17 year-old Joanne O'Riordan is one of nine people in the world with the condition Tetra-amelia syndrome, meaning she was born with no limbs. In this talk, she outlines her thoughts on why women in leadership roles (Irish women in particular) need to continue to "rock the system" so that teenage girls can ask themselves "what do I want to be?" rather than "what celebrity do I want to look like?" Technology and education need to be harnessed to lift women out of poverty, disability, and lives of abuse.
Over the past few years, Joanne has successfully taken on Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny on issues relating to disability allowances, addressed the UN on the difference technology can make to the life of someone living with a disability. She has been named Cork Person of the Month and Young Person of the Year at the People of the Year Awards. Joanne has also been the focus of a feature-length documentary "No Limbs, No Limits", directed by Steven O'Riordan (Joanne's brother).
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
18 сен 2014
