I am not my label | Lily Sughroue | TEDxLincoln

Summary

In this TEDx talk, the speaker shares personal stories of living with disabilities, challenging societal perceptions and assumptions. She introduces Blake, a high school senior with physical disabilities, who dreams big despite societal limitations. The speaker also recounts her own journey after suffering a traumatic brain injury, which led to misdiagnoses of mental illness before the correct diagnosis. Through her experiences, she advocates for treating people with disabilities as individuals, not labels, and shares her work at Camp Easter Seals, where she empowers others to live barrier-free lives.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The speaker humorously warns against applying to be a TEDx speaker in a fit of rage, as they unexpectedly got selected.
• 👨‍🎓 Blake, an 18-year-old high school senior, enjoys typical teenage activities and has plans for his future, despite having a disability.
• 🔍 A picture of Blake changes the audience's perception of his future, highlighting how assumptions about people with disabilities can be limiting.
• 🚫 The speaker emphasizes that people with disabilities don't want pity or patronization; they want to be treated as people first.
• 🧠 The speaker shares her personal story of acquiring a hidden disability after a series of concussions, which affected her academic performance and mental health.
• 🏥 The correct diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury gave the speaker and her family hope, but she still grappled with the label.
• 🏋️‍♀️ The speaker's journey to recovery included various therapies and treatments, including speech and language therapy and special glasses for double vision.
• 🎓 Graduating high school was a significant achievement for the speaker, who struggled academically due to her disability.
• 🏕 The speaker found empowerment and a sense of purpose through her involvement with Camp Easter Seals, an inclusive camp for people with disabilities.
• 💪 The speaker encourages the audience to interact with people in wheelchairs, emphasizing that they have dreams and goals just like everyone else.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes by sharing her new identity as a TEDx alumnus, demonstrating that people with disabilities can achieve great things.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction to being chosen as a TEDx speaker?

The speaker humorously suggests that one should never apply to be a TEDx speaker in a fit of rage because they might actually get picked, implying that it was a surprising and possibly daunting opportunity.

Who is Blake and how does he relate to the speaker?

Blake is an 18-year-old high school senior who is the speaker's friend. He is described as a typical high school boy who enjoys music, dancing, and going out for wings and funny movies.

What is the main issue the speaker addresses regarding people's perceptions of Blake?

The speaker addresses the issue of assumptions and limitations that people place on Blake due to his disability, which are the only things limiting him, not his disability itself.

What does the speaker want to achieve by sharing her story and Blake's story?

The speaker aims to shift the audience's thinking, perceptions, and emotions about people with disabilities, emphasizing that they should be treated as people first, not pitied or patronized.

What was the turning point in the speaker's life after her brain injury?

The turning point was when the speaker was correctly diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury caused by repeated concussions at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, which provided her and her family with an answer and hope.

How did the speaker's life change after her diagnosis?

After her diagnosis, the speaker started attending programs where she learned coping mechanisms for her memory loss and spatial awareness, underwent speech and language therapy, and worked with a psychiatrist.

What role does Camp Easter Seals play in the speaker's life?

Camp Easter Seals is where the speaker regained her confidence and sense of independence. She loved it so much that she now runs the camp, serving as the director of Camp Resit and Recreation for Easter Seals.

What is the speaker's message about people with disabilities?

The speaker's message is that people with disabilities should be seen as people first, not defined by their labels, and that it's possible to live a life free of barriers if we perceive them as such.

How does the speaker feel when people treat her friends with disabilities differently?

The speaker feels hurt when others look at her friends with disabilities with pity, judgment, or don't engage with them at all, and she encourages direct and respectful interaction.

What is the final message the speaker hopes to convey to the audience?

The speaker hopes that her story will change the audience's perception of people with disabilities and show that it's the barriers, not the disabilities, that set the limits.

What was the outcome of the speaker's journey that she shares at the end of the talk?

The outcome of the speaker's journey is that she has become a TEDx alumni, indicating that she has overcome her challenges and is now in a position to inspire and educate others.