Every time you say 'yes' to something you hate, you're stealing from someone you love. When you say 'no' you're giving yourself a new opportunity. My talk will teach you what healthy selfishness looks like to live a worthwhile life. "Melissa Knowles is a sought-after TV host, event emcee, speaker and panel moderator who boasts an exceptional two-decade career in entertainment and sports news, spanning live and scripted broadcasting.Melissa's longest tenure was as an entertainment news reporter for ""Morning Express with Robin Meade"". Her daily segment, 'What's Poppin', was a captivating dive into the latest breaking pop-culture news, showcasing her distinctive conversational style, quick wit, and polished storytelling.Renowned for her vibrant personality, Melissa creates genuine connections with her audience.Melissa recently launched her own YouTube channel “Worthwhile”. Weekly episodes give a behind the scenes glimpse into Melissa’s life as a wife, mom, TV personality and entrepreneur. Melissa shows you how she’s juggling it all while building community and sharing the stories of local figures who are making a worthwhile contribution to our society." 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

What if every human mind was like a kaleidoscope — colorful, ever-shifting, and uniquely beautiful in its own way? In this powerful TEDx talk, a speech-language pathologist shares a deeply personal and professional perspective on neurodiversity and inclusion.Drawing from her childhood fascination with kaleidoscopes, she parallels their changing patterns to the beautiful variety in human brains — neurotypical and neurodivergent alike. Through heartfelt stories of children with autism, dyslexia, and sensory challenges, she urges us to rethink our rigid definitions of “normal” and “abnormal.”She challenges us to move beyond labels, to embrace difference without pity, and to see strength where society often sees struggle. Most importantly, she emphasizes that access is not the same as inclusion — true inclusion begins at home, in classrooms, and in our mindsets.This talk is a call to action: to look again, look deeper, and linger long enough to find the beauty in every pattern. #KaleidoscopicMind #thengpschool #NeurodiversityMatters #InclusionStartsAtHome #EmbraceEveryPattern #BeyondLabels #TEDxTalks Malavika is a Speech-Language Pathologist and the founder of *Speech Avenue*, a multidisciplinary clinic based in Chennai. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, graduating as a Gold Medalist.She is registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India and is also an internationally certified Speech Pathologist, qualified to conduct training programs for parents of children with autism.*Speech Avenue* offers a holistic approach to communication support, bringing together services in speech therapy, special education, and psychology. The clinic supports families through individualized therapy, workshops, webinars, and community outreach, addressing a wide range of communication challenges. 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