Do you feel ‘lucky’ to not be disabled? Do you really know that you aren’t disabled? Society largely views disability as a personal tragedy and that non-disabled people are lucky to not be in the same position. Jo encourages the audience to face their internalised ableism and challenge their perceptions of what it means to be disabled. She also delves into the most common disability faced by individuals; society.

In 2019, Jo was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a chronic connective tissue disorder impacting her joints, digestion, circulation, cognition, vision, and mental health. After this diagnosis, Jo was forced to challenge her own internalised ableism in order to properly support herself. After reaching a better understanding of her own abilities, Jo began to advocate for those who are in a similar position to herself. She spent this last year as the Disabilities Officer for Lincoln SU, whilst completing her Masters by research at the University of Lincoln. Jo also runs an advocacy account on Instagram, inspired by Amy Lee Fisher, where she posts about her life with EDS and raises awareness of this condition. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx