Human Adaptability

Aimee Mullins set world records using prosthetic devices, she's an actress and model. On CCN she discusses changing how we think of what it means to be “disabled,” and that the human ability to adapt is our greatest asset.

Here is an expert:

“People have continually wanted to talk to me about overcoming adversity and I am going to make an admission, this phrase never sat right with me. And I always felt uneasy trying to answer people’s questions about it, and I think I’m starting to figure out why. Implicit in this phrase of “overcoming adversity” is the idea that success or happiness is about emerging on the other side of a challenging experience, unscathed or unmarked by the experience. As if my successes in life have come about by an ability to side step or circumnavigate the presumed pitfalls of a life with prosthetics or what other people perceive as my disability. But in fact, we are changed, we are marked of course by a challenge whether physically, emotionally, or both. And I’m going to suggest that this is a good thing. Adversity isn’t an obstacle that we need to get around, in order to resume living our life. It is part of our life….our responsibility is not simply shielding those we care for from adversity, but preparing them to meet it well.”

Her
speech gives some points to ponder on 'disability'.