I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much | Stella Young

Summary

The speaker, raised in a small Victorian town, reflects on the misconception that disability makes individuals exceptional. She challenges the 'inspiration porn' phenomenon, where images of disabled people are used to inspire others, arguing that it objectifies and misrepresents the disabled community. Advocating for the social model of disability, she emphasizes that society's barriers, not physical conditions, disable people. The speaker calls for a world where disability is normalized and genuine achievements are valued, not the mere act of living.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The speaker grew up in a small town in Victoria, leading a normal and unremarkable life.
• 🏆 At 15, a community member wanted to nominate her for an achievement award, but her parents pointed out she hadn't achieved anything notable.
• 📚 During her teaching career, a student's comment made her realize that disabled people are often only seen as sources of inspiration, not as individuals with diverse roles.
• 🚫 She challenges the common notion that disability is a 'Bad Thing' and that living with a disability automatically makes one exceptional.
• 📱 She criticizes social media for perpetuating the idea that disability is something to be overcome through attitude, referring to such content as 'inspiration porn'.
• 👀 These images and messages objectify disabled people, using them to make non-disabled people feel grateful for their own situations.
• 🤝 The speaker prefers the social model of disability, which suggests that society, not physical conditions, is the main disabling factor.
• 💪 She emphasizes that disabled people overcome societal barriers, not their own bodies, and should not be reduced to inspirational figures.
• 🌟 The speaker desires a world where disability is the norm, not the exception, and where achievements are recognized without reference to disability.
• 🌍 She concludes by encouraging the audience to question their preconceptions about disability and to value genuine achievements of disabled individuals.

Q & A

What was the speaker's upbringing like in the small country town in Victoria?

The speaker had a very normal, low-key upbringing. They went to school, hung out with friends, and fought with their younger sisters, which were all considered very typical activities.

Why did the speaker's parents initially decline the nomination for a community achievement award when she was 15?

The speaker's parents declined the nomination because they believed there was a glaring problem: their daughter hadn't achieved anything significant at that point in her life.

What was the speaker's job during their after-school hours?

The speaker worked in a low-key job at their mother's hairdressing salon.

What television shows did the speaker spend a lot of time watching?

The speaker spent a lot of time watching 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Dawson's Creek'.

What realization did the speaker have during a year 11 legal studies class when a student asked about her 'speech'?

The speaker realized that the student had only ever experienced disabled people as objects of inspiration, not as real individuals with their own roles and identities.

What is the term the speaker uses to describe images that objectify disabled people for the benefit of nondisabled people?

The speaker uses the term 'inspiration porn' to describe such images.

According to the speaker, what is the purpose of 'inspiration porn' images?

The purpose of these images is to inspire and motivate nondisabled people by making them feel that their own lives could be worse, thus putting their own worries into perspective.

What is the social model of disability, as mentioned by the speaker?

The social model of disability suggests that people are more disabled by the society they live in than by their physical conditions or diagnoses.

Why does the speaker argue that the phrase 'The only disability in life is a bad attitude' is not true?

The speaker argues that the phrase is not true because, according to the social model of disability, the issues faced by disabled people are often societal barriers rather than personal limitations, which cannot be overcome by attitude alone.

What does the speaker want to see in the world regarding the perception of disability?

The speaker wants to live in a world where disability is not the exception but the norm, where disabled people are not congratulated for basic achievements and where their genuine accomplishments are valued.

What does the speaker suggest is the greatest injustice about the current perception of disability?

The speaker suggests that the greatest injustice is the lie that disability makes one exceptional, which leads to low expectations and the objectification of disabled people.