“This chair is my legs — this chair is my life,” says accessibility champion Jane Velkovski, who uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). With clarity and poise, he shares how his first motorized wheelchair empowered him with independence and ability — and why assistive technology should be available to anyone who needs it. “Freedom of movement, no matter on legs or on wheels, is a human right,” he says.
This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with UNICEF. TED’s editors chose to feature it for you.
UN General Assembly, 2019 | Article
“My disability does not bother me, what bothers me are the barriers in the environment”
Jane’s speech at the UN General Assembly in 2019. He sent a message to all the children of the world “to be persistent and never give up on their dreams” while telling the adults, “You have to do everything for the rights of the child — and no more discrimination.” You can watch the full speech here and read UN’s coverage here.
UEFA, 2017 | Article
“When I play football, I feel like everyone else”
Using a wheelchair has not stopped Jane from playing football at every opportunity. Read more about the #EqualGame campaign here, here and here.
Voices of Youth, 2020 | Article
“Studying at home due to coronavirus? This is how young people around the world are keeping their mood up”
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 130 countries closed schools, impacting nearly 80 percent of students globally. The world has never seen so many children out of school at the same time. In this article, Jane and other students around the world share how they keep learning and stay positive in times of uncertainty.
