Aimee Mullins redefining disability

Just watched a short video about a woman who uses prosthetic legs. She has a dozen pairs of legs, some that are purely fashion, legs that look like cheetah legs, legs that replicate human legs, legs designed purely for function (running). She had an inspiring way of thinking of her "disability", as actually not a disability at all. In fact, with her many different pairs of legs, she actually has more options, not less, for both form and function. She has the ability to change her height if she wants, she is just as able, probably more able than many of us, to sprint and jump in her running legs, and she can use her sculpted legs like a fashion accessory.

She is redefining what it means to have a disability. There was a funny section in the video where she talks about going out to a bar, wearing new legs that made her 6'1", rather than her usual 5'8", and one of her friends came up and commented on how tall she was, and said "but Aimee, that's not fair", referring to her ability to change her height when she wanted to. That kind of reaction is such a far cry from others who commented, almost pityingly about her "disability". The discussion was changed from "oh poor you, with your disability, how horrible", to "wow, that's not fair that you're able to do something with your legs that 'normal' people aren't able to do".

I think this is a good example of how having something about you that is different, that can be classified as a disability, is not always about overcoming that part of yourself, or about how you'll never be as good as someone who is "normal". Sometimes a disability can become an advantage. I think this is a great attitude to have when approaching teaching kids in a special ed program. Just maybe their difference can give them an edge, or another perspective that others just don't have. Maybe we as a society can value those with disabilities because of their difference, not in spite of it.

I've been noticing lately, at my job as an Educational Assistant, while working with kids who are receiving Special Ed. services, how sometimes it can actually be really delightful to work with kids who are different from the norm. They just have a completely different perspective than kids in the gen ed classroom. It's unexpected sometimes how they can make you reexamine ideas about how to teach, or how kids learn. And it's exciting when you can help them succeed, or give them a little self-esteem boost with some words of praise.