you
[Music]
if your first reaction is sadness
sadness when you see me you’re missing a
lot I’m here to tell you some stories
about how I view disability and how I’ve
turned it into an ability my friends are
a big reason why I’m totally comfortable
with who I am I was born with the left
arm that stops just above my elbow I
call it a limb difference I’ve grown up
with some great friends who actually
forget I have one hand there have been a
number of times when I’m awkwardly
rolling a bunch of bags or a lot of
stuff with one hand and my friend just
tells me to use both hands uh what is
all I have but even I forget sometimes
too I’m lucky my friends accept me for
who I am and forgetting is totally
understandable
that’s because I really do think each of
us has a different view on what we think
is normal kids and adults often ask me
what’s it like to have one hand and I
ask them back and say what’s it like to
have two hands most people just say it’s
normal well for me having one hand is
normal we all have different views on
what we think is normal and I think
that’s really cool cool but often I see
grown-ups get really uncomfortable
talking about physical difference I
remember back when I’d hang out at the
baseball fields during my brothers games
and while I’d hang out with my friends
younger kids would walk up to me and ask
me questions about my smaller arm
quickly a parent would walk up to me and
apologize about their kids asking
questions
I always tell those parents that is
totally okay I’m glad when kids ask me
questions a few years ago I had a really
uncomfortable experience in a new dance
class where a few kids just could not
stop staring and it made me really angry
that’s when I came up with a shirt I
could wear during class I felt so much
better getting it out there it said
don’t stare just ask t-shirts have been
a really easy way for me to tell stories
and encourage others to relax and enjoy
differences what is one of my favorites
is a shirt that goes along with the
story my mom told me if you were looking
at a field of horses you saw a unicorn
would you stop and stare
heck yeah I would I would totally
celebrate the unicorn unicorns have
become a big part of my world I’m really
proud of something I created called
project unicorn that it’s a big project
that let me learn that it can be really
great to step back and appreciate your
differences I learned how to take
advantage of my little arm to design a
prosthetic arm that shoots glitter
[Applause]
I’ve had the chance to share the fun
glitter brings to our lives spring my
way into schools and other organizations
I even got to show it off on the Rachael
Ray Show but the best part of the
experience is it’s given me a chance to
show even more people that physical
difference is in a sad thing it’s an
opportunity and I love seeing what
copper tuna tease I may have necks so
you want to see me shoot some sparkles
so I have some compressed air which
helps me shoot it and it goes through
this too and this is the big thing of
sparkles and so when the air meets up
with the sparkles it shoots out of a
unicorn like and I made this with a 3d
printer and glitter and and I made it
with a 3d printer that I have at home so
I guess you
thank you
[Music]
you
[Music]
if your first reaction is sadness
sadness when you see me you’re missing a
lot I’m here to tell you some stories
about how I view disability and how I’ve
turned it into an ability my friends are
a big reason why I’m totally comfortable
with who I am I was born with the left
arm that stops just above my elbow I
call it a limb difference I’ve grown up
with some great friends who actually
forget I have one hand there have been a
number of times when I’m awkwardly
rolling a bunch of bags or a lot of
stuff with one hand and my friend just
tells me to use both hands uh what is
all I have but even I forget sometimes
too I’m lucky my friends accept me for
who I am and forgetting is totally
understandable
that’s because I really do think each of
us has a different view on what we think
is normal kids and adults often ask me
what’s it like to have one hand and I
ask them back and say what’s it like to
have two hands most people just say it’s
normal well for me having one hand is
normal we all have different views on
what we think is normal and I think
that’s really cool cool but often I see
grown-ups get really uncomfortable
talking about physical difference I
remember back when I’d hang out at the
baseball fields during my brothers games
and while I’d hang out with my friends
younger kids would walk up to me and ask
me questions about my smaller arm
quickly a parent would walk up to me and
apologize about their kids asking
questions
I always tell those parents that is
totally okay I’m glad when kids ask me
questions a few years ago I had a really
uncomfortable experience in a new dance
class where a few kids just could not
stop staring and it made me really angry
that’s when I came up with a shirt I
could wear during class I felt so much
better getting it out there it said
don’t stare just ask t-shirts have been
a really easy way for me to tell stories
and encourage others to relax and enjoy
differences what is one of my favorites
is a shirt that goes along with the
story my mom told me if you were looking
at a field of horses you saw a unicorn
would you stop and stare
heck yeah I would I would totally
celebrate the unicorn unicorns have
become a big part of my world I’m really
proud of something I created called
project unicorn that it’s a big project
that let me learn that it can be really
great to step back and appreciate your
differences I learned how to take
advantage of my little arm to design a
prosthetic arm that shoots glitter
[Applause]
I’ve had the chance to share the fun
glitter brings to our lives spring my
way into schools and other organizations
I even got to show it off on the Rachael
Ray Show but the best part of the
experience is it’s given me a chance to
show even more people that physical
difference is in a sad thing it’s an
opportunity and I love seeing what
copper tuna tease I may have necks so
you want to see me shoot some sparkles
so I have some compressed air which
helps me shoot it and it goes through
this too and this is the big thing of
sparkles and so when the air meets up
with the sparkles it shoots out of a
unicorn like and I made this with a 3d
printer and glitter and and I made it
with a 3d printer that I have at home so
I guess you
thank you
[Music]
you
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