Problem:
All three TED videos were inspiring, eye-opening, and fundamentally shifted my perspective on how best to advocate and contribute toward true inclusion. The presenters did not allow their disabilities to define who they are or accept what society determines they are. Instead, they challenged those notions, advocated for themselves, and actively propelled themselves into the spheres they desired, shifting society's narratives and thinking.
While Sue Austin's story of underwater exploration resonated with me most on a personal level, I have chosen to focus on Elise Roy's talk, "When we design for disability, we all benefit." I believe Ms. Roy's message is especially important because it highlights how accessibility is not just a niche requirement-it is a universal solution that benefits people with all forms of disabilities, as well as those without them. It moves the conversation of accessibility from "special interest" to a "universal" benefit that improves all human lives.
The Presenter
Elise Roy is an attorney, design thinker, activist, and human rights advocate who has lived with hearing loss since age 10. She is well accomplished academically, attending Brown University, an Ivy League institution, as well as other renowned universities in the US. She was also a standout in the sports arena, specifically in collegiate Division l soccer and lacrosse (Roy, 2015). Rather than viewing her diagnosis as a limitation, she took a proactive mindset that made her consciously aware of her surroundings.
This adaptability was put to the test during her career as a human rights lawyer. While working on projects for the United Nations including working with people with deafness in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, Roy began to feel that the law was a "blunt tool." She realized that while laws could mandate rights, they could not always solve the practical, everyday challenges people faced on the ground. This epiphany sparked her quest for a Master's in Social Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art. It was during this transition that she realized her hearing loss was actually a unique sensory tool, allowing her to see design solutions that others might overlook. Need Assignment Help?