Name: I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much
Uploaded: 2014-06-09T15:10:44Z
Duration: 9 min 2 s
Description: Stella Young is a comedian and journalist who happens to go about her day in a wheelchair — a fact that doesn't, she'd like to make clear, automatically turn her into a noble inspiration to all humanity. In this very funny talk, Young breaks down society's habit of turning disabled people into "inspiration porn."

Stella Young is a comedian and journalist who happens to go about her day in a wheelchair — a fact that doesn't, she'd like to make clear, automatically turn her into a noble inspiration to all humanity. In this very funny talk, Young breaks down society's habit of turning disabled people into "inspiration porn."

I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much

Society often turns disabled people into objects of inspiration, celebrating ordinary actions simply because of disability. A teenager was once nominated for an award just for watching TV in her wheelchair, highlighting how low expectations can be. True barriers come from inaccessible environments and attitudes, not from bodies themselves. Recognizing real achievement means questioning the narratives that label disabled people as exceptional just for living their lives.