Anyone who knows me knows I am a TEDTalk addict.  I watch these videos by inspired thinkers and doers while I exercise, on airplanes, before bed.  They are like live action New Yorker articles – they make me think, teach me things I realize I need to know, inspire me.

Former Paralympian Aimee Mullins is a double amputee who has spoke at TED conferences before but her most recent talk at TEDmed is so remarkable, I just can’t get it out of my head.  She talks about the definition and antonyms of the word DISABLE and continues to amplify the power of language on our expectations for children and adults with disabilities.  I agreed with many of her points and was cheering at the end along with the audience.  What can we do as those who surround children with disabilites to avoid putting that first brick in the wall of limitation in their minds?

http://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_the_opportunity_of_adversity.html

I also can’t help but notice that Aimee is very tall – in part because she selects prosthesis that amplify her natural height.  As someone who is typically close to the ground, I wonder, what power or benefit does she get from being so far from the ground?  Or is she making a statement – wanting to stand out, to make noticeable something she is proud of – that she has these dynamic helpers in life.  Just something to ponder!