Lisa Reisman’s talk addresses the ongoing challenges and opportunities of integrating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) into society. It begins by providing a historical overview of key laws, such as the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Olmstead Decision, which established the right to community-based services for individuals with disabilities. Despite these legal advancements, societal barriers, including stigma, ableism, and fear of change, continue to hinder true integration. The speaker, drawing on their own experience running group homes for individuals with IDD, highlights the inconsistencies in licensing rules and the impact of societal biases. The speech emphasizes the importance of community integration, not only for the benefit of individuals with IDD but for society as a whole, promoting diversity, empathy, and economic productivity. The speaker concludes by offering actionable steps for fostering inclusivity, including education, embracing diversity, supporting caregivers, and advocating for greater representation of individuals with IDD. The goal is to create a more inclusive world where all individuals, regardless of ability, can thrive and contribute to their communities. Lisa Reisman, MSN, APRN, is a certified advanced nurse practitioner and a 1986 graduate of Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. With 38 years of experience, she specializes in healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Lisa has founded two healthcare agencies, opened two group homes for the IDD community, and developed innovative Medicaid service plans. With expertise in diagnostics, disease management, and multidisciplinary care coordination, she is a passionate advocate and leader, dedicated to transforming lives and advancing quality care for vulnerable populations. 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

In From Breaking Bones to Breaking Free: How I Found an Unbreakable Mindset and Won Gold, Coan shares how navigating life with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a genetic condition that causes fragile bones, led her to develop what she calls her “unbreakable mindset,” allowing Coan to view her challenges as things that have happened for her, rather than to her. Coan will share how this perspective has helped her to become a world-class Paralympic Swimmer, competing in four Paralympic Games and winning four Gold Medals for Team USA despite the 100+ fractures she endured. Coan hope to show others that no diagnosis or obstacle has the power to dictate what one is capable of achieving. McKenzie Coan is a four-time Paralympian, seven-time Paralympic Medalist, ten-time World Champion, and two-time World Record Holder in Paralympic Swimming. Diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) at 19 days old, doctors predicted McKenzie would never sit, stand, walk, or talk. Despite breaking over a hundred bones, she has defied expectations and lives a life beyond limitations. McKenzie began swimming at age six, joining her brothers on the local swim team. Her favorite moments in the sport came from competing alongside able-bodied athletes, often with broken bones, showing people that in the water, everyone is equal. Inspired by the Paralympic Games, McKenzie dreamed of representing Team USA on the world stage. Her journey to Paralympic Gold has been filled with challenges, but her perseverance and mindset have redefined what's possible, inspiring others to achieve their goals. 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

As the daughter of Sri Lankan refugees and the first in her family to be born in the United States, Rashmi's talk explores how her familial background transformed her perception of empathy and redefined her understanding of its practice worldwide. She discusses the current challenges that restrict us from accessing our most profound sense of compassion and explores her self-designed, working model of active empathy as a way to address these obstacles. Through this work, she aims to answer and resolve one central question: why don't we care enough? Rashmi Raveendran is a current Emory University senior studying Anthropology and Quantitative Sciences while on the pre-medicine track. Outside of her academic involvement with research focusing on cardiometabolic disease and its prevalence among South Asians, she plays ultimate frisbee and the piano and is heavily dedicated to community service. As a child of Sri Lankan refugees and the first in her family to be born in the United States, Rashmi's talk explores how her familial background transformed her perception of empathy and redefined her understanding of its practice worldwide. She discusses the current challenges that restrict us from accessing our most profound sense of compassion and explores her self-designed, working model of active empathy as a way to address these obstacles. Through this work, she aims to answer and resolve one central question: why don't we care enough? 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

Drawing from his research on doctor-algorithm collaborations, Dr. Parikh’s TEDx talk will explain why the future of AI in healthcare must be built upon a foundation of trust and transparency. Dr. Parikh reflects on his first experience using AI in a hospital residency, when he and his colleagues were forced to shut down the algorithm after it complicated and obstructed their workflow. But knowing that AI is a likely inevitability in healthcare, he set out to discover how AI can best be implemented alongside doctors in order to give patients the best possible care. His talk highlights cutting-edge research into the risks and rewards of using AI in healthcare, and concludes with an illustration of what truly collaborative doctor-AI teamwork could look like. Ravi B. Parikh, MD, MPP, is an oncologist and Associate Professor at Emory University and Winship Cancer Institute. His research investigates how doctors, patients, and health policymakers can use AI to improve decision-making and promote equitable healthcare. Dr. Parikh’s lab, the Human-Algorithm Collaboration Lab, runs clinical trials testing how clinicians and AI collaborate in making decisions about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment selection. Dr. Parikh’s work has been published in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA, and he has written about AI for The New York Times and Washington Post. He sits on the Board of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC). Dr. Parikh graduated from Harvard Medical School and the Kennedy School of Government. He completed his clinical training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania. 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

In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, authenticity has emerged as a vital element for building trust, fostering meaningful connections, and providing compassionate care. Authenticity in Medicine: Fostering Your Truth and Bridging the Connection delves into the power of embracing your true self as a medical professional and how it positively impacts patient care and professional fulfillment. Through personal stories, insights, and actionable strategies, this talk will explore the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a demanding field and the profound rewards it offers. Attendees will learn how to align their values with their career, enhance communication, and cultivate a deeper sense of connection in their professional journeys. This session invites attendees to reflect, reconnect, and reignite their passion by staying true to their purpose and values. Dr. Betsy Grunch is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia, renowned for her expertise in minimally invasive spine techniques and advancing the field of neurotrauma. Recognized as a Top Doctor by Georgia Trend and Atlanta Magazine for several consecutive years, she was also honored as one of Atlanta Magazine's Women Making a Mark in 2023.Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Grunch is an influential presence online as @Ladyspinedoc. Through her thriving social media platform, she demystifies the complexities of neurosurgery while offering a candid look at her life as a mother, wife, and friend. Her content empowers the public with essential medical knowledge, inspires current and future healthcare professionals, and adds a touch of humor and positivity to her audience's day. 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

The triumph of the rabbits over the wolves, illustrated in an utilitarian art form given a contemporary twist, provides an alternative perspective on U.S. history, past, present and future. Dawn Williams Boyd lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. Her self-described narrative “cloth paintings” chronicle seminal moments in American history. Boyd’s work is included in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY; Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA; Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL; Columbus Museum in Columbus, GA; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY. Boyd’s work has been exhibited at Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC; Southwest Art Center, Atlanta, GA; Hammonds House Museum, Atlanta, GA; Bulloch Hall, Roswell, GA; Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA; Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Atlanta, GA; Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, GA; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH; The Dodd Galleries at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA; the Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY; and Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY. Boyd is represented by Fort Gansevoort, New York 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