TED Business Interview: 4 ways to design a disability-friendly future with BJ Miller
Jan 19, 2026
BJ Miller, a palliative care physician and disability advocate, shares his transformative journey after surviving an electrical accident that led to multiple amputations. He discusses the societal perceptions of disability, emphasizing that it should be embraced as part of the human experience rather than a flaw. BJ reflects on how his lived experiences enhance his empathy in medicine and challenges the notions of normalcy. He advocates for a disability-friendly future, urging for inclusive attitudes and the recognition of disabled voices.
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The Night That Changed Everything
- BJ Miller describes climbing a parked train at Princeton and touching the pantograph, which caused an 11,000-volt arc to his metal watch.
- Friends rushed to help, he was airlifted to a burn unit, and surgeons later amputated three limbs to save his life.
From Burn Unit To New Paths
- BJ spent about two and a half months in a burn unit with multiple surgeries and long rehab afterward.
- He reframed the experience over time from pure trauma into a gateway to new paths, including medicine and palliative care.
Visible Disability Triggers Fear
- BJ argues visible disability triggers primal fear because anyone can imagine becoming disabled themselves.
- That fear drives distancing, stigma, and unequal treatment in everyday interactions.