I was lucky to actually be present when he did this talk, and the video doesn't even come close to showing how much love, acceptance, and connection was in that arena during Matthew's talk. Everyone was crying, and I applaud Matthew for having the courage to do this. Incredible.

I’m just crying watching this..my son is diagnosed with Intellectual disability but I’m here for him to support and love him all the way..

Omg the ending made me cry because I kinda felt this crowd was cheering for me. Its so hard for people like us to live in a world of judgement and ignorance! This guy right here is an example of what not giving up means!

My two oldest are autistic; listening and watching this young man was inspiring, and when he said he was no longer hidden and was now doing a TED talk, I couldn't help but cry.

Matthew Williams and other people with intellectual disabilities has my respect and love

For all these people say he is not mild Intellectual Disabled he had probably rehearse the speech over and over again for many days and is a great and inspiration and advocate for people with disability. I have a mild intellectual disability.

He came to my school. He’s really funny and even played basketball with my friend. He took pictures with us and told us about his wife and his baby that’ll be coming soon.

This man seems to be a handsome bright man. A good motivational speaker. He is organized in his thoughts. Makes lots of sense. Sensitive to other people’s feelings and humble. He teaches us so much and must be listened to.

Thank you so much for this! Matthew was very inspiring to me; I have a sister with an intellectual disability who is currently in the hospital with depression and this made my day!

To clearify those saying this is all for sympathy or pitty? you are really a horrible person. He actually did well and he is awesome.

Many who say you just need to try harder and believe in yourself to be anything you put your mind to have never had a learning/intellectual disability or other handicap

I was recently diagnosed with Intellectual developmental disability I suffered a major traumatic brain injury at 12 and 15 i was born with ADD and a learning disorder and I'm always proud to call myself a special Olympics competitor in the United States able to compete yearly ... Thank you very much

Well done for standing up and making sure people know about this- you are truly inspiring.

I am 5 years late, but the impact of this video remains. Well done and thank you Matthew!

No one is equal, everyone is different, but that's not a bad thing.

Matthew your speech was very amazing and I am so touched by your speech. Not many people can speak as well as you in front of the stage! You are an inspiration.

I'm a mother of an intellectual disability child. He is into sport aswell.. Basketball and running.. He won silver and gold medals on provincial and national games Philippines. I'm tearing up watching his speech especially the part... ❤ Godbless you..

👍He was able to present his speech without reading from any pre written script.He is inspiring. ❤

Bravo, Mr. Williams! Don't ever let anyone dim that wonderful smile of yours. I wish you continued success in whatever you decide to pursue.

Congratulations on a magnificent speech. Matthew Williams you are a force to be reckoned with. I have two brothers with special needs and see their super powers each day. Thank you for speaking up and allowing people to see that special needs actually means that its the "normal" people who have the disabilities.

Great talk, Matthew Williams! I learned so much about Special Olympics and why they're an important organization! The part about the hearing aides gave me tears. They didn't stop there, however... Amazing work.

I couldn't help tearing up after his standing ovation! What a fantastic speaker :)

He's brilliant. Thank you for sharing this @Tedx Talks

Matthew is amazing. I am impressed with his composure and delivery of such an important message!

I love this talk because I didn’t know I have intellectual disability but for now I have intellectual disability but this talk inspire me.

What an absolute legend Matthew is 💖I'm here as a practitioner wishing to improve my knowledge, not only did Matthew give me this but he also touched my heart. I will definitely be watching this years Special Olympics in Berlin 🥳🎉

I had to watch this for my assignment for school. But I'm grateful to see this. It's educational and worth watching.

This was a wonderful video. The speaker is awesome. This is seen everyday in under serviced areas in the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Minority students are not given the chances or opportunities that this young man has had. I am proud of him and wish him well. There are many unfortunate stores of students with disabilities that go unheard or unseen. Let us broaden the lens and go beyond people that look alike.... reach out to those who don't look like you or live where you live and give someone else a deserving chance to shine

Very inspiring. God bless Matthew Williams all the people he is representing.

Omg. Teared up may times through out Mathews presentation. So proud of you. Way to go.

As a manager of a supported living home for adults with developmental disabilities, I love love love this!!!!! I wish everyone was accepting and could open their hearts! diff doesnt mean bad, its how you were made and everyone deserves love and respect!!!!!

This is so powerful. Thank you, thank you. As someone just learning more about what cure and disability really means, I am inspired to learn more and have cued up all the resources you provided.

Way to go, Matthew! You are a great speaker! You can really move people and make them feel.

you do a Amazing job Matthew you had the courage to get up on stage and talk good job buddy

He delivered his talk in the most professional, confidence, inspiring way I have ever witnessed on TEDx.

My Professor showed us this video in Intro to Exceptionalities. It made all of us cry!!

Matthew, you're a rock-star! This speech was out of this world! I have autism so I know what it's like to feel judged every day. I just try to avoid those who judge me. When I was in high school, I was in Special Olympics basketball and track & field. I also love working with animals because they're non-judgemental.

this video made me cry, well said Matthew

This was so beautiful and powerful! Matthew is incredible!

The Ending wow! Thank you for sharing your story Mathew! May you continue to succeed.

Great speech Matthew!!!!!! You are a real inspiration. Good luck with your career, I have no doubt that you will be a success and inspire many others in the process.

Im so thankful have saw this video. I have 1 brother and 1 sister who are intelectual dissabilities they're both in 10 ears old and 9 years old. Me and my family cant expecting how they're life going to be. But, after I saw this video, I believe that they're both can be change just like you !! Thanks a lot :") You're so inspired us.. May God Bless You..

You are simply amazing Matthew. We love you.

How can this not have 17 million views? Thank you, Matthew.

Continue following your dreams Matthew! Nothing is standing in your way from reaching for the stars because you have endless self-determination!

A very good speech and Inspireing it really came from your heart and you are very special the way you speak you have a great attitude and you touched my heart in a very special way I wish I could speak as good as you do. Glen Johnson

This was so extremely touching.

Amazing speaker! Excellent talk good job!

Wonderful speech. Thank-you. God Bless you

Respect, truthfullness, love. This is how to treat everyone

Thank You Matthew- I have family with LD and really needed this!

Matthew Williams,I see you as a human being worthy of respect because you are human.All people deserve respect .We should only apply “quality control “ to inanimate objects only .No one knows what a person can do unless he has the opportunity.We need to remember that a person’s worth should be based on his humanity .Too many times we measure value by the money standard. I think Special Olympics is FABULOUS .

They gave him a standing ovation! Stahp! you are making him ...AND ME cry!

This was so emotional it made me cry

I'm so proud that he's Canadian 🥰 and I'm so glad he represents us ♡♡♡

I have it and turn to art.thank you for standing up to us.

This made me cry my eyes out.

Fantastic talk. I loved it!

I felt so proud when he beamed with happiness. Amazing

The R word should be Respect, moving speech thanks for reminding me where my heart is...

Greatly said

I don't cry watching anything, but this made me tear up towards the end.

Very informative.

ohh the goosebumps at 12:57

I just love you. I could cry for how brave you are ma chare! Good going!! Woot!

Matthew is a model of bravery and strength for every human being! Fantastic!

Thankyou so much u have a son with special needs and I would love to see this confidence I think I’m going to invite him to the gym and get the best out of him becuase all he does is watch movies and be on his phone 24/7

Oh, and just because he has an intellectual disability does not mean that he's not smart. Listen to the big words he uses. He's obviously quite smart.

Matthew is awesome! Respect!!

Everyone was like "if I stop clapping I'm a terrible person" but seriously this is awesome

Absolutely beautiful speech! Amazing and profound. Mathhew's courage is inspiring, educating and has brought tears to my eye. My upmost respect and adoration. Thank you and God bless!

Absolutely fabulous 👌

Oh my heart! I love this so, so much! You rocked it, Matthew! You are an amazing human being!

I'm glad I saw this video. I really have a lot to learn about intellectual disabilities--for example, I didn't even realize that the word "retarded" was inappropriate, or even if there was another term I could use. I completely understand that people with intellectual disabilities are first and foremost people, and deserve equality with everyone else, but I'm ashamed to say that I have trouble with the "equality" part. What does that mean? For example, could an intellectually disabled person become president? How about a doctor or teacher? Could an intellectually disabled person become a police officer? Or would these people actually lack the mental acuity to do this stuff? What, then is life like for people with intellectual disabilities? Is it just learning at a slower rate? Are the special olympics actually run and managed by people with intellectual disabilities? I'm bad at math and have a hard time doing stuff like fractions and algebra. Is an intellectual disability like that, on a larger scale? If someone has an intellectual disability, does that basically mean their development is frozen at some point in childhood? Or does it mean they have adult maturity, but not adult abstract reasoning? Does it mean they are concrete thinkers? I really don't know this stuff, but would like to educate myself, since I really do believe that all people deserve respect and equality, regardless of disability. I'm really sorry if this stuff seems rude or insensitive, but I genuinely want to learn more so that I can treat people with respect. I really don't know this stuff, and would like to learn more. I want to be a good ally to people with intellectual disabilities.

well said. thank you

Thank you Matthew 🙏

very well said. people need to go to any event or opening ceremonies and they will come out a different person

This video should be compulsory in high schools so each student views this. And teachers facilitate a reflective exercise how they view and treat people with disabilities. Ignore, bully? Or acknowledge with at the least, a Hello!

What a little hero!!

watching this made me dream for my son to have the same opportunities. we are from the Philippines where there are no enough support in the gov't. my son is 15yrs old. and not expose with different activities. how I hope and pray to have that same active social life for my son. made me realize we have not done much for our son yet. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

The eyeroll on the lady in the second chair after 14:10

I definitely understand!

I'm proud to see the audience reaction toward intellectual disabilities

love this vid!! :)

Just one word: Outstandng!

He is an amazing public speaker

Most people who know me wouldn't necessarily call me the most compassionate person who easily feels empathy for others but this one actually made me really sad.

I like his eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love!

bravo!!!

That was great

the tears are what got me

Thank you for sharing your story. I am a huge supporter as I have friends that love doing this so much!

It is amazing.......

I love him.

You GO, Matthew!

I cried at the beginning

This is so touching and inspiring speech from you, Matthew.. keep up your good work, champion!!

Very inspiring...

Спасибо. Я кое что поменяю в жизни после этого видео.