What Hiding My Disability Taught Me About Care and Respect | Adam Cureton | TEDxUTK

Drawing on his own experiences of visual impairment, Adam Cureton encourages a new approach towards disability. After years of attempting to hide his impairment from others, Adam realized social attitudes surrounding disability, even when working to benefit the disabled, often fail to recognize individual needs and desires. Social stigmas and a failure to recognize individual identity can often turn a act of support into an emotional burden. Adam's experiences from childhood into adulthood offer insight into how we consider and practice care and respect for others, particularly those living with disability. Adam hopes a consideration for disabled people as individuals with unique needs, going beyond the stereotypes, becomes the basis for how we interface with disability in society. Adam Cureton is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Tennessee, having done his graduate work at Oxford University, as a Rhodes Scholar, and at UNC Chapel Hill. Adam is visually impaired, which has led to an interest in philosophical issues of disability, especially ones concerning attitudes of respect and care for people with disabilities. He is also a committed advocate for people with disabilities, serving on various diversity committees and boards as well as the founder and president of the Society for Philosophy and Disability. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@state924]

I can relate to your story. However, there is one glaring difference. I don't have people trying to help me. People tell me that I'm faking it or that I am lying about what I hear or don't hear. You see I am a 43-year-old with SSD. I've had it since birth and I speak perfectly, because I too wanted to hide my disability. However, once I entered adulthood, it became clear that I needed to advocate for certain accommodations in order to function in a relationship, a job or social situations. I found your video today, while searching for how to explain to people the line between treating me like I'm not disabled and treating me poorly because they think I'm using my disability for undue sympathy or a mask for laziness.

[@nishamehta3795]

This is exactly my story. I feel the same way. It’s okay to offer help, but not at the cost of their self esteem

[@tiaworboys1182]

Love this, im partially deaf so this really hits home in a brilliant way. Absolutely love it

[@jenniferharwood4296]

Great talk. I have CPTSD and I loved this.

[@karenkalweit6018]

There were no accommodations when I was in school. No accommodations until I was 30 years old and then it was quite him decline if you would excuse the expression.

[@therabidpancake1]

It is difficult . I as a disabled man get no respect from my family and talked down to by strangers .

[@metabolism4738]

So sorry, dear. How are you today?

[@clintfry3991]

This is great talk about disability I am disabled and handicap I have failed at of hiding my disability with no insurance so I have Down syndrome and bipolar

[@ajaynarayanaswamy3073]

no one knows i have stargardts...lol...i am legally blind.....never learnt how to advocate for myself ....my life is just a tall stack of regrets.... :(

[@Shannonbarnesdr1]

faking you can hear or see when yo cant, is not a good thing, that is lying and can be dangerous, but other disabilities it can be a very good thing to learn to overcome and minimize them as much as possible-- but dont just mask it and lie about it, do everything you can do overcome, work around and minimize it as much as you can.