How to read when you're blind | Ron McCallum | TEDxSydney
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- Ron McCallum was born blind. Regardless, he managed to fall in love with reading soon after. In this funny and heartfelt talk, he tours the history of reading gear for the blind and shows how each new design has impacted his life.
Professor Ron McCallum AO is one of Australia's most respected industrial and discrimination lawyers and a prominent human rights advocate. With a long and successful career as a legal academic and teacher, in 1993 he became the first totally blind person appointed to a full professorship at any Australian university when he became Professor in Industrial Law at the University of Sydney.
He served as Dean of the University of Sydney Law School for 5 years and is now an Emeritus Professor. Ron is a leading light in the disabled community, working for equality among all Australians. He is also Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2011, Ron was named Senior Australian of the Year. His interests include reading, listening to music and meditation.
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)
Thank you for the video. I myself was born with vision disability. I can read and use computers but I'll never be able to drive a car. When it came time for me to choose my future profession I had a depression because I had no idea what I'll be able to do and achieve in my life. Then my brother bought me a computer and I spent year at home taking my time to pull myself together. Out of pure boredom I started to learn computer programming and somehow I got deep into it. And after two years I thought - well, I have nothing to lose anyway, and so I went to local university and enrolled in computer studies degree program. I found out that there are even completely blind programmers in the world and this fact inspired me. So, now I have my Master of Science in Engineering degree and am working as a software architect in a small, but closely knit company which has partners with big names. And now looking back, I can say thank you, all the people who inspired me and served as an example that there are no limits to my possibilities, even if I am disabled. It's really sad to see that the recent economical crisis has broken so many people's lives and now they are literally destroying themselves, spending their days drinking and staring at TV screens. Yes, unemployment is a huge problem, but it doesn't mean that there is nothing left to do at all in the world. Just go and find your opportunities! If people with disabilities can do that, then all you, healthy boys and girls, are capable of even much more! Just go and do something with your life - you have nothing to lose, but so much to gain!
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Congratulations for the FATHER you have. I´m loosing progressively my sight and for the moment I´m depending on technology. I can´t read printed books but PC screens, though blurred, aid me to contact with the literature I love and need. Watching Ron´s conference gave me such a strengh to wait calmly ...... God bless him and his family
One of the most moving and incredible TEDxTalks I've ever seen! An inspirational talk and an amazing man!! xx
I had Ron as a professor for Administrative Law. Such a knowledgeable, humble man.
The overwhelming feeling is that humanity can actually work! People can actually work together to help another human, whom they don't even know, and contribute to the formation of someone like Ron who had the exceptional drive to take what was offered, even in the humblest form, and run with it. Actually, not just run with it, but create a whole life dedicated to helping others. There are still some who understand the meaning of "Do unto others and you would have them do unto you".
True inspiration. I don't think I will ever forget this guy.
So glad I came here by INENIvlogs. This is so wonderful to hear how the technology can let blind people read. I cried at the end like lots of other people because we never stand still enough around the fact that there are people who can't see or can't hear, but we can and should stand still about how blessed we are we that more.
-Nicky
What quietly unassuming super cool guy.
Thank you, Ron. And TED!
Very moving Ron and inspirational to listen to you, I enjoyed every second of it and had a good giggle at some stages, I miss our chats in the car.
I hope to see you soon....
My favourite talk from the day. Charming, touching and fascinating. Thank you. :)
Sent from the INENI VLOGS....loved this video. I've taken a sign language course at school but I've never really been exposed to the deaf or blind world. It was very intriguing to listen to =)
Wonderful and incredibly inspirational, thank you Ron! I enjoy theINENIvlogs; how lucky Daniel is to have such an amazing father!
Well done Ron. Sorry I missed you on the day mate. I arrived after lunch. Great to sit back now and take it all in. Cheers mate. Damien
this is james daughter my dad is blind and is learning grade 2 brail... I love him so much
So proud of you dad. :-) Love Dan
❤ moving talk ❤
Who is the one person that disliked this video? Turn on your location bruv, I just wanna talk
Natural Reader is a free text to speech program, very nice.
I usually hate to weep so early in the day, but in this case I'll make an exception.
I'm bawling like a baby right now
:-) Just Awesome!!!
Google has it built in. Search for 'Google text to speech' and it is free.
INENI FTW
:-) hehe