Overcoming Ableism: What You Don't Know As An Able Bodied Person | Naty Rico | TEDxUCIrvine

Naty Rico shares her story of struggles over the past 3 years at UCIrvine and the hopes she has for the future.
Naty Rico is a third year Sociology and Education double major. She was born and raised in South Los Angeles, to parents who immigrated here from Mexico. As a first generation, Latina woman with a physical disability, Naty managed to get accepted and enroll into UCI in 2012, with the help of her community back home.
While her three years at UCI have not been easy, Naty has managed to overcome structural barriers and has become an advocate for the differently able community. After she graduates and receives her Bachelors from UCI, Naty hopes to enroll into grad school and continue doing work focused on the differently able community. She plans on obtaining a Ph.D in Sociology or Education, with an emphasis in Disability Studies, and giving back to the community that helped her get to where she is, and is supportive of where she's headed.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@princ3ssc0wboy]

Isn't stigmatizing the term disability and creating new ones inherently ableist??? Instead of embracing the term and what it really means, we hold on to all of the negative assumptions about disability and have to find new words that aren't "offensive" when in reality disability is not a bad thing or a slur its just a word that can often help people get access to resources they need to function in the world.

[@amelie7568]

It's not ableist. It is exactly like calling homosexual people gay. There can be more than one word, and people can use whichever as they wish.

[@charlie2.048]

THIS THIS THIS. A am a firm supporter of the "Disability is not a bad word" movement. I am disabled. I have a disorder that places certain limitations on what I can and cannot do. I hate all these absurd euphemisms for disability that really exist to protect the feelings of able-bodied people who think disability is "icky" or "strange" and either consciously or subconsciously want to stick the subject in a corner and never talk about it.

[@ThisGirlReviews]

Yes yes yes! As someone with a learning disability I don't think it's a bad word because it's not.

[@FootlessJo]

I would tend to agree, as a recent new member of the disabled community.

[@c4444-c]

The negativity is in the word itself - "dis"ability, rather than reflecting accurately our enhanced abilities as well. We can use both at the same time to continue to challenge people's paradigms and word associations.

[@jugo8990]

A very strong individual. I hope you are continuing your success today.

[@hornsby618]

i respect her decision to use the term diverse ability since she is a disabled person but omggg hearing it makes me cringe since i navigate the world proudly identifying as disabled

[@coolplanet2050]

You and me both.

[@havanadaurcy1321]

I use intersectionality, a word feminists hate being used

[@Nopenopenope4]

Also wheelchair bound, ughhhhh.

[@anonymouschange287]

@@havanadaurcy1321 ?

[@ThePublicHealthHeaux]

um. humughna humughna?? I was just reading your comment and a beat later heard her stumble over that GOd awful phrase. I can't watch this any more, nor keep my "like" on here. I really wanna hear her story too it's a shame but I can't bc it makes me nauseous to watch a disabled person choke on the WORD like that. My money is on her waking up QUICK if she hasn't already--she's VERY young. I send her LOVE and as she gets older actual PRIDE bc she's obviously fierce AH.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

I am not proud of being disabled. It's not an achievement. I am proud of how I cope. Yet I am sickened at how people really think about disability and health conditions.

[@no-rq7fp]

Race me

[@jamesbyrne9312]

@@no-rq7fp Huh?

[@no-rq7fp]

@@jamesbyrne9312 You are a liability, James. A person's worth stems from their capacities: there is power in doing. People who are fundamentally impaired will never be seen as our equals.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

@@no-rq7fp I feel very sorry for you. You have no idea about the value I give to society or my job which is probably much better than yours. You are a very sad individual.

[@no-rq7fp]

@@jamesbyrne9312 Ah yes, the deceptively superior moral cliché response. You probably do hold an important position in society and I can even assume it hasn't been given to you out of pity, but rightly achieved. Disparities between you and me prove nothing. All things equal, an abled person will always be worth more than a disabled person.

[@danduncan7950]

She is a pioneer, paving the way for others. The fact that she didn't give up and quit, and is both transparent and gracious in her speech is commendable. Way to go, Naty Rico!

[@thetornadocrusader968]

No

[@josh-uj1gw]

Absolutely not

[@slowfire2]

Please add proper closed captions. Auto-gen cc is very hard to follow.

[@serasvega8448]

The term "diversability" is probably the worst word for disability ever. Also "wheelchair bound"?! Really?! That's a whole lot of internalised ableism she has to work through

[@negativezero8174]

I can see you're mentally deformed

[@SmileTribeNetwork]

The word is diverse ability

[@serasvega8448]

@@SmileTribeNetwork I've corrected the typo (diversibility -> diversability). Thanks

[@cowsdontbark]

Thanks to Naty Rico for fighting the good fight!

[@edgreen8140]

It's not setting that someone " just goes threw". Sometimes it get worse and worse.

[@DreamingRaven]

Some of these comments are downright shameful. Thank you for giving us further proof that we need to spread awareness and work together to give everyone equal opportunities.

[@barbecuedsimsbaby]

I do not have a physical disability, but I have learning and mental disabilities, it really sucks sometimes :(

[@carlosblondiswall4532]

In some ways that's equally as bad. Especially for high education

[@barbecuedsimsbaby]

@@carlosblondiswall4532 yeah.. I am incredible at writing and English and literature but it's looked over because I can't do complicated maths- and people tend to infantalize me too, people act like i don't understand how to be a teenager? lol

[@straygameplaywalkthroughps6480]

Time is on the side of the disabled, cuz sooner or later all the "healthy people" will learn what its like to lose function, be in pain, and realize almost nobody really gives a hoot while expecting you to work.

[@ThePublicHealthHeaux]

esp since everyone is just gleefully raw dogging SARS-tainted air everywhere now...I've had ME/CFS for 19 years. Most of it "mild." They have NO idea what's in store for SO many of them... and neither do the people who run this country.

[@Aly_Luna]

For those wondering about her lack of the use of the term "handicap", and judging by the multitude of such comments, it is an issue, hopefully this helps: The word stems from "hand in cap", referring to people who are disabled who must to beg to get through life.... It suggests that being disabled is synonymous with being a beggar... I hope this helps explain. Personally, I can't stand that term but am okay with "disabled", which by all rights isn't accepted either 🤷🏼‍♀️ I find it less offensive personally.

[@alessandrac1940]

Thanks so much for sharing this story. It was truly inspirational! I am writing a paper atm on ableism and intersectionality so this was really the perfect tedtalk to listen to.

[@rcprice011]

Great Job! Jiayou! Keep pushing forward!!

[@donedennison9237]

I'm so glad I found this, even though it makes me a bit sad to see negative comments and more thumbs down "votes." Adopting the term "diverse ability" seems only rational in a world full of exclusion. I'm proud of Ms. Rico and wish her well on her educational journey.

[@WriteSpeaker]

+Done Dennison My god, what's the matter with these idiots below? Just running around in a rage looking for someone to insult? They need a hobby!

[@WriteSpeaker]

+Barbara Sher +Done Dennison Oh wait. There's too many of them. It's just a bunch of teenagers. Running around biting walls, half nuts, trying to shock someone so they know they exist. Naughty, naughty. Pity them, Done. Don't pay attention.

[@M-o-o-n-d-u-s-t-ultra]

+Done Dennison A 'diverse' ability would actually imply that a person had an extra skill or talent that most people didn't have. Being unable to do something that most people can do, actually makes your abilities less diverse.

[@donedennison9237]

+Caterpillar Diplomacy While I wouldn't suggest that everyone with a disability develops skills that people without said challenges have, I do know that most sighted people don't learn to read braille or listen to faster speech. High functional people with autism sometimes have a view of the world that bests so called normal POV by an awareness of animals, engineering principles or music. It's only a guess, but I imagine that a person with hearing loss may become experts at reading body language. The point of moving toward a concept of "diverse ability" comes down to people without challenges must learn to see us more for what we CAN do and less for what we might have to find a different way of doing.

[@raymondn9455]

Barbara Sher model trains is a good hobby if you can afford it, keeps me calm

[@april-inparis]

We love you, Naty!

[@jvolstad]

I am a disabled veteran and refuse to tell any of my professors that I am disabled. One way or another, I will overcome my injuries. In the Army, we call this our warrior ethos.

[@nghtblccd]

Please stop shaming or judging her for using a different term rather than disability. It's okay to lable yourself as you like and it is discriminating to tell other people how to lable themselves. Some members of the disabled community feel uncomfortable while using the term of disability, because society made this term associated to negative thoughts and this is NOT a bad or an ableist thing to do.

[@erikduvald6703]

Good. Because, in that case she cannot possibly have an issue, with what labels that I use to describe someone disabled. Calling it something else changes NOTHING, after all. :)

[@nghtblccd]

@@erikduvald6703 you should always refer to a person with the term *they* are comfortable with. Not what you want, but what the person wants. I feel like, that was clearly stated by my comment.

[@davidd6252]

"reality" is uncomfortable

[@davefuller84]

Every single one of my friends are ableist. They don’t mean to be. But they are. I have fused neck joints. I feel pain everyday. Yet I’m made to feel like I’m a project. It’s the worst thing to do to someone. We don’t need to feel like we are less

[@wormisjunkd]

I’m not advocating eliminating your social support network, but sounds like they’re not great friends and maybe you should get some new ones who actually listen to and accomodate your needs and don’t belittle, patronise or dismiss you. No time in life to be surrounded by people who don’t love you, and love you properly, especially when you’re disabled. Figured that out the hard way. ☮️💟

[@kamerondonaldson5976]

i myself am disabled but i am also ableist for better and for worse. the problem is that you don't want disability to proliferate, because you need able bodied people to exist in order for them to be capable of solving all your other problems using their labor that they would not be able to perform if they were disabled too. and if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. need to sterilize the hospital beds so the previous sick patient doesn't worsen the illness of its current occupant for instance.

[@josanthepresident6565]

I am not able bodied and it’s hard. Not for me but for others and their intolerance

[@camilomorales9500]

Completely random, but where is your pfp from? (:

[@wheelieblind]

Wheelchair bound is an ableism word.

[@vintage1351]

This actually wasn't too bad of a talk... She used some buzz-words in her speech, and I wonder if she even mentioned to her college at any point before she got her scooter that she would need disability assistance.

[@vintage1351]

Oh wow, that was a powerful point you made at the end there. You're right, it's one thing to want to help others who need your attention or may be more disadvantaged than you (and on that issue, it's also a whole other discussion to talk about the virtue aspect of helping, and whether you do it to help someone else, or to help yourself by feeling good about helping others), but it's also interesting to think about when that dynamic changes, and the assistance turns into a 'demand for assistance,' which in turn transforms into a burden on the "system." (I mean we see that already with the feminism/Black Lives Matter victimhood mentality, but I like your point because people do tend to view disabled people differently.)

[@Kenbomp]

Colleges take resources they don't care usually to give them out. They just do bare min

[@Kieran_Duffy]

I’m proud of my autism..

[@astroineum]

i've been bullyed on the internet because of my disability or my mental disability

[@LOve-bq4gc]

I'm so sorry *hugs* some people can be cruel and you don't deserve that at all.

[@reversed5552]

Isaac Thomas Solved. Computer = off

[@AgentNolies]

And this disability is? (Have relapsing-remitting MS myself)

[@whiteeyedshadow8423]

@Reversed you think yur nice? telling someone to deal with an issue *we* created?

[@farenhite4329]

Reversed 2edgy4me

[@elmo4032]

Disability is a bad thing because just cause someone can’t something a typical way that doesn’t mean they can’t get it done. There’s alternative ways of doing almost everything.

[@elmo4032]

Also someone’s inability to do something shouldn’t be part of their identity. That’s weird. Disability is more of a word for abled body people who need things dumbed-down for them.

[@pallmall7385]

Brava brava! Very beautiful doublespeak my dear. You get the gold star!

[@LOve-bq4gc]

This is an awesome TED Talk Naty thank you, and I love your title of "diverse abled," it really puts a positive spin. You are incredible and an inspiration and I'm so glad that you didn't drop out of school! You are going to help so many people and I'm sure you have already. Just watching your video helped me today. Take care and keep your head up, you rock.

[@AgentNolies]

Because bullshitting oneself is a great thing to spread.

[@anonymouschange287]

😬

[@jshir17]

*Ableists don’t know much*

[@negativezero8174]

Is there something wring with not knowing much? That's kind of ableist yikes

[@kittycatmeowmeow963]

@@negativezero8174 Well I think so. I have Epilepsy. My teachers were scared of me and thought I was a handful because I was the first student they've ever had who had seizures. It would've been a lot nicer if they asked my parents for advice instead of freaking out and kicking me out of their classes or figuring out an excuse to expel me.😑

[@jn.s9059]

How come people don't say handicapped much? I'm disabled but prefer handicapped. Do they use that term in America? They don't in the UK. Is it considered offensive?

[@MadisonPettway_]

It is somewhat offensive here in America, and people typically don’t say it unless they use it in writing and it is absolutely necessary.

[@Aly_Luna]

It's an offensive term for many of us. The word stems from "hand in cap", referring to people who are disabled having to beg to get through life.... I hope this helps explain the reason why "handicap" is offensive. Personally, I can't stand that term but am okay with "disabled", which by all rights isn't accepted either 🤷🏼‍♀️ I find it less offensive personally.

[@jn.s9059]

@@Aly_Luna ah that makes sense. I didn't realize that's where the word came from

[@the_5th_night]

In my language it’s just easier to say handicapped then the more politically correct term funktionsnedsättning. So I use it pretty often.

[@xxyyzz8464]

@@Aly_Luna That’s not correct and has been a bit of an internet myth that has been incorrectly popularized and is incorrectly cited a lot these days. The term "handicapped" originally did come from "Hand in Cap," but this had absolutely nothing to do with beggars and was an old game of chance. Later it was applied to horse racing. You would handicap a fast horse by hanging stones on it to slow it down to make it less “able-bodied” of a horse. When someone is referred to as “handicapped” they are not being likened to beggars, but to fast horses who have been weighed down by stones.

[@zludog]

did she just invent a synonym for disability?

[@xxyyzz8464]

She still has to learn “permanent mobility enhancement” over “wheelchair bound” though!

[@briroberson]

So people say it's ableist to want someone to be cured of their disability. Do these people say that actually curing someone's disability is ableist too?

[@xxyyzz8464]

If I could take a pill and become able-bodied, I’d do it and be very happy. And therein lies the hypocrisy in all this nonsense, even if it is well-intentioned. I have a physical disability, but have never thought we needed this nonsense of alternative language and can get by if we simply would go back to stressing the Golden Rule and just simple “don’t be a d*^k!” etiquette.

[@krystalpuranram2475]

Some people are just heartless. smh

[@sabserab]

If it doesn´t stand in yyour way then you should look up the meaning of disability. Calling a group of people heartless like everyone is the same is very idiodic

[@guywithscares]

im disabled and i agree with him and stop playing the victim and disability doesn't define you

[@sabserab]

guywithscares when you stop telling me how to be disabled, thanks.

[@guywithscares]

what?

[@MarySanchez-qk3hp]

Tired of politically correct, clumsy names. Disabled is disabled. Not differently abled, not diversely abled or diverseable... just disabled. It takes less time to say, and provides a common nomenclature, including for the law. A rose by any other name.

[@ChicanoPhD]

you are a horrible, hateful person

[@TheDeathOfLucifer]

lol you're right

[@c4444-c]

Dis-ability does not accurately reflect any enhanced abilities that come alongside it.

[@robokill387]

wow, *you're* tired of politically correct, clumsy names. It's not about you, sweetie.

[@riley-3610]

well its not about you at all

[@gabrielsfilms2086]

its more dis-abled for this modern world

[@allasoiko6999]

Ana takallam arabiya wo shui zhongwen i spesk english je parles francais я говорю па русский yo gablo espanol

[@СофияСойко]

انا اتكلام في امم المتحدة 我只到六与联合国 united nations nations unies оранизация обеденный наци naciones unidas

[@AmericanRadass0]

Spazz

[@albeemungia6144]

What daaaa que mentira what a lie. The hole neighbor Hood. Mentira..😮

[@sarahconoir]

"Multi-ability" "wheelchair-bound" she makes me want to throw up

[@TheDeathOfLucifer]

You identify as a low income female Latina? That's sad I have a low income but that's not who I am

[@AshleyMadisonsRight]

I’m a high class low income person lol

[@xxyyzz8464]

We could make a drinking game to her speeches. When she identifies as a low income female Latina, take a shot. When she says “diverse ability”, take a sip of beer. When she says “wheelchair bound” chug some Jager.

[@ToeIn2194]

As a disabled person I think this is complete bullshit.

[@AgentNolies]

you made up a term, as a cripple calm down.

[@spotnuk]

+AgentNolies Hahahahaaa!

[@sweiland75]

As an ableist, shut up.

[@AgentNolies]

@@sweiland75 will be easy to do, mainly because this being a WRITTEN forum.....

[@tellyy1122]

the word ableism is stoopid, its worst than the r word

[@AgentNolies]

divesabilty? oh you mean CRIPPLE.

[@AgentNolies]

Nova Flame Oops my phone didn't catch that spelling error. How would I feel? I feel just fine (I have MS). I have good days, i have i can't walk days. I know if i wanted to, i could get a lot of people fired for Making jokes but i dont usually because i start it (im not an overly sensitive child). And i know i wont be fired because that's a hefty lawsuit. I dont need some cunt, to make bank on my illness and i get nothing from it.

[@AgentNolies]

Nova Flame And if you think im bullshitting you about being disabled, i can give you my VA disability claim number for my service connection rating. So how does your foot taste? Making fun of a disable veteran for shame......smh -_-...SHAME👉

[@AgentNolies]

Nova Flame Acceptor? What that mean? Do you understand what VA is? You must be a child or just a well off person ignorant of the world. Sorry i used cripple, at least im not making up terms to bullshit myself. You're welcome civilian.

[@guywithscares]

she does not fucking speak for me she is a little cry baby

[@sweiland75]

AgentNolies. Oh you mean ableist.

[@drezdogge]

she does a lot of whining this one

[@LOve-bq4gc]

I'm sorry that you were made to feel, probably by someone in your formative years and definitely by society, that having emotions makes someone weak. I encourage you to look around you and see that in just a few generations humans have damn near destroyed this world, and continuing to be emotionless and cruel is going to do nothing to help this planet or each other. I hope you find a lot of healing, I'm sorry that you're so angry and probably repressed that you found it necessary to berate a beautiful woman with her own challenges. She is sure BRAVER than you to stand on stage and share her struggles. That takes courage. Being emotionless doesn't make you stronger. Many OTHER cultures and people would agree with this sentiment. Being cruel to someone who is opening their heart is why there is so many problems in the world today, but it will solve nothing. You never know what life could bring you. Stay humble

[@xxyyzz8464]

While I agree she has a bit of a whining way at times, I think she is mentally ill tbh. I honestly take pity on this woman, not for being physically disabled which is just something that happens to many of us that is manageable, but that she seems to be unable to mentally cope with her situation, and is even making up alternative language like “diverse ability” as a “mental crutch” of sorts to help her cope with something she can’t seem to come to grips with.

[@0P9ine]

Ugh if you dont fit the bill then go cry somewhere

[@sweiland75]

What's the matter? Afraid of being replaced in your job by someone with a disability?

[@0P9ine]

yes im so scared of cripples taking my job.....cant sleep at night

[@Bloodclotzzzzzzzzzzz]

sweiland75 We, the disabled, are 50% more likely to be denied work over an able-bodied person.

[@ShainaCilimberg]

@@Bloodclotzzzzzzzzzzz Also, you can become disabled at any given moment

[@jshir17]

Ableists don’t know much