet criteria to become a KZbin Partner.

[@torriedunlap]

Mark West Good to know! This was uploaded directly by the TEDx organizers. Thanks for the info!

[@gimpedninja8448]

Amy Hanreddy They didn't add captions cus they didn't want to marginalize deaf people

[@Cy_Cyborg]

I agree with this, but it dose cause issues when environments are made for "everyone" because everyone's needs are so different and often conflict, especially when disability is involved. an example of this would be an argument I had with someone at my uni recently who was allergic to dogs (this isn't a disability per say, but it's something that should be considered when making environments for everyone). he argued with me about service dogs (like guide dogs) being on public transport. It's not really fair on him if he has to give up his seat because the dog makes him sick, but it's not fair on the person who requires the dog either if they have to get up and move because of him either. what about if there's someone on the transport who has PTSD from a dog attack or perhaps their beliefs say they can not be around dogs (I believe there are some religions that say this, but I could be misunderstanding/incorrect). while this law is inclusive for the blind and anyone else who requires a service animal, its exclusive for those other people and someone will loose unless a creative solution can be found (which I hope someone can find). I'm all for inclusiveness, I'm in a wheelchair and my city is terrible for access, and I'm so sick and tired of waiting outside building because I can't get in, and don't even get me started on trying to find a place I can rent (since most mouses have steps and double stories, and no one wants you to modify anything). I've also been in a situation like the one you described in your introduction (near weekly basis that would happen at my school, except most of my teachers never cared enough to consider my feelings on how I was "included"). but it's a hard thing to balance.

[@AhaPeterzzzxNinJa]

Inspiring

[@aliciaweiss326]

Volume is terrible. I have tried to adjust with no success.

[@kadensimmons8445]

I'm special ed

[@CarolinX]

What? you mean exculuding all the kids in the Autism Placement from going to all the schools different field trips because "it is not an educational requirement of supplemental services under an IEP" was just a bogus excuse from a heartless school district? ~Hesperia, California

[@lucianadias1262]

Excellent video! I would like to have the subtitle in Portuguese to share with the coworkers. It would be amazing.

[@dylanvonderhorst5900]

is there a transcript

[@jasminrangel448]

This was 8 years ago, and things haven’t changed much. Stop this segregation with kids with disabilities, they want and should be included as well. It all begins at a school, thing start to get a little challenging for the staff at school and what do they do. They want to send your disabled kid of to different school that is designed for special needs kids. Come on people be more kind, friendly and acceptable to these children that so much wish to just be included and accepted.

[@lindaleudo]

You do realize should a child (depending on the needs or exceptionalities) on the spectrum for example go into crisis, it could be dangerous for other students and the exceptional child? I've seen students on the spectrum who need monitoring every minute of the school day because if one thing disturbs them they will go into crisis and become violent. That child should not be in GE class. Its wrong, how can one educator do that and instruct a class of 20-25 students? Yes, there are certain settings where said student should be around their peers especially if there are more than one faculty in proximity (recess) but the ideal environment for said student can be in the same school but in a self-contained class.

[@julietrosner9839]

Why is the audio so quiet on this video?

[@chandanpuri2428]

I've never seen a speaker that seemed as irritated or made such sweeping generalizations.

[@kewlbns69]

me either that's what made her great because she's not making any assumptions that the vast majority of non disabled people aren't already.

[@karencrookedfingerscraft3408]

BINGO!

[@alyssar7477]

Omg my 9th grade english teacher’s name was Mr. Dunlap. I wonder if this is his wife. Probably not but that’d be sick

[@noor.fatimafatima5230]

I need your support and book s

[@sammyrivera2562]

Those who are bless by God and god does love everyone , seek him he is to be worship John 14:6)

[@danahslaunwhite1423]

I was born with cp

[@joannadavignon1608]

Cleft lip/ palate has been used by some to hold onto control in the individual’s life

[@bigguns2224]

All you people who say you were in special ed temporarily dont understand the reality what its like being in special ed for 9 years and what it can do to your life and no i did not have a disability problem all i had at the time was sceasures when i was 6 years old when i whent to middle school i stop having seasures so why was i never put in a reguler classroom at the time i stop having seasures

[@michelledaley55]

audio level is very low despite having all laptop on top volume.

[@NK-fx1qs]

that word 'fix', cuts every time.

[@clementlee263]

I truly hate humanity for giving me this gift. Why God? Why

[@slidegirl9166]

Sorry, my autistic son was very unhappy and distracted during attempts to mainstream him into classes like music and gym. This talk is full of generalities.

[@monkey-trial...6578]

speak UP

[@allisonbrown3680]

Is this the Rodeo of abuse of our fellow animals. I hate them all! No matter who is involved.

[@alx3541]

You missed the entire point of it all

[@krisrhood2127]

Segregation