Talking about disability | Celeste Adams | TEDxYouth@AnnArbor

What does the future mean for people with disabilities? Learn about the Past, Present, and Future of the Chromosapien in this chronological education presentation.
Celeste Adams is a senior at Greenhills School and is a first-year participant in TEDxYouth@AnnArbor. Since being bound to a wheelchair at age seven, she has been particularly active in disability rights, along with gender equality, and efforts to stop elephant poaching throughout Africa. Before going straight to college, Celeste plans to take a gap year in which she hopes to travel, work on her portfolio, and collaborate with artists in many different fields. In her free time, Celeste can be found drawing and reading with her cat, attending reviews at the Taubman School of Architecture, or downtown enjoying a coffee in the sun with friends.
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

[@shoshannafachima1306]

this talk is of the utmost importance and very informative..thank you celeste adams

[@jordan-wb2hb]

also, accessibility note: this video (and all other TED videos I've seen) needs captions -- accurate ones -- and it's a real basic but alienating inaccessibility problem that they don't! I hope TED will fix this!!

[@SaMusz73]

Thank you for this brief reminder of horors in the history of the recognition of the disabled. Great job.

[@jordan-wb2hb]

I'm disabled, including physically, and this was a really great, informative video on disability history -- but she veered in a really bad direction when she got onto her Super Crip / superhuman spiel because that's ableist as shit. disabled people are not superhuman - we're just people, with different bodies and some different ways our brains can work. we're not superheroes, and we don't need to be in order to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. and while I understand the effect and coolness of aesthetics of things like mobility devices and medical devices & that's pretty sweet sometimes, it's not like that is important or helpful to everyone anyway and she didn't address that. I think she has some internalized ableism to work through tbh, as all of us do living in many societies that don't accept or care for us.

[@lambchops3884]

I completely agree, I didn't like the direction she went in at the end either. Aesthetically pleasing prosthetics and ramps and all sorts of things is a great idea but the deeper issue is internalized ableism as you said. I thought it was a little sad how she didn't seem to see the irony of wanting to be superhuman and the eugenics enthusiasts wanting that as well. She said "perfect human" when she was talking about them but it's really in the same vein. We just need to relate to and humanize everyone as much as we can because almost everyone can contribute to society, sometimes in ways we couldn't possibly predict or imagine.

[@hollowone777]

jordan bayley I agree too. I winced as soon as she started in on the 'superhuman' spiel. Not only is it very ableist, but it completely leaves out those of us who have invisible disabilities *and* mental disabilities. As someone who has an invisible disability 90% of the time, it's very offensive. While the idea of having customized prosthesis is definitely cool, she's totally ignoring the cost of such things. The wheelchairs, again, look very cool, also look quite expensive. I can't afford that! I'd love a fancy ramp, but my apartment complex isn't going to pay for that either. She utterly fails to take into account that not everyone has the luxury of having a family to take care of them, nor the means to be able to work so they must rely on government supplied income. Which might be nothing or might be just enough to make ends meet. If you want to be an advocate for the disabled, I think it's about us being recognized as human beings. As being part of the human race, not made to be seen as evil and sinful or something to be eradicated. Not as something separate from everyone else. That defeats the purpose. I was surprised and disappointed at the direction the second half of her talk took. I wish that her talk could be cut in half. It would be much better. She sounds so defensive at the end because of her extreme internalized ableism. What a wasted opportunity!

[@hollowone777]

jordan bayley jordan bayley I agree too. I winced as soon as she started in on the 'superhuman' spiel. Not only is it very ableist, but it completely leaves out those of us who have invisible disabilities *and* mental disabilities. As someone who has an invisible disability 90% of the time, it's very offensive. While the idea of having customized prosthesis is definitely cool, she's totally ignoring the cost of such things. The wheelchairs, again, look very cool, also look quite expensive. I can't afford that! I'd love a fancy ramp, but my apartment complex isn't going to pay for that either. She utterly fails to take into account that not everyone has the luxury of having a family to take care of them, nor the means to be able to work so they must rely on government supplied income. Which might be nothing or might be just enough to make ends meet. If you want to be an advocate for the disabled, I think it's about us being recognized as human beings. As being part of the human race, not made to be seen as evil and sinful or something to be eradicated. Not as something separate from everyone else. That defeats the purpose. I was surprised and disappointed at the direction the second half of her talk took. I wish that her talk could be cut in half. It would be much better. She sounds so defensive at the end because of her extreme internalized ableism. What a wasted opportunity!

[@danepaulstewart8464]

That was thoroughly badass! This young lady and her ideas are like a garden of great things just waiting to happen.

[@LoveButterfly999]

Just wanted to point It out in 20:32 there's a second photo in the bottom of a boy in the wheelchair. I remember in the news a couple of years ago that they were talking about he wasn't part of the class from this photo according to his parents, and you can see he's a little separated from the group. It shows us disabled people got a long way to go, especially trying to be part of the community.

[@Lava91point0]

You’re only a victim if you choose to be

[@imnotdavidxnsx]

Reminds me of Lydia from Beetlejuice. Totally waiting at the end for her to say "I myself am strange and unusual." In a good way, of course.

[@lunashadow1521]

GOD BLESS U THANK U FOR SHARING

[@vincentfranklin17]

Informative, indeed!

[@mr.nobody9697]

It might just me but from 22:20-22:29 she gave a real supervillain vibe.

[@stevesmirh1334]

I feel that's it's a matter of time in a person's life. that there gonna have something that will happen that will put them in a disabled state. I know as a stroke survivor I'm determined to get back to my normal life the best I can

[@meganlevegan]

Wow. I never considered genocide of the disabled. She makes an excellent presentation. I'm grateful to be more educated to and have this perspective...thank you.

[@Pendragon981]

Very interesting talk. She really is quite beautiful. An intelligent mind, vast and creative. I actually learned about subject matter I knew nothing about. Such cruelty is unimaginable to me. Hopefully as time goes by we evolve and advance to become a more emphatic society.

[@cassandramae5880]

Roland, you misunderstood the point of the entire video if you are focused on a fraction of it like that. Even if she did "misunderstand" that passage, that does not erase the history of abuse. Your comment means nothing.

[@ammaralkhanchi8406]

+Cassandra Mae Religious fundamentalists, I know many of those and their sickness, they are totally blind to anything that goes against their world view.

[@kathycollins8944]

Thank you for the history lesson.

[@kathycollins8944]

It was excellent, especially your thinking outside the box.

[@curlyhairspecialist]

Great ideas outside of the box!!

[@thomaskenneally4685]

She makes some really good points about discrimination to both those with mental and physical disabilities, however I'm a little concerned as to how her dreams of having flashy wheelchairs and fancy prostetics is going to help and effect those with mental disabilities who can't use fancy/cool looking technology to be comfortable with themselves. If those with physical disabilites are given awesome technological advances what are we going to give those with mental disabilities to stop them from falling behind in self doubt and discrimination.

[@sabserab]

Serotonin pump in the brain? lol I don´t know. I have both. And I wish I had cool equiptment, but how when you can´t afford it. Her father must be rich good for her

[@vocalsunleashed]

It's not all true. Disability or being disabled doesn't mean being shut off like your "Iphone". It means you are not able to live a normal life without adaptions or maybe even not at all. Also I don't know what people she meets, but I had a girl in class all of pimary school who was in a wheelchair and my thoughts about it have never been any different from that it is a practical and useful item for people that can not walk. And the superhuman part is like a weird obsession... Plus not affordable for the majority of people she is talking about.

[@josephzhang9057]

"normal" is so subjective. To a disability "normal" is what the person experienced.

[@BH-2023]

Thank you!

[@BH-2023]

​@@josephzhang9057 "'Normal' is so subjective. [...]." Um.... No!

[@DamitaPeace]

The auto-captions are not too bad - There are certainly much worse, but I wish they were better. I am planning to show this in a class about Disability Pride and will have to explain to my Deaf participants that they had "whip" marks not "lip" marks. Please help us teachers make these accessible to people with disabilities. Give me access and I'll fix it before Thursday (when my class is).

[@pantyflash]

Like, despite being orthopaedically challenged, you're awesome. You go, girl!

[@RennellReed]

17:42 When she talks about the case in the UK where the disabled guy was set on fire....that's pure ableism at it's finest.

[@grimonce]

I understand the whole point and I agree, but this all costs. And world was never truely "giving" you always had to fight for a living in the original world, animals still need to do that. We're changing this reality, but this takes time and maybe weighs on the environment and what not. I am not saying this is wrong I am just saying that not so long ago we (as whole human society) didn't even have wheelchairs. As a motivational and emotional, maybe moralising speech this is good.

[@mauricerogerson5825]

If it's any comfort to the disabled, these horrors would not be allowed to happen to my children. EVER.

[@tigerlilly2012]

This ties in with respect for the elderly. Don't be a monster

[@charlotteice5704]

Yes, the Disabled have been discriminated for a long time and yes, that is really not okay. BUT if you have things like prothesis giving amputees extra abilities (abilities that normal people don't have) it will propably give the Rich a physical advantage over the Poor and widen the span between rich and poor. If prothesis would provide extra abilities (compared to natural limbs), the Rich would get the best prothesis (which the Poor wouldn't be able to afford) and thus gain a physical advantage. That would make "poor" synonymous with "having less abilities" or "disabled". We cannot give the Disabled an advantage while taking things from another group in society, the Poor. Of course, you could make a law that prohibits unneccessary amputation, but it would still give rich amputees an advantage. It could also promote doctors doing amputation illegally and through a lack of standards (because who cares in investing money in corresponding to government's standards if you're illegal anyway) under bad hygienic conditions. I mean, I'm a fan of cyborg stuff and human augmentation too, but I have to hold it back for the better of our society. Unless all the things were available at the same price BUT that's uneconomical because they have different value and amputations cost money compared to keeping your natural limbs. Of course, I can agree with more stylish medical accessories (but no functional advantage, ok?).

[@joshuamorency4511]

Those were some cool wheel chairs and stuff. Wish the world is more diverse. I heard "God put disabled people on Earth to be empathy" from my religion teacher.

[@ariannacolonello7028]

Thank you very much for the video, it is very realistic vision of disabiloty perception Thank you for help me in my research about disability social perception

[@cikgujess]

This is about disability, not religion. stop your petty arguing about your religions and focus on the topic. History has not been good to people with disabilities and we don't have it right in our societies today. How are you going to make the world a better place for people with disabilities?

[@tigerlilly2012]

U can't murder disabled people because sometimes disabled ppl are healthy people who just got injured

[@ChristinaOstil115]

I would like to see more disabled working instead of staying home and isolated from work force.

[@mendmywings7238]

Witches weren't burnt at the stake in Salem. I'm sure they were killed in some other way. I've forgotten now, but you should probably do research if you're gonna do a presentation z

[@therabidpancake1]

I am disabled and even I think you are going a little bit overboard. Yes disabled people get treated like crap. I saw that you talked about the old testament and you misinterpreted the scripture. God is not cruel.

[@PinkOrchid8]

Ted talks check your description ‘bound to a wheelchair’?! This young woman is describing biased unhelpful language, perhaps rephrase.

[@tropingreenhorn]

Could be called a cyborg instead of chronosapien.

[@shaunalea823]

hold on ........ this young lady made some really good points and I understand people have often had really horrible and Misguided opinions of the disabled. this is incredibly sad. I am a Christian and can say confidently that Jesus loved and still does us all no matter what. we are all equal in his eyes. my son is high functioning autistic I know the Lord has him in his care and has an amazing plan for his life. this young lady is wrong

[@vocalsunleashed]

Yes exactly. It is taken out of context also, because it is specifically about the sons of a priest called Aaron. The text says 16-20 but on the screen, only verse 17-20 are shown. The way people treated the disabled was due to (maybe purposely) misinterpreting texts like this one. Jesus did and does nothing but love us and he healed them as a showing of love, not because these were (punishments for) sins or devil possesions. I myself have a form of autism too, Aspergers Syndrome, and I think people who have a very strong sense of justice due to that, are probably even less likely to commit a crime than someone who is said to be "normal". Satan wants to mislead the whole world and is succeeding unfortunately. But because of that we can also tell that the end is near and armageddon will come soon. Trump winning US elections is also a hint to that I think. The prophecies in the bible have never been wrong and god would not lie to us.

[@shaunalea823]

Creativity Unleashed great observation of the biblical scripture thankyou!!!!! it makes me sad to think the way these people have been treated for something they can't help. I believe we r all precious to the "Great I Am".

[@vocalsunleashed]

I have only been a Christian since 6 months and things make so much more sense now. I was raised sort of a Christian, but only considering norms like treating others with respect and how you want to be treated. But due to life, so to say, I wanted nothing to do with any religion. But actually the bible is not at all how it is often described or like most people who according to themselves act by its laws. People that spread hatred because the bible says it are wrong. We're all imperfect due to Adam and Eve's disobedience but it is not the sinner that is hated, but the sin itself. Furthermore it is full of logic for a large part. Other parts require faith but the fact that meeting with this in my largest time of need is enough for me to not be able to deny any existence of god anymore. For the logic part, for instance the bible does not support the theory of evolution, but it does say the first life was created in the water, therefor being accurate with those evidences found.

[@shaunalea823]

Creativity Unleashed u are quite wise my friend!!!!! evolution is only a theory a "thought" or "idea" to an extent all on earth and in universe evolve in certain ways, but they don't complety change form , as in how can a fish or monkey become human? think of it as a tornado ripping through a junk yard, is it possible for a perfect beautiful properly working car to be created? we are all created in His image!!!!! humans ofcoarse!!!!

[@sabserab]

There is no god. Also it´s not out of context.

[@rolandixor]

You misunderstood the passage you quoted from the Bible, and you seem to misunderstand God. It was speaking of serving in the temple, and it was a symbolic thing. Everyone is welcome under the New Covenant anyway. I wish I could discuss this further but I know that it's meaningless so this is just for anyone else who comes across this video.

[@mr.nobody9697]

god didnt mean anything as he doesnt exist and the bible was written by primitive men. that is the truth.

[@mr.nobody9697]

***** you choose to believe while i choose to know. It amazes me that black people are so religious when it was that very bible that you worship so proudly was that was one of the main instruments of your ancestors slavery.

[@mr.nobody9697]

***** Thats all you can respond with because im right and theres no way for you to tap dance around it. Stop being a slave and free your mind.

[@mr.nobody9697]

***** Im sure you will. As long as your happy who cares about whats right or wrong or for standing up for anything that means something.

[@mr.nobody9697]

I wish you the best.

[@thislady987]

I wish I had some connection to the devil. I would be rich af.

[@roderickcameron5625]

this video is disgusting I am the mother of 4 beautiful children I have a physical disability I don't consider it a sin before God my husband's name is Rod Cameron and my name is Judy Cameron I find this video disgusting and offensive and I think it should be taken off internet shame on you for making this video all it is is trash I love God and I am a Christian person and I know God loves me and I am fearfully and wonderfully made according to scripture Psalms 139 if you don't believe and God that's your problem and I'll pray for you because you need it but I am proud of who I am despite my disability and I know plenty of other people who are as well

[@lifegoeson9695]

I think that this God thing ate your brian..... have you even watched the video? Apparently not.

[@beautifulcatastrophe]

She is very nagative.... and needs to be positive

[@mr.nobody9697]

im disabled,carry a gun. That is all.

[@Zap717]

You're today's best person on the internet.

[@mr.nobody9697]

Johnny Moscati Lol thanks?

[@nickrobinson7283]

I carry a switchblade because It's not likely I could get a pistol permit. Would love a pearl handled Derringer. It get's spooky in my neighborhood.

[@roderickcameron5625]

hold the phone! you better get your facts straight. Jesus Christ healed the disabled. He loved and leveled the disabled in the church. So get over your bitterness,and quit blaming God for your disability.

[@SuperstitiousScientist]

lo, she literally quoted the bible. Mind you, that she said that was Old Testament, which is before Jesus, so maybe you should get your facts straight, haha.

[@nirmaladrieskens4338]

Terrible story's We are children of God

[@RiKa-le3qp]

What a twisted view of life and humanity!

[@daniellacecala3858]

this is ridiculous!