This is the story of one parent’s desire to let his son define disability for himself, instead of letting the world define it for him. By focusing on a story involving a lack of childcare solely because of who the child is, the speaker provides a compelling argument against static processes that seek to reduce disabled people down to descriptors and categories, and instead envisions a world where people are defined for who they are instead of who they’re not. Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational, Workforce & Leadership Studies at Texas State University with a research focus on issues affecting parents of children with disabilities. Dr. Singh has spent several years working with faculty, staff, and outside constituents to create intentional and thoughtful structures designed to provide underrepresented students with the best opportunities for success. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx