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Irish activist Sinéad Burke is winning praise for her TED Talk on being a little person

She tells us what it’s like to navigate a world that’s not designed for someone who is 3’5″ tall.

SINÉAD BURKE is a tireless advocate for little people in Ireland, showing how ordinary things like public bathrooms can be a minefield if you’re just under 3’5″ tall.

She previously campaigned for an official Irish translation for ‘little person’ – and succeeded in having ‘duine beag’ added to the Irish dictionary.

Back in March, Sinéad flew to New York to deliver a TED Talk on accessibility and design for little people – and earlier this week, it was finally released online.

In her usual witty style, she describes the difficulties she faces doing things like ordering a coffee in Starbucks:

Queuing, I’m standing by the pastry cabinet, and the barista calls for the next order. “Next please!” they shout. They can’t see me. The person behind me points to my existence, and everyone is embarrassed. I move along to collect my coffee – now think, where do they put it? Up high, and without a lid. Reaching up to collect the coffee that I have paid for is an incredibly dangerous experience.

The rest of the eye-opening talk deals with everything from her struggles finding fashionable clothes to her ability to lick her elbow:
https://www.ted.com/talks/sinead_burke_why_design_should_include_everyone#t-298315

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Design is a way in which we can feel included in the world, but it’s also a way in which we can uphold a person’s dignity and human rights. Design can also inflict vulnerability on a group whose needs aren’t considered… Who are we not designing for? How can we amplify their voices?

Sinéad’s talk has been watched over 279,000 times so far, and earned praise from all comers:

A fantastic achievement. You can hear more from Sinéad by following her on Twitter here.

DailyEdge is on Snapchat! Tap the button below to add!

Previously: An official Gaeilge translation for ‘little person’ has been added thanks to campaigner Sinéad Burke>

Written by Valerie Loftus and posted on DailyEdge.ie

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10 Comments
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    Mute Fionnán Long
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:36 PM

    He never said it was an Irish proverb. Dire clickbait.

    199
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    Mute John003
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:02 PM

    Does anyone know where Gerry Adams and Mary Lou were today…Were always there during Bush and Obama presidency

    41
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    Mute John O Chrualaoich
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:15 PM

    https://youtu.be/O3igggNc8yU

    Friends…… Political friends, Fiola friends

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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 16th 2017, 11:11 PM

    @Fionan Long: So he’ll be reading out an Irish proverb on Nigerian national day then ?

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    Mute Shane O Malley
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    Mar 16th 2017, 11:53 PM

    @Fionnán Long: are you deaf ?

    4
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 17th 2017, 1:19 AM

    Deaf, dumb and blind ?

    3
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    Mute Celine McGowan
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:41 PM

    He didn’t say “Irish proverb”, he just said “that proverb”. Believe me, I’m all for a bit of Trump-bashing, but this is exactly the kind of stuff his supporters can point to when they say the MSM is out to get him. Surely he says enough truly ludicrous stuff that we can show him up by sticking to the facts???

    166
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 17th 2017, 4:42 AM

    I agree and I’m looking forward to him doing an Irish proverb on Nigeria’s national day, he my even do a German one on Israel’s national day. Arbeit macht frei would be a good choice can’t go wrong.

    24
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    Mute Celine McGowan
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    Mar 17th 2017, 9:15 AM

    @Boganity: he doesn’t have to do an Irish one on Nigeria’s national day since *he* didn’t say the one he used yesterday was Irish. The article has decided it was an Irish proverb in its headline, attempting to make Trump look foolish. I believe he’s more than capable of doing that all by himself.

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    Mute Odie Behan
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    Mar 17th 2017, 12:18 PM

    @Celine McGowan: A lot of people are saying he didn’t say it was an Irish proverb, a lot more are saying it was implicit in the context, what seems sure is that whether it was a proverb or a poem, it was written by an esteemed member of the Nupe tribe who are 94% Islam, so heads up to Donald for reaching out, unless someone was taking the Green pint outa him :)

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    Mute Hello there friend
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:33 PM

    I love this guy :-)

    80
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 17th 2017, 1:18 AM

    This administration is comedy gold : Trump’s “Irish” proverb was written by Nigerian Albashir Adam Alhassan. If he’s Muslim it’ll be a delicious irony.

    32
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    Mute EdmundOrlando
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    Mar 17th 2017, 3:07 AM

    @Hello there friend: now say it like Trump would say it.

    ” I love this guy, I really do. Great guy, I mean it, he’s gonna be great, this guy!”

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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 17th 2017, 4:32 AM

    And then he’ll bar him and he won’t be allowed into the USA again

    3
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    Mute Olajumoke Falade-George
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    Mar 17th 2017, 8:46 AM

    @Boganity: Alhassan is indeed a Muslim Boganity.

    1
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    Mute Dj
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:52 PM

    The more I read these pompous articles the more I’m starting to like Trump.

    85
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 17th 2017, 4:45 AM

    If you left the word “starting” out of that comment it would have been believable.

    5
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    Mute Finbarr Lucey
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:03 PM

    Ireland could do with the likes of trump here.

    56
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 17th 2017, 4:45 AM

    True, we need a good laugh

    7
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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:43 PM

    Seriously, Democrats/liberals are the pits aren’t they.
    They really need to get a life.

    54
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 17th 2017, 4:43 AM

    Ouch…is that the best you can do, really!

    8
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    Mute Odie Behan
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    Mar 17th 2017, 12:24 PM

    @Emmet O’Keeffe: Yeah, they should come over here and learn how to be real politicians :) Why don’t they come over here on July 4th every year and bring us a few bowls of Four leaved Shamrocks, no clover mind :) Orange bowls preferred.

    1
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    Mute Ron North
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:39 PM

    I think Mark Littles tweet was fairly close to being an Irish Proverb.

    27
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    Mute lavbeer
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:53 PM

    @Ron North: Yes I have heard that one before alright !

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    Mute sparky
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:39 PM

    Donald must have told Enda before their press conference..” Pog mo thóin” because that he surely did..

    28
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    Mute The Crant
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:53 PM

    @sparky: Your a begrudging auld git

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:34 PM

    Poor old Albashir has no chance of entering the USA anymore……

    38
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    Mute Rose Toolan
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:44 PM

    Well done, this time Trump is definitely finished, how will he ever recover?

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    Mute SomeRandomIrishGuy
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:37 PM

    So he basically said “Fudge you enda”!

    24
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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:44 PM

    I read between the lines on that too.

    18
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 16th 2017, 11:13 PM

    He wouldn’t have know anything about Kenny until his staff briefed him 5 minutes before the meeting

    13
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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:29 PM

    He realised how much of a pet Kenny is,good boy sit.

    17
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    Mute Palbears
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:17 PM

    He’s entertaining if nothing else

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    Mute Michael O'mal
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    Mar 17th 2017, 12:29 AM

    True he never said it was an irish proverb,just shows
    you how people are brainwashed

    20
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Mar 17th 2017, 3:42 AM

    @Michael O’mal: I rather have a Spike Milligan poem?

    1
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    Mute Pinkpantheroz
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    Mar 17th 2017, 6:32 AM

    @Alois Irlmaier: It makes more sense:

    On the Ning Nang Nong
    Where the Cows go Bong!
    and the monkeys all say BOO!
    There’s a Nong Nang Ning
    Where the trees go Ping!
    And the tea pots jibber jabber joo.
    On the Nong Ning Nang
    All the mice go Clang
    And you just can’t catch ‘em when they do!
    So its Ning Nang Nong
    Cows go Bong!
    Nong Nang Ning
    Trees go ping
    Nong Ning Nang
    The mice go Clang
    What a noisy place to belong
    is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!
    Spike Milligan

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Mar 18th 2017, 10:16 PM

    @Pinkpantheroz: The joys of Spike…

    1
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    Mute marg fitzgerald
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:39 PM

    Now that Trump has two “new friends” will we forget that he is a racist misogynistic narcissistic megalomaniac? Sure it was only “in terms of the language he used”…..like locker-room talk!

    19
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    Mute lavbeer
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    Mar 16th 2017, 9:54 PM

    @marg fitzgerald: locker room talk is everyone – not just potus.

    10
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    Mute John003
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:01 PM

    You forgot xenophobic. Islamophic and he hates orphans and poor children and has said very mean things about the media and hates polar bears and Christmas

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Mar 17th 2017, 6:11 AM

    @John003: “He hates poor children” – Well spotted John!! You have obviously seen his budget proposals ..Yikes!

    I do wonder are the people from the Rust Belts extremely sorry that they voted for this snake oil salesman called Trump ?!!?

    3
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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 17th 2017, 2:43 AM

    Here’s an old Irish proverb for him: what’s the difference between and apple and an orange? No such thing as an apple bastar….

    8
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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Mar 17th 2017, 2:44 AM

    Except it strikes one that joke’s superannuated for sound 13 billion reasons. Tax free reasons.

    4
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    Mute Odie Behan
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    Mar 17th 2017, 12:38 PM

    @John O’Driscoll: What about peaches ? I thought he said I’m not orange, Impeach, or maybe that was someone else.

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    Mute Teddy
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:59 PM

    Them bloody Nigerians probably stole it,

    12
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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Mar 16th 2017, 11:37 PM

    @Teddy: that bloody prince again

    7
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    Mute Gerard Henry
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    Mar 16th 2017, 10:02 PM

    Enda knew he was in the company of greatness

    1
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