ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sinéad Burke - Writer, educator
Sinéad Burke amplifies voices and instigates curious conversations.

Why you should listen

Since her first days of elementary school, Sinéad Burke has understood the power of education to combat ignorance, to challenge the status quo and to give agency to the most vulnerable. She wanted to become a teacher -- one who ensured that children felt represented, listened to and safe in her classroom -- and she graduated at the top of her class, receiving the Vere Foster Medal from Marino Institute of Education.

Through writing, public speaking and social media, Burke highlights the lack of inclusivity within the fashion industry and encourages the industry to design for and with disabled people. She critiques the ways in which the media talks about and to women, offering an alternative conversation that celebrates the achievements of others with her "Extraordinary Women" interview series.

Burke has visited schools, workplaces, government agencies and the White House to facilitate honest conversations about education, disability, fashion and accessibility. She advocates for the inclusion of all and challenges officials to legislate with most marginalized in our communities.

Bure is currently undertaking a PhD in Trinity College, Dublin on human rights education that specifically comments on the ways in which schools allow children to have a voice. She values kindness, empathy and volunteerism, and she is an ambassador for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Irish Girl Guides.

More profile about the speaker
Sinéad Burke | Speaker | TED.com
TEDNYC

Sinéad Burke: Why design should include everyone

西尼德.伯克: 為何在設計時應該考慮到所有人

Filmed:
1,435,325 views

西尼德.伯克敏銳地察覺到我們當中很多人基本上看不到的細節。對於身高 105 公分(或 3 呎 5 吋)的她來說,被設計的世界──由門鎖的高度以至提供的鞋子尺寸範圍──往往抑制她自己的事自己做的能力。她將告訴我們一名矮個子闖蕩世界究竟是甚麼體驗,並問:「我們在設計的時候忽略了誰?」
- Writer, educator
Sinéad Burke amplifies voices and instigates curious conversations. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
I want to give you a new perspective透視.
0
793
2247
我要給大家一個新視角。
00:16
That sounds聲音 grandiose雄偉, and it is.
1
4000
2840
聽起來很堂皇,的確是的。
00:19
I left Ireland愛爾蘭 yesterday昨天 morning早上.
2
7560
1720
昨天早上我離開愛爾蘭。
00:21
I traveled旅行 from Dublin都柏林 to New York紐約
3
9880
2456
我獨自一人從都柏林飛到紐約。
00:24
independently獨立地.
4
12360
1200
00:26
But the design設計 of an airport飛機場,
5
14080
1896
然而機場、客機和航廈的設計
00:28
plane平面 and terminal終奌站
6
16000
2536
00:30
offers報價 little independence獨立 when
you're 105 and a half centimeters公分 tall.
7
18560
3920
只能給一個身高 105.5 公分的人
丁點的獨立自主。
00:35
For Americans美國人, that's 3' 5".
8
23200
3240
對美國人來說,這等於 3 呎 5 吋。
00:39
I was whisked護送 through通過 the airport飛機場
by airline航空公司 assistants助理 in a wheelchair輪椅.
9
27680
3720
航空公司助理
給我推輪椅迅速穿越機場。
00:44
Now, I don't need to use a wheelchair輪椅,
10
32000
3000
我不需要使用輪椅,
00:47
but the design設計 of an airport飛機場
11
35680
2096
但機場的設計
和那裡缺乏無障礙設施,
00:49
and its lack缺乏 of accessibility無障礙
12
37800
2256
00:52
means手段 that it's my only way
to get through通過.
13
40080
2080
意味這是我穿越機場的唯一途徑。
00:55
With my carry-on繼續 bag between之間 my feet,
14
43280
2736
我坐著輪椅,雙腿夾著手提行李
經過安檢、出入境審查,
00:58
I was wheeled輪式 through通過
security安全, preclearance事先批准
15
46040
3376
01:01
and I arrived到達 at my boarding登機 gate.
16
49440
2360
我到達了登機門。
01:04
I use the accessibility無障礙
services服務 in the airport飛機場
17
52880
2856
我使用機場內的無障礙服務,
01:07
because most of the terminal終奌站
is just not designed設計 with me in mind心神.
18
55760
3240
因為航廈大樓大部分地方
都不是為我著想而設計。
01:11
Take security安全, for example.
19
59920
1720
就以安檢為例。
01:14
I'm not strong強大 enough足夠
to lift電梯 my carry-on繼續 bag
20
62320
3096
我不夠力氣從地面
舉起手提行李放到輸送帶。
01:17
from the ground地面 to the carousel圓盤傳送帶.
21
65440
2040
01:20
I stand at eye level水平 with it.
22
68480
1600
輸送帶及至我站起時眼睛的高度。
01:22
And those who work in that space空間
for safety安全 purposes目的 cannot不能 help me
23
70560
4936
基於安全理由,那裡的工作人員
沒法幫我、給我代勞。
01:27
and cannot不能 do it for me.
24
75520
1680
01:30
Design設計 inhibits抑制 my autonomy自治
and my independence獨立.
25
78200
3760
設計抑制我的自主性和獨立性。
01:35
But traveling旅行 at this size尺寸,
it isn't all bad.
26
83000
3480
但以這樣的身型旅行並非全然糟糕。
01:38
The leg room房間 in economy經濟
is like business商業 class.
27
86960
2776
經濟艙的座位空間就像商務艙的。
01:41
(Laughter笑聲)
28
89760
1880
(笑聲)
01:44
I often經常 forget忘記 that I'm a little person.
29
92760
2080
我往往忘記自己是矮個子。
01:47
It's the physical物理 environment環境
and society社會 that remind提醒 me.
30
95360
3960
就是物理環境和社會提醒我。
01:52
Using運用 a public上市 bathroom浴室
is an excruciating痛苦 experience經驗.
31
100120
3960
使用公廁是痛苦至極的經驗。
01:56
I walk步行 into the cubicle
32
104880
2176
我走進廁所,卻沒法觸及門上的鎖。
01:59
but I can't reach達到 the lock on the door.
33
107080
1858
02:01
I'm creative創作的 and resilient彈性.
34
109880
2360
我富有創意,能屈能伸。
02:05
I look around and see if there's
a bin箱子 that I can turn upside上邊 down.
35
113000
3400
我環顧四周查看有沒有
可以讓我倒轉的垃圾桶。
02:09
Is it safe安全?
36
117400
1200
這樣做安全嗎?
02:11
Not really.
37
119040
1200
不太安全。
02:12
Is it hygienic衛生 and sanitary衛浴?
38
120640
2320
這樣做衞生和清潔嗎?
02:15
Definitely無疑 not.
39
123440
1200
當然不是。
02:17
But the alternative替代 is much worse更差.
40
125760
1620
但另一個辦法遠遠更糟。
02:20
If that doesn't work, I use my phone電話.
41
128240
2000
如果行不通,我就用電話。
02:23
It gives me an additional額外
four-四- to six-inch六英寸 reach達到,
42
131160
3056
它讓我的手臂延長 4 至 6 吋,
02:26
and I try to jam果醬 the lock closed關閉
with my iPhone蘋果手機.
43
134240
2680
我就嘗試用 iPhone
推門鎖把門鎖上。
02:29
Now, I imagine想像 that's not what Jony強尼 Ive我有
had in mind心神 when he designed設計 the iPhone蘋果手機,
44
137720
4416
現在我想像得到這並非強納森.艾維
設計 iPhone 的原意,
02:34
but it works作品.
45
142160
1200
但這卻奏效。
02:36
The alternative替代
is that I approach途徑 a stranger陌生人.
46
144960
2480
另一辦法就是我向陌生人請求。
02:40
I apologize道歉 profusely豐富地
47
148480
2256
我連番道歉,
要求她們站在廁所門外守候。
02:42
and I ask them to stand guard守衛
outside my cubicle door.
48
150760
3080
02:47
They do
49
155000
1536
她們照樣去做,
我就心存感恩站起來,
02:48
and I emerge出現 grateful感激
50
156560
1960
02:51
but absolutely絕對 mortified羞愧,
51
159480
1680
但我感到非常尷尬,
02:54
and hope希望 that they didn't notice注意
52
162040
1736
希望她們沒有察覺
我離開洗手間前沒有洗手。
02:55
that I left the bathroom浴室
without washing洗滌 my hands.
53
163800
2334
02:59
I carry攜帶 hand sanitizer洗手液 with me
every一切 single day
54
167200
3240
我每天都帶著乾洗手,
03:03
because the sink水槽, soap肥皂 dispenser飲水機,
hand dryer烘乾機 and mirror鏡子
55
171240
5336
因為洗手盆、給皂機、烘手機
和鏡子對我都是高不可攀。
03:08
are all out of my reach達到.
56
176600
1360
03:11
Now, the accessible無障礙 bathroom浴室
is somewhat有些 of an option選項.
57
179120
2736
現在無障礙洗手間有點兒差強人意。
03:13
In this space空間, I can reach達到
the lock on the door,
58
181880
2400
在這個空間,我可以觸及門鎖、
03:16
the sink水槽, the soap肥皂 dispenser飲水機,
the hand dryer烘乾機 and the mirror鏡子.
59
184840
4360
洗手盆、給皂機、烘手機和鏡子。
03:22
Yet然而, I cannot不能 use the toilet廁所.
60
190400
2920
然而我還未能使用馬桶。
03:26
It is deliberately故意 designed設計 higher更高
61
194520
2456
它是特意被設計成較高一點,
讓輪椅使用者輕易轉移到馬桶上。
03:29
so that wheelchair輪椅 users用戶
can transfer轉讓 across橫過 with ease緩解.
62
197000
3160
03:33
This is a wonderful精彩
and necessary必要 innovation革新,
63
201200
3360
這項創新是絕妙和必需的,
03:37
but in the design設計 world世界, when we describe描述
a new project項目 or idea理念 as accessible無障礙,
64
205440
4240
但在設計的領域裡,當我們形容
一個新項目或想法是無障礙時,
03:42
what does that mean?
65
210680
1200
這意味甚麼呢?
03:44
Who is it accessible無障礙 to?
66
212920
1920
它是對誰無障礙?
03:47
And whose誰的 needs需求
are not being存在 accommodated容納 for?
67
215840
2760
誰的需要沒有獲得照顧?
03:52
Now, the bathroom浴室 is an example
68
220000
1496
洗手間的設計就是
侵犯我尊嚴的一個例子,
03:53
of where design設計 impinges撞擊 upon my dignity尊嚴,
69
221520
2520
03:56
but the physical物理 environment環境 impacts影響
upon me in much more casual隨便 ways方法 too,
70
224920
3520
但物理環境也是更不經意地影響我,
04:01
something as simple簡單
as ordering排序 a cup杯子 of coffee咖啡.
71
229240
2240
簡單如點選一杯咖啡也影響我。
04:04
Now, I'll admit承認 it.
72
232320
1360
現在我得承認
04:06
I drink far too much coffee咖啡.
73
234160
1880
我實在喝了太多咖啡。
04:08
My order訂購 is a skinny枯瘦 vanilla香草 latte拿鐵,
74
236480
2576
我固定點的是脫脂奶香草拿鐵,
04:11
but I'm trying
to wean斷奶 myself off the syrup糖漿.
75
239080
2560
但我正在嘗試戒掉糖漿了。
04:14
But the coffee咖啡 shop,
it's not designed設計 well,
76
242800
2736
然而咖啡店設計不佳,
至少對我來說。
04:17
at least最小 not for me.
77
245560
1200
04:19
Queuing排隊, I'm standing常設
beside the pastry糕點 cabinet內閣
78
247520
2776
我站在糕點櫃後排隊時,
咖啡師召喚下一位客人點飲料。
04:22
and the barista咖啡師 calls電話 for the next下一個 order訂購.
79
250320
2040
04:25
"Next下一個, please!" they shout.
80
253200
2200
「請下一位!」他們呼喚。
04:28
They can't see me.
81
256440
1200
他們看不見我。
04:30
The person next下一個 to me in the queue隊列
points to my existence存在
82
258640
2816
隊中站在我旁邊的人指著我
以示我在,所有人都感到尷尬。
04:33
and everyone大家 is embarrassed尷尬.
83
261480
2240
04:36
I order訂購 as quick as I can
and I move移動 along沿 to collect蒐集 my coffee咖啡.
84
264240
3280
我盡快點飲料,
向前走去拿我那杯咖啡。
04:40
Now, think just for a second第二.
85
268480
2440
現在試用一秒去想。
04:43
Where do they put it?
86
271560
1200
他們把咖啡放在哪裡?
04:45
Up high and without a lid.
87
273960
1840
放在高處,杯子沒有封蓋。
04:48
Reaching到達 up to collect蒐集 a coffee咖啡
that I have paid支付 for
88
276480
2896
伸手去拿我付了錢買的咖啡
是一項異常危險的體驗。
04:51
is an incredibly令人難以置信 dangerous危險 experience經驗.
89
279400
2440
04:54
But design設計 also impinges撞擊
on the clothes衣服 that I want to wear穿.
90
282640
3256
但設計也影響到我想穿的衣服。
04:57
I want garments服裝
that reflect反映 my personality個性.
91
285920
2640
我要衣服反映我的個性。
05:01
It's difficult to find
in the childrenswear童裝 department.
92
289320
2680
在童裝部很難找到一件。
05:04
And often經常 womenswear女裝
requires要求 far too many許多 alterations改變.
93
292640
3280
女裝往往需要太多修改。
05:08
I want shoes that affect影響 my maturity到期,
professionalism敬業精神 and sophistication詭辯.
94
296600
4720
我要鞋子體現我的成熟、
專業精神和豐富經驗。
05:14
Instead代替, I'm offered提供 sneakers球鞋
with Velcro尼龍搭扣 straps and light-up點亮 shoes.
95
302160
4240
人們反而給我附有魔鬼氈的
運動鞋和發光運動鞋。
05:19
Now, I'm not totally完全 opposed反對
to light-up點亮 shoes.
96
307200
3776
我不是完全反對發光運動鞋。
05:23
(Laughter笑聲)
97
311000
1200
(笑聲)
05:25
But design設計 also impacts影響
on such這樣 simple簡單 things,
98
313080
3416
然而設計也影響
諸如坐在椅子上這樣簡單的事情。
05:28
like sitting坐在 on a chair椅子.
99
316520
1440
05:30
I cannot不能 go from a standing常設
to a seating休息 position位置 with grace恩典.
100
318920
3520
我總不能優雅地由直立轉為坐下。
05:35
Due應有 to the standards標準
of design設計 heights高度 of chairs椅子,
101
323320
3256
由於座椅的高度設計標準,
05:38
I have to crawl爬行 on my hands and knees膝蓋
102
326600
2696
我要用雙手和雙膝才能爬到座椅上,
05:41
just to get on top最佳 of it,
103
329320
1616
05:42
whilst同時 also being存在 conscious意識
that it might威力 tip小費 over at any stage階段.
104
330960
3640
同時擔心座椅可能隨時倒下。
05:48
But whilst同時 design設計 impacts影響 on me
105
336120
1816
雖然設計影響著我,
無論座椅、洗手間、咖啡店或衣服,
05:49
whether是否 it's a chair椅子,
a bathroom浴室, a coffee咖啡 shop, or clothes衣服,
106
337960
4776
05:54
I rely依靠 on and benefit效益
107
342760
3176
我依靠著陌生人的善心而獲益不少。
05:57
from the kindness善良 of strangers陌生人.
108
345960
1800
06:01
But not everybody每個人 is so nice不錯.
109
349520
1640
然而並非每個人都這樣好。
06:04
I'm reminded提醒 that I'm a little person
110
352400
2576
當陌生人指向我、瞪我、笑我、侮辱我
或給我拍照,就提醒我還是矮個子。
06:07
when a stranger陌生人 points,
111
355000
1440
06:09
stares凝視,
112
357520
1200
06:11
laughs,
113
359320
1200
06:13
calls電話 me a name名稱,
114
361360
1776
06:15
or takes a photograph照片 of me.
115
363160
1480
06:17
This happens發生 almost幾乎 every一切 day.
116
365960
1429
這種事幾乎每天都發生。
06:20
With the rise上升 of social社會 media媒體,
it has given特定 me an opportunity機會
117
368720
2896
社交媒體興起使我有機會經營部落格
06:23
and a platform平台 to have a voice語音
as a blogger博客 and as an activist活動家,
118
371640
3960
和成為活躍分子,
利用它作平台發聲,
06:28
but it has also made製作 me nervous緊張
119
376440
2296
但也使我擔心自己會在未經同意下
變成迷因或一夕爆紅。
06:30
that I might威力 become成為 a meme米姆
120
378760
2096
06:32
or a viral病毒 sensation感覺,
121
380880
1560
06:35
all without my consent同意.
122
383400
1400
06:38
So let's take a moment時刻 right now
123
386240
2696
現在就讓我們花點時間
把事情弄得清清楚楚。
06:40
to make something very clear明確.
124
388960
1600
06:43
The word "midget侏儒" is a slur誹謗.
125
391720
2400
「侏儒」這個詞是蔑稱。
06:47
It evolved進化 from PTPT Barnum's巴納姆的 era時代
of circuses馬戲團 and freak怪物 shows節目.
126
395360
4120
它是從巴納姆時代的
馬戲團和畸形秀演變而成。
06:52
Society社會 has evolved進化.
127
400640
1720
社會已經變了。
06:55
So should our vocabulary詞彙.
128
403520
1520
我們的語彙也要變了。
06:57
Language語言 is a powerful強大 tool工具.
129
405840
2376
語言是一項強而有力的工具。
07:00
It does not just name名稱 our society社會.
130
408240
2000
它不只給我們的社會命名。
07:02
It shapes形狀 it.
131
410720
1440
它塑造社會。
07:04
I am incredibly令人難以置信 proud驕傲
to be a little person,
132
412880
3416
我為因軟骨發育不全症遺傳
而成為矮個子感到非常自豪。
07:08
to have inherited遺傳
the condition條件 of achondroplasia軟骨發育不全.
133
416320
3256
07:11
But I am most proud驕傲 to be Sinead西尼德.
134
419600
2240
但使我最自豪的是身為西尼德。
07:14
Achondroplasia軟骨發育不全 is
the most common共同 form形成 of dwarfism侏儒症.
135
422680
3040
軟骨發育不全症
是侏儒症最常見的形式。
07:18
Achondroplasia軟骨發育不全 translates轉換
as "without cartilage軟骨 formation編隊."
136
426400
3560
軟骨發育不全症的拉丁語源
譯作「沒有軟骨形成」。
07:22
I have short limbs四肢
and achondroplastic軟骨發育不全 facial面部 features特徵,
137
430760
3736
我四肢短小,面部特徵如額頭和
鼻子的軟骨發育不全。
07:26
my forehead前額 and my nose鼻子.
138
434520
2320
07:29
My arms武器 do not straighten弄直 fully充分,
139
437560
2616
我的雙臂不能完全伸直,
但我卻可以舔自己的肘部。
07:32
but I can lick my elbow彎頭.
140
440200
1880
07:34
I'm not showing展示 you that one.
141
442640
1381
我不會向大家示範這個。
07:37
Achondroplasia軟骨發育不全 occurs發生 in approximately
one in every一切 20,000 births出生.
142
445200
4480
每約 2 萬名新生嬰
就有一名軟骨發育不全症。
07:42
80 percent百分 of little people
are born天生 to two average-height平均身高 parents父母.
143
450520
3680
80% 矮個子的雙親皆是中等身高。
07:47
That means手段 that anybody任何人 in this room房間
could have a child兒童 with achondroplasia軟骨發育不全.
144
455000
3920
這意味這房間內任何人都可能
有一名軟骨發育不全的子女。
07:51
Yet然而, I inherited遺傳 my condition條件 from my dad.
145
459960
3520
然而我是因父親遺傳而有這狀況。
07:55
I'd like to show顯示 you a photo照片 of my family家庭.
146
463880
2280
我想給大家看看我的全家福照片。
07:59
My mother母親 is average平均 height高度,
147
467280
2016
我的母親是中等身高,
08:01
my father父親 is a little person
148
469320
2216
我的父親是矮個子,
而我是五名子女中最年長的。
08:03
and I am the eldest最年長 of five children孩子.
149
471560
2000
08:06
I have three sisters姐妹 and one brother哥哥.
150
474200
2520
我有三名妹妹和一名弟弟。
08:09
They are all average平均 height高度.
151
477560
1680
他們都是中等身高。
08:12
I am incredibly令人難以置信 fortunate幸運
to have been born天生 into a family家庭
152
480160
3416
我十分榮幸能夠誕生在這個家庭,
08:15
that cultivated
my curiosity好奇心 and my tenacity韌性,
153
483600
3200
這個家庭培養我的好奇心和韌力,
08:19
that protected保護 me from the unkindness無情
and ignorance無知 of strangers陌生人
154
487720
4976
讓我免受陌生人的
不友善對待和愚昧影響,
08:24
and that armed武裝 me with the resilience彈性,
creativity創造力 and confidence置信度
155
492720
4176
使我能屈能伸、
充滿創意、信心十足,
08:28
that I needed需要 to survive生存 and manipulate操作
the physical物理 environment環境 and society社會.
156
496920
4640
這些特質都是我所賴以生存
和駕馭物理環境和社會。
08:34
If I was to pinpoint查明 any reason原因
why I am successful成功,
157
502800
3816
假如我要點出我成功的
任何一個原因,
08:38
it is because I was
and I am a loved喜愛 child兒童,
158
506640
4120
那就是我一直到現在
都是一個受寵愛的孩子,
08:43
now, a loved喜愛 child兒童
with a lot of sass上海社會科學院 and sarcasm諷刺,
159
511560
3896
一個現在口沒遮攔、
尖酸刻薄的受寵愛孩子,
08:47
but a loved喜愛 child兒童 nonetheless儘管如此,.
160
515480
1679
但畢竟還是受寵愛孩子。
08:50
In giving you an insight眼光
into who I am today今天
161
518360
2960
今天我讓大家了解我是誰,
就是想給大家一個新視角。
08:54
I wanted to offer提供 you a new perspective透視.
162
522280
1920
08:57
I wanted to challenge挑戰 the idea理念
163
525200
1456
我要挑戰的一個想法,
08:58
that design設計 is but a tool工具
to create創建 function功能 and beauty美女.
164
526680
3560
就是設計不外乎是
營造功能和美感的工具。
09:03
Design設計 greatly非常 impacts影響
upon people's人們 lives生活,
165
531280
3000
設計大大影響人們的生活,
所有人的生活。
09:07
all lives生活.
166
535400
1280
09:09
Design設計 is a way in which哪一個
we can feel included包括 in the world世界,
167
537360
3696
設計是讓我們感到
獲世界接納的一種方式,
09:13
but it is also a way in which哪一個
we can uphold堅持 a person's人的 dignity尊嚴
168
541080
4256
也是讓我們維護一個人的
尊嚴和人權的一種方式。
09:17
and their human人的 rights權利.
169
545360
1360
09:19
Design設計 can also inflict造成 vulnerability漏洞
170
547600
2696
設計也可以使某一群體
處於弱勢,其需要得不到考慮。
09:22
on a group whose誰的 needs需求 aren't considered考慮.
171
550320
2480
09:26
So today今天, I want
your perceptions看法 challenged挑戰.
172
554320
3840
所以我想在今天挑戰各位的觀念。
09:30
Who are we not designing設計 for?
173
558880
2096
我們設計時忽略了誰?
09:33
How can we amplify放大 their voices聲音
174
561000
2816
我們可以怎樣放大他們的聲音、
增強他們的體驗?
09:35
and their experiences經驗?
175
563840
1600
09:38
What is the next下一個 step?
176
566200
1200
下一步是甚麼?
09:40
Design設計 is an enormous巨大 privilege特權,
177
568400
2576
設計是一項龐大的特權,
但也涉及更大的責任。
09:43
but it is a bigger responsibility責任.
178
571000
1960
09:45
I want you to open打開 your eyes眼睛.
179
573960
2040
我想大家睜開眼睛。
09:48
Thank you so much.
180
576760
1216
感謝大家。
09:50
(Applause掌聲)
181
578000
3760
(掌聲)
Translated by Winston Szeto
Reviewed by Nan-Kun Wu

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sinéad Burke - Writer, educator
Sinéad Burke amplifies voices and instigates curious conversations.

Why you should listen

Since her first days of elementary school, Sinéad Burke has understood the power of education to combat ignorance, to challenge the status quo and to give agency to the most vulnerable. She wanted to become a teacher -- one who ensured that children felt represented, listened to and safe in her classroom -- and she graduated at the top of her class, receiving the Vere Foster Medal from Marino Institute of Education.

Through writing, public speaking and social media, Burke highlights the lack of inclusivity within the fashion industry and encourages the industry to design for and with disabled people. She critiques the ways in which the media talks about and to women, offering an alternative conversation that celebrates the achievements of others with her "Extraordinary Women" interview series.

Burke has visited schools, workplaces, government agencies and the White House to facilitate honest conversations about education, disability, fashion and accessibility. She advocates for the inclusion of all and challenges officials to legislate with most marginalized in our communities.

Bure is currently undertaking a PhD in Trinity College, Dublin on human rights education that specifically comments on the ways in which schools allow children to have a voice. She values kindness, empathy and volunteerism, and she is an ambassador for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Irish Girl Guides.

More profile about the speaker
Sinéad Burke | Speaker | TED.com