Gambling on Humanity With An Invisible Disability | Lainie Ishbia | TEDxJacksonville

Many people think having a “disability” means you require a wheelchair or walker. But roughly 10 percent of the approximately 61 million adults in the US who have some form of disability suffer from “invisible” disabilities such as chronic pain and illness, genetic disorders, diabetes, or fibromyalgia. They often encounter judgement, anger, and aggression from strangers who presume they are misusing resources meant for the “visibly disabled.” Likewise, by routinely targeting people with disabilities with "one size fits all" policies and marketing campaigns, corporations are excluding, stereotyping, or misrepresenting what living with disability really looks like.

As an entrepreneur and disability advocate, Lainie Ishbia believes broadening our understanding of disability isn’t just a moral and ethical imperative — it’s also good business. People with disabilities are the largest and fastest growing minority in the world. By breaking down barriers and providing job accommodations, employers can expand opportunities within the workforce. By designing products, services, and content that meet the needs of all people, companies actually end up making better products and services for everyone. Acknowledging the presence and validity of invisible disabilities is a key component of creating a more equitable society for all.

#Inclusion #InvisibleDisability #TEDxtalks #TEDxJacksonville
Lainie Ishbia is a writer, entrepreneur, and
disability advocate born with a rare and
progressive neuromuscular disorder called
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT).
After receiving a master of social work degree
from the University of Michigan, Lainie spent
most of her 30-plus year career specializing in
adolescent girls and women’s self-esteem and
body image issues. In 2017, Lainie founded the
lifestyle and fashion brand Trend-Able, which
provides adaptive fashion and other tools for
people living with disabilities so they can look
and feel their best. Lainie is also the co-creator
of the Embrace It Podcast and the EmBrace
It Workshop Series. She has partnered with
numerous nonprofits, businesses, and Fortune
500 companies to train employees on disabilityrelated communication and to eradicate

[breannapiscitelli]

Thank you I needed this today. I forgot about internal ableism. I grew up in an area where everybody was kind of pull yourself up by your bootstraps. I didn’t even know. I had a connective tissue disorder until last year, but I constantly put myself in situations where I get hurt because of the ablest thought process.

Actually, why I’m so bad off right now is because of that thinking. I ignored my health problems until they were so severe that I couldn’t ignore them anymore. I have a daughter now though and I just try to teach her that you have to advocate for yourself, and find a healthy balance between caring for yourself and becoming Too obsessed with it.

I would absolutely love to tell my story, but I have no idea where to start. I’ve tried to look and find videos as to where to start, but I just get very overwhelmed thinking about it. I still want to share my story though, because I am really lonely and I wish I knew there were other people going through what I go through just so that someone could relate.

[joannekristal]

Lainie...really awesome. You did a fantastic job and have opened up my eyes to 'indivisible disabilities'. You go

[CMTAssociation]

Incredibly powerful conversation on invisible disabilities and the stigma still surrounding them. Thank you so much Lainie for sharing your experiences and being such an incredible advocate both in the CMT and disabilities communities.

[ReeveWashburn]

Lainie, you continually amaze me with your confidence, poise, power and spot on commentary. Thank you for this talk!

[blakephillips]

So proud and lucky to call you my mother each and every day. Keep up the amazing work!

[MStrippingonair]

Fantastic. And Trend-able is such a great resource for so many ppl with disabilities.

[susansnyder]

Great job Lainie!!!! You should fo more TED talks!!! This subject needs a spotlight!!!

[estelalugo]

Beyond POWERFUL!!!! So honored to be your friend and EMBRACE IT partner!

[ktk]

You rocked it Lainie! You looked so beautiful in that dress ! Thanks for speaking out on behalf of us CMTers and the many folks with hidden disabilities. 👍🏼🙏🏼 KK

[WisdomSharedCaroleBlueweiss]

Great talk with so many powerful ideas We all have a lot to learn. about ableism. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

[HNFoundation]

Such an IMPORTANT TOPIC to shine a spotlight on! Lainie is such a fierce & dedicated advocate! Bravo!!

[brokearcader]

I have (Osteogenisis Imperfecta) and my type of OI makes me look normal and nobody would even know unless i say something. . . .and this is exactly why I can't get myself to leave the house and enjoy my life. I am scared something is going to happen and I won't be able to do anything to protect myself. This will be my 3rd or 4th year in a row permanently staying inside my house and not even leaving the house unless I have to for a doctor appointment.

[towzone]

I’m not disabled, I’m just not enabled.

[Autochthonous_Anarchist]

We are all differently abled, not disabled.

[Long_Machine]

“Internalized abysm” just as absurd as “internalized racism“.