Including the disabled perspective in advocacy | Angeline Dziegrenuk | TEDxRutgersCamden

When considering the perspective of a disabled person, it is easy to only consider the physical and mental daily challenges and neglect the social and societal challenges that they face. When we spend more time imagining their experience than asking the people who live it, we run the risk of causing more harm than good to those we aim to support. Angeline Dziegrenuk uses her own experiences as a disabled individual to illustrate the full scope of challenges disabled people face and how they can be respectfully supported.

[topworldgreatest]

Always remember you're enough and worthy no matter what others say. Value yourself forever. Love yourself.

[duaine.jcouch]

I am disabled. Spinal damage however I’m one that most can’t tell so I get the sneering looks when I use a powered grocery cart. Some of us get too much sympathy while others get none at all.. sadly most of the world doesn’t understand disability has no bias against age race creed size or any other attributes that people are so judgmental about. The worst part is the job market as they see us all as nothing but a liability just to have on there property..! I appalled you for speaking out to bring awareness to the obstacles we as disabled people face each and every day..!

[ninreck]

we do not need to fix people, we need to fix the world around them

[anthonydaniel]

I'm happy every time someone points out how living with a disability (like I do) makes you either a source of sympathy or apathy and nothing in between. There's a weird suspension of reality when someone without a disability reacts to someone with a disability: they forget they're interacting with a person OFTEN.

[jordanfromthewaikato]

We use the words like inclusion and participation of disabled people. But we still get people who translate the word disabled as unemployable or ‘unable to do work.’

[LDD]

I would have been startled to if a stranger started talking to me without acknowledging the person I was obviously there with. Gift or no gift. You are a very patient person. I think you explained your thoughts and feelings very well. You cited examples from real experiences. You acknowledged that the Christmas ornament man and your friend were trying to be kind or supportive. And you very eloquently and matter of fact explained exactly how it made you feel. I don’t think you sound like you have “a chip on your shoulder” as someone on here said. This is perfect. You made me think about how I can best interact with a disabled person in the future. Treat them like a real person with thoughts and feelings, ask questions and listen to the answer. Thank you Angeline.

[epigeneticnerd]

The issue is, not everyone in society has common sense. Most of us know that it would be patronizing to do what this man did to her. And the “treat others how you would like to be treated” results in varying acts. Some would like to be treated special in her shoes, and some don’t.

[Bangs]

I’m on power wheelchair and I don’t give much thought to the gestures that people make towards me. They are generally a kind lot and their problem is that they are not always sure about what to do when they are face to face with people like us.

[miss.phyllisreneefoster]

thank you for that powerful message! thank you and be safe and well.

[Vtiup]

O AMOR vence todas as barreiras! Parabéns, Dra. Angeline!

[BrokerLower]

Diversity is not as shallow as skin color.
Diversity is accepting the blind, deaf, disabled, etc..

[Phatxual]

This is great to see, and lovely presentation btw! Fortunately, I'm one of the prescribed minority and it's just very nice to see someone with such strong thoughts and actively able to advocate for the ones who can't or don't🥰🤙🧡
It's a constant battle, even with the ones who might understand the most.
People think acting as if the 'disability' doesn't exist will help, or is being supportive/inspirational; but it eventually morphs into them forgetting details or not being supportive, relative to you as a person. Which makes it feel disgenuine or fake/forced.
More advocacy is needed for the future, for sure! Much love!!🧡

[jk-bxgz]

It's very vague you're right. Abelism. There's a mix with mental health and disability. Physical and DNA disabilities. I'm in that bracket looking for work in my late 30. I worry about the younger generation. It's not easy but we choose to live and persevere everyday to be our own person!

[Vikingbiznitch]

See the docufilm "When Billy broke his head and other tales of wonder, " if you are able bodied and want to understand what disability is like.

[kelleysciarrino]

Wonderful to hear from a actual able challenged person on Tedx. Brava!

[mch]

As a disabled person myself, there is much about this that I feel.

[The_Joker_]

Her vocabulary, annunciation and intellect is absolutely amazing. She is perfect. I would like to do a radio show with her ♿️

[dthghts]

Nice! Thank you, a fellow chair user...

[blahblahblahEMILY]

This comment section does not pass the vibe check

[motivationeyes]

*Everyone who reads this, we don't know each other and probably never will but I wish you all the best in life and all the luck in the world.*